Paul Monat’s Jailhouse 4+1

Gary Bohan cornet, Paul Monat cornet/tuba, Pete Collins clarinet, Dave James (Caponigro) Keys, Steve Taddeo drums

Paul Monat introduced us to some new faces with his Jailhouse 4+1 and lit up Primavera Ristorante on July 23rd.   The Band is patterned after the Firehouse 5 + 2, but because of the late notice, Paul wasn’t able to line up more than five free musicians.  Disney has ‘Firehouse’ patented, hence the Jailhouse 4+1.  The Quintet lit Primavera on fire!

Paul Monat brought his monstrous brass bass along with his Wild Bill Davison influence on cornet. Cornetist Gary Bohan easily plays a range of styles including klezmer, jazz, mainstream, big band and Dixieland.  Clarinetist Pete Collins was still streaming, fresh from his own Jazz Band Ball’s performance at Lobsterman’s Wharf in East Boothbay, Maine.  Steve Taddeo was turbulent on his brand-new Slingerland Drums.

Last but not least, on the keyboard Dave (Caponigro) James is a band by himself.  He is performing somewhere in the greater Boston area almost every night.  His keyboard subs for trombone, banjo, vibraphone, you name it, and he is also a great vocalist. He played a memorable solo on keyboard, providing his own comp, and singing a soulful Rosetta.

Dave (Caponigro) James

Together the Jailhouse 4+1 sizzled!  Jeannine in the audience exclaimed, “Who needs two more?”

Chinaboy.

Pete Collins, leader of The Jazz Band Ball Band

Clarinet lead on Indiana, piano slipped in some Yankee Doodle Dandy, before they let Steve loose on drums.

Found a New Baby, Avalon; Pete went wild on Way Down Yonder in New Orleans.

Abbondanza – Paul on his remarkable 5-valve tuba, Steve backing with clutch cymbal.  Dave’s keyboard feigning a trombone.

Steve Taddeo backs Paul’s tuba

Tuba was featured on Them There Eyes,  Paul intense on that monster brass.  Steve on solo tapping every drum, cymbal, block, bell.
Basin St. Blues. Keeping Out of Mischief Now, Dave singing with rhythmical cadence.

Shine

Gary Bohan and Paul Monat are amazing together

Memories of You with both cornets resurrected fond memories; Gary driving and adding distinctive shadings and tone,  Paul emulating Wild Bill.  Pete played low register clarinet; Dave played his own comp on keyboard solo.

The two cornets let loose on Swing That Music; keyboard playing banjo.  WILD!  They slowed for a sweet Honeysuckle Rose, Gary’s clear tone cornet, Pete sounding like Pete Fountain, Keyboard was playing vibraphone.  Never got dull!

When You’re Smiling – Surprise – Pete Collins did the vocal!  Pleasing voice.  We’ve been following him for years, never heard him sing before.

Dinah – you know this was WILD!  Ensemble intro, amazing duet between drums and Paul on cornet.  It’s Taddeo’s theme song – he was ready with his Krupa walk around, heading for our table and tapping on everything in site, making melody out of several wine glasses.

It Don’t  Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing – The Jailhouse 5 had the Swing!

They brought the tempo down with a fine melody, Roseroom.  Paul closed this hard driving performance with The Saints.

Paul Monat is determined to bring in new sounds with a Jailhouse 5+2.  He’s here for the summer, so stay tuned for some more fireworks!