Classic Jazz at Lincoln Library
Vern and Friends
Jazz Books at Lincoln Library
By Harold McAleer
Billy Novick and Guy Van Duser
Billy Novick and Guy Van Duser were featured at the ongoing Tuesday Jazz Series at Sherborn Inn on September 2nd.
About Billy: Billy moved to Boston from New York and attended Berklee College of Music for a year, met some musicians, and fell into the local ’70s music scene, playing in various bands. While rehearsing for a dance performance in 1976, Novick was introduced to the innovative guitarist Guy Van Duser, and the two began a collaboration that continues to flourish. In 1986 Novick became reeds player for the New Black Eagles Jazz Band. He has also done considerable composing and arranging. “When I was a kid I wanted to be a composer even more than a musician.” Billy wrote New Orleans Farewell.
A Studio Musician, Billy has been featured on more than 250 recordings as a sideman or arranger for other artists. He’s also written and played background music for commercials – you’ve probably heard him on TV or Radio. He received worldwide recognition for his score of The Great Gatsby with the Washington Ballet at the Kennedy Center. (They practiced on us at the Sherborn Inn.)
The delights of tonight’s performance were many, both are true artists and great story tellers. They took off with a roaring Royal Garden Blues, followed by a fluid, sweet Embraceable You. They tested the audience on a number they played when they first came together 30+ years ago, both singing and harmonizing on Ready For The River. Sweet! Muscat Ramble, James P Johnson’s Love; a Scott Joplin Rag, Easy Winner, is easy on piano, but difficult on guitar. Not for Van Duser.
Victor Young’s Indian Summer. They faked their way through some Mariachi before moving back to our kind of music, a second line dirge played at New Orleans Funerals – Sing On. Fats Waller’s Jitterbug Waltz.
St. Louis Tickle came from 1906 World’s Fair and then became a Dixieland Tune. Billy explained that Midnight in Moscow was originally meant to be Nightime in Leningrad, but The Soviet Ministry of Culture, one of the most important government offices in the Soviet Union, insisted it become Evening in Moscow. They changed the lyrics and the version. The British Jazz group, Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen had a hit with the song in 1961 under the title Midnight in Moscow. And there you have it!
Guitar verse and melody on Stardust were breathtaking!
About Guy: We wondered why Guy wraps his fingers completely around the neck of his guitar; it’s because his fingers play both chords (down) and melody (up) at the same time. He was recovering from a cut on his index finger on right hand. We’re thankful he was here, and that it wasn’t his thumb! He has practically invented a finger-picked guitar style, closer to jazz piano than guitar.
He explains it at Berklee, where he is a Professor in the Guitar Department: “I’m kind of the oddball. I’m here because a lot of people are curious about this technique, finger style. I show them how to take melodies on the guitar—solo line melodies—and play those melodies while playing the chords at the same time. You’re trying to get two layers going. You’re using mostly your thumb just to play the lower notes of the chord while the fingers pick out the melody notes on the upper strings. The fingerpickers do that in such a way that the thumb is alternating back and forth on the string, being the rhythm as well. So I’m not just playing the chord under the note, I’m recreating a beat: boom-chick, boom-chick, boom-chick.”
They played tunes we never heard of, and others recorded by many bands. S’Posing was recorded by Fats, Miles Davis, Sonny Stitt. Billy sings it! “Mine” was the only popular song to come out of the Gershwin show ‘Let ‘Em Eat Cake.’ Scott Joplin’s Spicey Cake Walk. was a rouser!
1931 – I’ll See You In My Dreams. Guy explained that nobody sets it up with the lyrics on the verse like Ukulele Ike (Cliff Edwards) did. He was the featured voice for Jiminy Cricket for all those Disney years. Guy did it singing the lyrics on the verse just as Ike did. Effective.
Isham Jones’ Wabash Blues sold two million records in 1921, cementing Jones’s niche in the musical pantheon of the early Twenties. Billy and Guy closed this evening with their own captivating version.
This was a refreshing and informative evening with Billy Novick and Guy Van Duser. Billy Novick’s Blue Syncopators will perform again with the Sacramento Ballet Company in California October 23-26. http://www.sacballet.org/ Tickets are available.
The Great Gatsby with Billy Novick’s Blue Syncopators
Guy Van Duser will be playing solo guitar September 13th 8pm at Coffeehouse off the Square, Old Ship Church, Hingham, MA
You can find where Billy and Guy will be teaming up at http://www.billynovick.com/. marce@nejazz.com
The Jazz Jesters
Jeff Hughes cornet, Craig Ball clarinet and tenor sax, John Clark clarinet/alto and baritone sax, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Al Bernard tuba, Steve Taddeo drums
They are busy musicians, Ross plays in several bands and teaches, Craig leads the White Heat Swing Orchestra, John Clark bounces between Massachusetts and Connecticut, and his Wolverine Jazz Band plays at festivals and on many town commons. Steve leads the Swing Senders and directs the Dick Donovan Big Band. Al plays tuba and sousaphone in many Classical bands as well as Jazz bands. Jeff has multiple bands, the most active at the moment are Swing Times Five and the Jazz Jesters. Jimmy is always Jimmy, and we are most grateful to have him here with us.
Jeff and John dug down deep for some very old material, some of the best and hottest of the 20′s and 30′s, making it relevant to today with their own splendid arrangements. They came up with tunes we’ve never heard before, inventive and resourceful arrangements by our own Dr. John Clark, hot and sweet music reminiscent of The Jazz Decades.
They soared with their theme This Is My Lucky Day, Craig starting on tenor sax, John Clark on clarinet. These two dynamic reed-men create magnificent music with two clarinets, alto, tenor, and baritone sax, between them.
Albie had his smallest Conn Tuba that he saved from a demolition pile. He favors it when playing classical music; in Trad Jazz it pushes the chords and with Taddeo’s drums, keeps the beat. Ross Petot’s piano adds riffs and fills. The whole polyphonic sound has some folks dancing and others sitting on the edge of their seats. Fantastic!
They have a following of ‘regulars’ who never fail to appear for Jeff’s Bands.
Elke and Joan
 Betty |
 Paul |
 Connie |
 Bob |
 Geri and Jerry |
 Stan and Gail |
Charlie and Gisela Brunaccini
John and Gisela have been married over 60 years. They knew all the right steps, and danced all night!
John said “We enjoyed hearing the old original arrangements of great memorable tunes by talented musicians.”
There were more: Bix’s Davenport Blues, Sweethearts of Sigma Chi, Alabama Stomp, River Stay Away From My Door and Cabin in the Pines (that Jimmy sang with the Paramount Jazz Band.) Blame It On The Blues; a classic 1920’s tune played by many bands, Deep, was another John Clark arrangement.
Featured soloists were Clark on bari sax with Deep Down South. Jeff sang Archie Bleyer’s ‘Leven Thirty Saturday Night. Jimmy was featured on a ballad It’s Wonderful, (not Gershwin’s S’Wonderful.) Craig’s clarinet reached for the sky on House of David Blues. Ross was featured on Avalon, and did the arrangement for Lila. SteveTaddeo let his Gene Krupa loose on his own theme song, Dinah.
The band continued with a quintessential 1920’s tune, You Don’t Like It (Not Much!) and closed with Fats /Waller’s Zonky, with dueling clarinets and trumpet, exuberant rhythm – it was WILD!
This exciting and exhilarating band will return with more new arrangements of these marvelous old tunes on October 28th. Mark your calendars, you won’t want to miss this!
Rick MacWilliams, Michel Lavigniac, Paul Nossiter
Bright sunshine and clear skies greeted folks at the sold-out Jazz Boat on Sunday, August 24th. As we left Onset Harbor, The Bourbon Street Paraders Trio played their theme song, Bourbon St. Parade. “Lets fly down, or drive down, to New Orleans.” Great idea, but for those of us who can’t make it to New Orleans, the Jazz Boat is a good substitute on summer Sundays.
A soft breeze made it a pleasant trip up and down the Cape Cod Canal with the Trio playing some tunes that originated in New Orleans, others from the 20’s to the 50’s: Hoagie Carmichael’s Up a Lazy River, 1920’s Whispering, 1948 Frank Loesser’s Slow Boat to China, Louis Armstrong’s Someday You’ll Be Sorry.
Paul Nossiter is singing Clarence Williams’ Baby Won’t You Please Come Home as we cruise by the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and its training ship, the Kennedy.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Paul has an extensive background in music in this country and in Europe. He’s played with many of the great Jazz Players. I Want a Little Girl was his wife’s favorite song. (George Wein gave him the gift of Jimmy Rushing singing it at his wedding in Newport RI! ) Paul gave us his resounding version here on the Cape Cod Canal.
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In 1974, Nossiter played with Dick Sudhalter’s New Paul Whiteman Orchestra in London. Michael Steinman wrote about it on Jazz Lives. Eventually Nossiter settled in Cape Cod. For the last 60 years he’s been breathing new life into melodies that will never get old.
We slowly progressed up the canal with New Orleans Shuffle – WOW – grab a railing and hang on! In the past, The Viking turned around in Cape Cod Bay; if we kept going, we could go whale-watching near Provincetown. But we turned around after the Sagamore bridge. People bicycling and jogging on the trail along the canal waved as they shared the Muskat Ramble with us.
The band took a short break. Folks moved to the lower deck where there’s a full bar and snacks. But you are allowed to bring your own lunch and beverage if you wish, anything except liquor.
We passed the Herring Run – quiet in June. Active in April when the herring come in off the ocean to fight their way against the current up the steps to spawn in Herring Pond. It’s active again in early fall, with many blue herons watching, as the tiny fry swim down the steps and back out to sea. They instinctively know to return where they were hatched in the spring.
 The Herring Run |
 The steps – only the strongest herring make it. |
Tuba Player Rick MacWilliams is leader of the Commonwealth Jazz Band that plays before and after Celtic Games at the TD Garden, and lunchtime in the summer at Norman B. Leventhal Park, Post Office Square, Boston, and he’s also with the famous Wolverine Jazz Band. Rick maintains the chords – sometimes pushing the band, sometimes playing melody as in I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter.
Rick MacWilliams
This is Parisian Michel Lavigniac’s 36th year with the Bourbon St. Paraders. We’ve been listening to him for over 25. His solo of The World Is Waiting For the Sunrise was a resonating approach to the end of this cruise.
Our journey always ends with the Viking easing back into Onset Harbor with everyone clapping and singing to The Saints.
August 31st was the Bourbon Street Paraders’ last cruise on the Viking for this year. They’ll be back next summer, from the last week of June to Labor Day 2015. See you there?
Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders
Joe Midiri clarinet and soprano sax, Paul Midiri vibes, trombone, and drums, Ian Frenkel piano, Jeff Hughes and Paul Monat cornet, John Clark clarinet and bari sax, Dan Gabel trombone, Bill Doyle guitar, Justin Meyer string bass, Steve Taddeo drums, and special guest vocalist Elise Roth.
Steve Taddeo finally assembled his “Dream Band”, with The Midiri Brothers, Ian Frenkel, and members of Taddeo’s Swing Senders. They blew the roof off a full house at the Sherborn Inn on Tuesday, August 12th. Many are leaders of their own bands. John Clark, impressive impresario, kept them (more or less) under control.
Harold McAleer’s videos give you a taste:
Midiri Brothers kicked it off Running Wild.
Special guest vocalist Elise Roth was featured on Johnny Mercer’s Jeepers Creepers, Milton Berle’s theme song Near You, and Am I Blue. Elise was gracious to sub for The Swing Senders’ vocalist, Caroline Griep, who was absent because of a death in the family. Elise Roth is the regular vocalist for Dan Gable and The Abletones.
Special guest vocalist, Elise Roth, with Dan Gabel, Justin Meyer , and Bill Doyle
Two masters of the cornet, Jeff Hughes and Paul Monat; Paul revived some of his Wild Bill spirit in their duet on Someday You’ll Be Sorry.
The Midiris had us in tears with Bechet’s Si Tu Vois Ma Mère.
Crucial members of the rhythm section, Bill Doyle and Justin Meyer kept the rhythmic fires burning, providing a solid foundation that let the others fly!
 Bill Doyle, guitar |
 Justin Meyer, string bass |
Joe sings some Blues, Paul moves to trombone. We love this music – you never know what will happen next!
Dan Gabel trombone, Elise sings Am I Blue?
This was indomitable pianist Ian Frenkel’s first appearance at the Inn, and we hope it won’t be the last. A true artist, Ian is well known and appreciated all over Connecticut.
Ian Frenkel, fingers flying across the keys.
John Clark, Ian Frenkel, Steve Taddeo: You Do Something To Me
Don’t Be That Way, Royal Garden Blues, After You’ve Gone, Big Bear Stomp, Wolverine Blues, all imaginative and swinging.
Taddeo was using a 1939 Slingerland Radio King drum set (identical to what Gene Krupa used) and the vintage cymbals (Avedis Zildjian) from the late Buddy Schutz. He was featured with his infamous 8-minute drum solo walk-around on Stomping at the Savoy, tapping on anything within reach!
Finale! Everybody lets go with Taddeo’s theme song, Dinah, with Paul Midiri and Steve Taddeo battling on drums,
That definitely was not rehearsed!
This was an incredible evening. Many of these amazing musicians will be BACK for a reprise, with the Swing Senders or with their own bands. The Midiri Brothers are heading for Oregon, Idaho, California, Clearwater Beach. But they’ll be back. Stay tuned.
Marce
Bo Winiker trumpet, Ted Casher clarinet, tenor and soprano sax, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter piano, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba, Jeff Guthery drums, Carolyn Newberger washboard
This was a superb evening, with the All-Stars’ driving classic jazz, enjoying each other’s company. They were playing for each other, as much as the people, but the audience couldn’t help participating. The band played a treasure trove of Louis Armstrong hits. Instead of featuring a single vocalist, leader Eli Newberger took advantage of the many fine voices in the band, especially Jimmy Mazzy. (We never tire of hearing Jimmy!)
Ted started with an aggressive clarinet on Muscat Ramble, written by Kid Ory and first recorded by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five in 1926. Eli’s All Stars played it with explosive polyphonic ensemble!
Herb sings Old Rocking Chair.
Herb Gardner took the first vocal on Irving Berlin’s Old Rocking Chair. He was spellbinding! Rocking chair will never get him.
Bo Winiker’s trumpet spearheaded this tribute to Louis Armstrong. His passion is obvious on Louis’s Hello Dolly.
The one and only in the world.
The one and only Jimmy Mazzy sang many tunes, starting with a powerful vocal on an Armstrong rarity, Irish Black Bottom.
Only three of them were familiar with it, this was the first of several tunes that many of the band had never played before. There was some good natured bantering by the guys in the front line on how they would approach it. But great musicians can make it happen. The buoyant rhythm section was sparked by Guthery’s drums. Jeff has added something new to his Trad Jazz drum set – a set of four ancient temple blocks, putting them to good use.
Jeff Guthery and his unique Traditional Jazz drums
Potato Head Blues was requested by a friend in the audience. There was a jovial discussion by the men in the front line on how to approach this. Bo gave it the Armstrong touch, concluding with a triumphant ride-out final chorus.
Jimmy dreamy ballad, Kiss to Build a Dream On, was backed by harmonically sophisticated ensemble.
Mosaic has just released the entire Louis collection that also contains tunes from Louis’s Hot 5 and Hot 7. One of the tunes, Cornet Chop Suey, influenced a 14-year old Eli Newberger to play this kind of music. Resourceful Herb Gardner created this arrangement, and played Trummy’s bright, energetic sound on trombone with the band’s tempestuous performance.
Change of pace – Jimmy started St James Infirmary in a melancholy tone (it’s someone lamenting the death of their loved one) when the band picked up the tempo. On impulse, Eli jumped up and joined Winter for four-handed piano. (Eli was the original piano player for the Black Eagle Jazz Band.)
Four-handed piano
Another tune most had never played before, Ol Miss, Ted lead on soprano sax, with Jimmy scatting. The energy level was so high the audience began clapping in time.
C’est Si Bon, an unqualified gem, they were really enjoying this. Bob’s piano sounded like a rippling waterfall. The front line took turns on various duets, trumpet and trombone, clarinet and drum, tuba and banjo. Nice!
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Jim began another soft melodic vocal on Basin St. Blues. Bob changed the tempo into ¾ time on piano, before the band kicked it up into double time.
Eli called up Carolyn Newberger with an instrument usually associated with woman’s work, the washboard. But this woman is an accomplished, prize winning artist; she was busy sketching pictures of the band until now. At one time she was a First Grade teacher who put hubby Eli through Medical School.
The tune was Don’t Forget to Mess Around When You’re Doing the Charleston. (Mess Around was the name of a dance in the 20’s.)
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Carolyn’s enthusiasm stirred Bob Winter into a piano/washboard duet. Nowhere else are you going to hear anything like this!!
Bo put heart and soul into his vocal into Louis’s Wonderful World, closing on trumpet with an exuberant high note.
The whole evening was such a pleasure no one wanted it to end, but we were already on overtime. They closed with a philosophical contemplation, with only Bob on piano and Jimmy banjo and vocal, You’ll Never Walk Alone.
They’ll be back again with another evening of Traditional jazz on the first Thursday of next month, September 4th, just after Labor Day. Join us for some revitalizing Classic Jazz!
Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn
NOVEL JAZZ RETURNS TO THE BOOTHBAY OPERA HOUSE TO FEATURE MUSIC OF ELLINGTON AND STRAYHORN –
The Novel Jazz Septet will be returning to the Opera House of Boothbay Harbor on Friday 8 August 2014, 7:30PM for an evening of classic jazz by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, two pillars of the jazz world.
They’ll play both well-known standards plus lesser-known compositions, recently transcribed from original scores at the Smithsonian and arranged for the band.
The band features jazz musicians Barney Balch (trombone), Wells Gordon (bass), Mike Mitchell (trumpet), Mickey Felder (piano), Mark Macksoud (drums) and Dave Clarke (guitar). You can learn more about the band at their web site, www.mainejazz.net.
This evening of music is being generously sponsored by J. Edward Knight Insurance Company. Come out and hear the Novel Jazz Septet…keeping the spirit of Duke and Sweet Pea alive and swinging! Dancing not only allowed but encouraged!
The Opera House is located at 86 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor. Tickets can be purchased in person at the box office during normal business hours, or over the phone at 207-633-5159, or online at: http://www.boothbayoperahouse.
“Music, of course, is what I hear and something that I more or less live by. It’s not an occupation or profession, it’s a compulsion.” — Duke Ellington
The Big Feathers Open, 22nd Anniversary, with the Galvanized Jazz Band July 13, 2014.
Giant Valley Polo Club, at Giant Valley Farm in Hamden, Connecticut, held their 22nd Big Feathers Open, with the Finals on July 13, 2014, with Butch Butterworth narrating. The Club features polo games every Sunday, but this anniversary was complete with delectable barbecue and the The Galvanized Jazz Band playing some delectable jazz.
Galvanized Jazz Band with guests Jim Fryer and Tom Artin
Fred Vigorito cornet, Tom Artin trombone, Noel Kaletsky and Russ Whitman reeds, Jim Fryer French horn/trombone/trumpet, Art Hovey bass/tuba, Bob Bequillard drums, and vocals by Carol Leigh and Cynthia Fabian.
This anniversary was special for Big Feathers, Frank Butterworth.
The Big Feathers HISTORY
Butch Butterworth taping the Galvanized Jazz Band
After the Polo Match, (see pictures below) The Galvanized Jazz Band, with the sterling assistance of Jim and Tom, began with Sidney Bechet’s Dans Les Rues D’Antibes, a French “rendez-vous du jazz et de la gaité”. Reeds complemented each other, Noel on soprano sax, Russ on tenor sax; the solos and ensemble creating beautiful classic jazz!
Carol Leigh
We were happy to hear Carol Leigh step out of retirement for a few songs, beginning with How Long Blues, backed by hubby Russ on tenor sax, and the1926 Cake Walking Babies, and I’ll Be a Friend With Pleasure.
We remember recording her with the Salty Dogs in 1976 at the Indianapolis Battle of the Bands.
When Butch and Leigh Butterworth were married, The Galvanized Jazz Band played Stuff Smith’s It’s Wonderful. They played it now in memory of a dear departed Connecticut Musician and mentor, Red Balaban. Marvelous trombone, piano, French horn, Bequillard keeping Trad time on drums.
We were sitting in the barn on haystack seats, feet tapping to St. Phillips’ St. Breakdown, with both Noel and Russ on fiery clarinets.
Art slapping that bass!
Next was a Mexican love story, with two trumpets, Art slapping bass, Tom playing low, glissando tailgate trombone; a powerhouse group, they love playing this music!
Cynthia Fabiam
Cynthia Fabian, featured vocalist with the band, brought her own genuine sound to the group with a Louis Prima 1946 Sunday Kind of Love, and a great tune done by Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the 40’s and 50’s – Strange Things Are Happening Every Day.
A Good Man Is Hard To Find, 1917, HOT number with Cynthia, Fred, and the two trombones of Jim Fryer and Tom Artin.
Jim Fryer and Tom Artin
Jim Fryer began his career in Northhampton MA with Dave Pinardi’s band. They played a tune he recorded with Dave Huxtable on banjo. Dave wrote it for Jim’s sister, on a riverboat, I’m Going to Skedaddle Back to Seattle. (Here done by the Titan Hot Seven – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KhGdXLN2fE Recorded by Michael Steinman for Jazz Lives.)
Galvanized Jazz Band played it with Art on his big black tuba, and Bob Bequillard let loose on drums. We could hear the fine drum solo, but couldn’t see him behind the front line, so we caught him later, front and center.
Bob Bequillard, excellent traditional jazz drummer
Russ and Noel were featured on Bechet’s Si Tu Vois Ma Mere.
The band played When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New for Holman and Fran Rice, fans of the band for many years, who were celebrating their 68th wedding anniversary. It was a touching moment, Holman sang it tenderly for Fran.
POLO COMPETITION at The Big Feathers 22nd Anniversary
We enjoyed tailgating at the game – a first for us!
Butch and Score Keeper Gayle Duignan were in the center, Butch narrating the plays.
Score keeper Gayle Duignan with Butch at center field, and the Big Feathers Trophy.
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 Big Feathers Trophy |
Giant Valley Polo will have a benefit for The Wounded Warrior Project on August 17th, followed by the Annual WTF Invitational Tournament finals on August 24; People, polo, good music and beer. See www.giantvalleypoloclub.com for more information. Polo will continue on Sundays through September 28th. www.facebook.com/giantvalleypolo
Galvanized Jazz Band can be heard on the 3rd Thursday of EVERY month, with Tom Artin trombone, featuring vocalist Cynthia Fabian, at Aunt Chilada’s, 3931 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 203-230-4640.
A very special thanks to Dan Hulub, who gave us his time, and drove the 110 miles and made it possible for me to be here!
Marce
The New Black Eagle Jazz Band
Tony Pringle cornet /leader, Billy Novick alto sax/clarinet, Stan Vincent trombone, Peter Bullis banjo, Ross Petot piano, John Turner string bass, (from Roomful of Blues ) and their original drummer 43 years ago – Pam Pameijer.
Pam Pameijer
The powerhouse group had just returned from traveling 700 miles at several concerts, and was in rare form. Old Home Week, that’s what it felt like, at the Sherborn Inn. It brought back memories of the band when Don Kenny was on string bass, and Pam on drums. Pameijer’s magical drumming motivates the whole band. Traditional Jazz at its best!
Supple, sweet When I Grow Too Old To Dream, barn burning Weary Blues. Tony learned the next tune when he was with the Special Delivery Band from Scotland – Ross Petot was featured on Jubilee. No charts, full 32-bar solos, gave him a chance to show off his spontaneous creativity.
John Turner backs Ross Petot on Jubilee
Peter’s banjo and red sox haven’t changed in 43 years.
Luis Russell wrote Give Me Your Telephone Number back in the 20’s or 30’s. Back to back blues – Slow Blues and Steal Away, the plink, plink, plink of Peter’s banjo maintained that beat behind Billy’s clarinet.
He gets one solo on banjo, usually towards the end of the evening- dynamic Shake It And Break It.
It’s All Right With Me, Turner’s string bass hit every note. Then they turned to a march, Blue Bell’s Goodbye, from the Al Jolson Story.
Stan Vincent fine trombone
Tomorrow Night is a New Orleans tune, circa WWII, that became popular in the 50’s, Tony took the vocal.
Marvelous trombone by Stan Vincent, also an original from the band.
Billy was featured on glorious alto sax on Dreaming Away. The band bolstered him on fabulous on Chelsea Bridge. Pleading The Blues.
They’ve just returned from their 39th consecutive appearance at the Mount Gretna Playhouse, followed by a Jazz Service where they played a hymn written in 1929 by Albert E. Brumley, I’ll Fly Away.
They played many of their old tunes, familiar sounds to those of us who were there in the early Wicket days. But they will be playing some new tunes – Tony says they will keep digging, “There’s some nice stuff out there.”
They closed as they did at the Sticky Wicket, with a melodic, mellow Brahms Lullaby.
The New Black Eagle Jazz Band has found a home at the Sherborn Inn, 33 North Main St. Sherborn Massachusetts 01752 on the 2nd Thursday of every month. (800) 552-9742 Stop in and rekindle your happy memories too!
NOTE:
Their old home, The Sticky Wicket was built by a Business Teacher from Marlboro, and featured English Beer – which is why Tony Pringle settled the New Black Eagle Jazz Band there in 1971; English beer on tap. We had nineteen years of great music there. We were saddened to learn that we lost Foster Yeadon on June 8th.
Blue Horizon Jazz Band with Paul Monat and Al Ehrenfried
The Blue Horizon Jazz Band presented a romping New Orleans take on Sidney Bechet’s jazz and blues, with the five-piece group working together in a true spirit of cooperation. We were surprised to find cornetist Paul Monat substituting for trumpeter Jeff Stout, who has had a death in the family. Al Ehrenfried, string bass, came out of retirement for this evening.
It was a five-piece band, with Stan McDonald and Paul Monat cornet, holding the front line with the superb backing of the rhythm section, pianist Ross Petot, Al Ehrenfried bass, and Steve Taddeo drums.
They kicked it off with the New Orleans sound with Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland, and continued with Ross Petot’s robust piano intro to What Is This Thing Called Love.
Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll, Bechet’s I Remember When, Everybody Loves My Baby. The two were in sync, twining around each other. Stan started Lastic on clarinet, with Paul playing a long, sustained, note. The two make some powerful music together, drums and string bass maintaining the Traditional Jazz Beat.
When You and I Were Young Maggie. Bechet’s Blues In The Air, nice blues lead by Stan McDonald.
Ross was featured on Lucky Day, backed by string bass and drums.
Ross Petot Featured
It was Steve Taddeo’s birthday. Monida surprised him with a cake while the band played the Birthday Song.
Happy Birthday, Steve!
Stan and Paul in unison on Bechet’s Marchand de Poisson. Bechet’s Fantasy, Paul slipped in some of his mentor, Wild Bill Davison.
When I Leave The World Behind, had Stan on vocal, great soprano sax; continuing on Lonesome Road. Getting into overtime now with Bechet’s Dans Les Rues D’Antibes, with Al playing a superb bass solo, backed by Steve’s adept drumming.
It was an unforgettable evening. The Blue Horizon Jazz Band will return as usual on the 3rd Tuesday of month, August 19th with more surprises.
Paul Monat will be in New England until September, when he returns to Florida. Stay tuned.