Seacoast Stompers held their regular 1st Saturday of the month at the Acton Jazz Cafe with Scott Philbrick guitar/cornet, filling in for Jimmy Mazzy, Lee Prager trombone, Bob McHenry string bass, Bobby Reardon drums, Frank Stadler piano, and substitutes Dave Whitney on trumpet, John Clark reeds, and special guest Maureen Benson on vocals.
Maureen Benson with a sweet vocal to this Ellington classic.
A horrendous downpour did not deter fans of the Seacoast Stompers on Saturday, June 2nd. They filled the room at the Acton Jazz Café in spite of the rain, and were not disappointed.
The regular crew were here, with Scott Philbrick on cornet, Lee Prager trombone,Craig Ball clarinet and soprano sax, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Bob McHenry string bass,Bobby Reardon drums, and band leader Frank Stadler on piano. Scott picked the tune list for today – an eclectic mix of Swing and Dixieland.
At The Jazz Band Ball
At The Jazz Band Ball, always a barrel-house opener, set the tone for an afternoon of uplifting, toe tapping, high energy music, with polyphonic ensembles and lively solos. Somebody Stole My Gal, Exactly Like You, Tuxedo Junction, When My Dreamboat Comes Home, Dardanella, I Got Rhythm. The atmosphere is jovial and light-hearted. They love classic jazz and swing, and you can tell they are having fun playing it.
Marie – Lee’s fabulous clean crisp trombone solo was reminiscent of Tommy Dorsey. Just beautiful! Brought tears to our eyes. Honky Tonk Town had smokin’ solos!
CC Rider, with both Scott and Lee playing wa -wa sounds on muted instruments. Fabulous! Craig playing slow slide up the clarinet register. He was in rare form with the two Bb clarinets he brought – one like Artie Shaw’s that reaches into the stratosphere. He also took out a soprano sax for My Pretty Girl and Beale St. Blues that blew us away!
He backed Scotty on his fine vocal From Monday On.
These two musical soul-mates share ideas on how to approach the tunes, making each Saturday afternoon unique and spectacular.
photo and video by Hal McAleer
Jimmy Mazzy had many vocals – we never get enough of them,A Hundred Years From Today, scatting on Nobody’s Sweetheart Now. There was a special request for As Time Goes By. His humble sincerity touched the hearts of the audience, and they responded with an “awwww”.
This tune was dedicated to Al Ehrenfried, who will be celebrating his 90th birthday on June 19th at the Sherborn Inn.
June night – apt for the pouring rain, Bobby Reardon doing a turn-around on the drums. Bobby listens carefully and gives the band just the bang it needs. He knows his stuff – he’s been playing regularly for 23 years at the Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus.
Lee Prager moved back for a sizzling duet with Bob McHenry, fantastic interchange between Trombone and String Bass on Lady Be Good.
Bob McHenry is still using the Kay Model C Bass that he used when he was on the road with Billy May. Behind Jimmy’s vocal on I’m Beginning to See The Light, he moved to a 5-string electric bass guitar. It is fretless, and has a flatwound string that makes it sound like his bass. This was a first for us!
He took a lively, pulsating 32-bar solo on upright bass for Jimmy’s vocal on Fats Waller’sSqueeze Me.
Carrie and Jimmy had a sweet duet on Dedicated To You, a tune done by the Mills Brothers and Ella, with Carrie singing the melody and Jimmy harmonizing.
Frank Stadler guides this band of independent characters from behind the 6′ 1″ 1912 Baldwin Grand Piano that Gwenn Vivian recently installed at the cafe. Frank was featured in a nice blues number, handling the rhythm with delicacy and good taste.
It was a fantastic afternoon, and we all left with a bit of sunshine inside, if not outside.
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The Seacoast Stompers play at the Acton Jazz Cafe on the first Saturday of the month, unless there’s a holiday. They will be here July 7th, but Jimmy and Craig will be away at a private function. Sweet substitutes will be Dave Whitney on trumpet, and John Clark, with his multitude of reeds. Scott will move to guitar (which he prefers) and some banjo, and maybe join Whitney for a few wild trumpet/cornet duets!
And for those in New Hampshire, on August 10th the Seacoast Stompers will be at the Merrimack Valley Jazz Festival from 5:40-6:25pm. FLYER
The Seacoast Stompers began this Saturday with a fantastic, driving swing beat with At The Jazz Band Ball – and set the tone for an afternoon of great Jazz and Swing.
Craig Ball, Scott Philbrick, and Frank Stadler took turns picking out the tunes, so nobody knew for sure what they were going to play next. The musicians were having fun with it, playing as much for themselves as the fans out front, and the fans were feeding off the energy radiating from the band. You could feel it in the air!
Pianist/leader Frank Stadler has a knack for bringing together the right musicians:
Scott Philbrick on cornet, Lee Prager trombone, Craig Ball clarinet and soprano sax, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Frank Stadler piano, Bob McHenry acoustic string bass and Bobby Reardon drums.
They even threw in some soul-wrenching blues with Apex Blues, Jimmy adding his unique banjo and scatting, clarinet drawing out the notes, the trumpet and trombone chorus in vibrato – fabulous!
This band radiates energy, ask 93-year-old Frank, who officially collects admissions at the door.
The Amoskeag Strummers from New Hampshire were well represented, everyone in high spirits.
Carrie Mazzy’s rendition of I Don’t Know Enough About You, tender lyrics presented with heartfelt feeling.
We never get enough of Jimmy’s vocals, there isn’t another one like him in the whole world!
Jimmy scatting on It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Thing, with Craig on soprano sax.
Special treat this afternoon was vocalist Maureen Benson, who normally sings with the band, Jazzport, in Danvers.
Craig’s soprano sax was perfect forEaster Parade, the holiday was the next day.
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love was WILD – with Scotty quoting many other tunes.
Talk about resonating energy, Maureen Swing Dancing with Charlie to Sweet Georgia Brown.
Craig picked another Blues – Blues in B Flat, Lee started it with a low, growling trombone.
Marvelous harmonic ensemble by the virtuoso musicians on the front line. Dancers loved it!
Drummer Bobby Reardon keeps a constant beat, working with the band, never speeding up; had an especially great duet with clarinetist Craig Ball on You Can Depend On Me.
His forceful Gene Krupa solo, using the splash cymbal on It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing, demonstrated his admiration for the drummer.
Check out his auto registration.
They closed with a special request for Limehouse Blues, beginning with the whole band in tight ensemble, fine intonation by soprano sax, cornet, and trombone.
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Gwenn Vivian should get a special Jazz Award – for presenting JAZZ at the Acton Jazz Cafe six days a week, sometimes three bands in one day (like today.) That’s a lot of work! She is truly dedicated. Thank you, Gwenn, and the members of your crew who take such good care of us.
Gwenn Vivian Greg – waiter Lee – bartender
The Seacoast Stompers will return to the Acton Jazz Cafe on May 5th – see you there.
