Wolverine Jazz Band
Jeff Hughes cornet, Tom Boates trombone, John Clark leader/clarinet/bari sax, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums
by Marce
It doesn’t get any better than this!! Each musician has an infinite flow of music in him; together their relentless drive make them titantic! They played songs from various CDs including their latest, #14, and tested out songs for the next one in the works. They also inserted some rarely heard Dixie like Cushion Foot Stomp and some standards There were many surprises!
Jimmy Mazzy kicked it off with The Curse Of An Aching Heart; and the rarely heard Sugarfoot Stomp – out came John’s baritone sax.
Tom Boates and Jeff Hughes raised the 1915 Weary Blues to new heights, with Jeff playing a short melodic phrase, Tom repeating it, sometimes slightly varied or in a different pitch. Amazing!
 Tom Boates |
 Jeff Hughes |
Tom was featured on Ory’s Creole Trombone. John joined him on bari sax for Sidney Bechet’s Passport to Paradise, buoyed by the splendid rhythm section. He sang W. C. Handy’s Beale St. Blues, adding some scatting. Connecticut is fortunate to have this stellar musician in their neighborhood!
Dynamic Duo – the Wolverine’s rhythmic engine.
 Dave Didriksen |
 Rick MacWilliams |
Jeff Hughes had many requests, starting with Elmer Shobel’s Prince of Wails, the front line playing tight New Orleans polyphony.
Phenominal Front Line
The 1929 Rhythm Aces’ Michigander Blues is on their Baker’s Dozen CD, #13 with a tuba solo by Rick MacWilliams, dramatic and straightforward.
Come Back Sweet Papa was composed in the 50’s by drummer Paul Barbarin.
Ross Petot
Ross was featured on his own version of Caravan, one of our favorites, with the band joining him; glorious piano ending. He likes playing this fine Yamaha piano.
Jimmy Mazzy
Another surprise – Jimmy Mazzy actually crooned Frank Sinatra’s All The Way, with Sinatra’s unfaltering enunciation. We understood every word! Jimmy’s ballads are extraordinary, but this one was astounding.
John Clark on baritone saxophone
He introduced a nice jazzy number, done by the Blue Steele Orchestra in WWI, Sugar Babe I’m Leaving. The Wolves went wild with John again on bari sax.
John and Gisela Bruneccini are fine dancers
Ken’s had a full house, with many loyal fans returning from the Sherborn Inn. There were dancers in the crowd. John and Gisela were happy to dance to a sweet ballad, Stairway to the Stars. Gisela is a war bride. They met during WWII in England when John was playing trumpet in the U.S. Army Band. They set a fine example for us; people congratulated them on their fine dancing.
Dr. David and Mrs. Bailen brought their whole family.
Dr. David and Helene Bailen and Family
Sue Lewis
Sue Lewis loves dancing too. It’s a joy to watch her!
John Clark surprised us with a vocal on Irving Berlin’s At The Devil’s Ball. He’s a fine singer, but generally leaves the singing to Jimmy. (Thank you, Betty Weaver, who has been pushing him to sing for years.)
Rick MacWilliams requested Moonlights, playing a fine tuba with clarinet playing softly in background.
Their next CD will bring memories of Ray Smith’s Paramount Jazz Band, with a takeoff on Robin Verdier’s arrangement of Who Wouldn’t Love You. That one moved the dancers.
Jimmy was featured on a new vocal, Strangers, with interesting interaction between bari sax and tuba. They did justice to Satanic Blues, originally played by the ODJB, Original Dixieland Jazz Band, in London in 1919.
Then came the biggest surprise of all – Sarah Spencer was here from Connecticut; she joined the band on tenor sax and singing. We haven’t seen Sarah in years! She plays in Traditional Jazz Style, and has dedicated her life to this music. Originally from England, she has her own band, Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band.
Sarah Spencer on tenor sax
She began with her own matchless vocal on Love Song of The Nile, then played tenor sax in New Orleans revival style, with interplay by John Clark on bari sax. Words can’t describe the explosion of wondrous sounds!
Swing That Music was the final tune of the evening, John and Sarah inspiring each other trading fours for sixteen bars, then Jeff leading and Tom stealing his riffs for the next sixteen bars, as they did in the beginning. Jimmy went wild on banjo and song; Ross made the Yamaha sing. The rhythm section adding to the drive and momentum, reveling in pure sound and enjoyment! The audience gave them rousing applause. Whew!
Wolverine Jazz Band with Sarah Spencer
The Wolverine Jazz Band will be back February 18th at Primavera Ristorante, and March 20th at Ken’s Steak House.
Swing Times Five will be at Ken’s Steak House February 21st, the only band in February at Ken’s.
Sarah Spencer will have a new CD out in the Spring, maybe called Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic All-Stars, featuring Jimmy Mazzy and Mike Owen trombone (from England). Stay tuned.
