On Friday, May 24, the schooner Thomas E. Lannon sailed into Duxbury Bay for the Duxbury Bay Military School’s 16th Opening of the Bay, with the Williams Reunion Jazz Band.

 

 

The Williams Reunion Jazz Band was born on New England college campuses in the 1950’s when Dixieland was alive and well and “runnin’ wild”. The core four here today were Williams College Boys: Bob Kingsbury ’58 on clarinet; Fred Clifford ’58 on Tuba; Tom Hayne ’59 on Drums and John Halsey ’59 on keyboard, with John Bucher cornet. (Amherst ’52.) They were joined by two permanent guests and members of the Wolverine Jazz Band, the inimitable Jimmy Mazzy Banjo/Vocals, and Tom Boates, trombone.

Opening of the Bay is a fund-raiser for the Duxbury Bay Maritime School. The school serves 1800 students from age 3 to adult, through educational and recreational programs that stimulate individual growth and an enduring love and appreciation of the sea. The Williams Reunion Jazz Band assembles every year for the event.

The day started out with a fine Youth Swing Band before the YRJB’s drum introduced some New Orleans Standards: Bourbon St. Parade, Dr. Jazz, with Jimmy Mazzy on vocals, drum tapping cymbals.

Let Me Call You Sweetheart was in an upbeat Dixie; never sounded better! Cornet growling, trombone responding with a growl.

Atlanta Blues, also Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor. If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight.

Orie’s Creole Trombone.

Bob Kingsbury led the band, and explained the Heart and Soul of the WRJB:

 

– The Heart John Bucher from NY, who was in the the Woody Allen Band for several years

 

 

 

 

The Soul: Jimmy Mazzy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kingsbury says he was Fred’s classmate for 50 years and never able to hold that Tiger back.

 

 

 

Tiger Rag

Everybody Loves My Baby, great cornet drum exchange, each member of the band trading 4’s with the drums. A tune WC Handy stole from Louis’s record Hesitation Blues featured a ‘diminished chord’ with clarinet intro of Edmund Hall. Nice blues.

The Finale was an upbeat Canal St. Blues, with a young couple enjoying a sprightly dance.

The band also played a dockside reception Friday night with an Island Creek Oysters raw bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres by the Silent Chef, and cash bar.
Sunday they played at the service for the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church.

Opening of the Bay is a fund-raiser for the Duxbury Bay Maritime School. The school serves 1800 students annually, through educational and recreational programs that stimulate individual growth and an enduring love and appreciation of the sea. Because of this fund-raiser, the school remains debt-free.

The WRJB will be back in May next year for the Duxbury Bay Maritime School’s 17th opening of the Bay! See you there!