Stan McDonald soprano sax, Phil Person trumpet, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Jack Soref guitar, Stu Gunn double bass, Rich Malcolm drums
The Blue Horizon Jazz Band played uplifting and foot-tapping Traditional Jazz Thursday night at Primavera Ristaurant, with Stan and Phil taking turns on the melody or improvising around it, Gerry’s smooth (or growling) trombone, Jack’s marvelous gypsy guitar, Stu’s artful string bass supporting Rich’s one-beat drum-rolls behind the fine solos.
They played many of our favorite tunes: Set 1
I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me
Georgia On My Mind
Blue Turning Gray Over You
My Gal Sal
Tijuana
Set 2
Some Sweet Day
Bechet’s Fantasy
Spreading Joy
Lotus Blossom
Out of Nowhere
All By Myself in the Morning
Set 3
Nuages
Dear Old Southland
When I Leave The World Behind
I Remember When
After You’ve Gone
Le Marchand de Poisson
Stan McDonald
Phil Person
Gerry Gagnon
Stu Gunn
Rich Malcolm
Jack Soref
Stan McDonald and Phil Person
The Blue Horizon Jazz Band will return on the next first Thursday of the month, October 6th.
Thank you Stan and Ellen McDonald for keeping this art form alive!
Trombone
Leader Dan Gabel, also vocals & megaphone
Saxes/Clarinet
Austin Yancey tenor sax
John Clark alto
Richard Garcia alto
Trumpets
Adam Mejaour
Kai Sandoval
Keyboard
Herb Gardner
Rhythm:
Bill Doyle guitar/banjo
Rick MacWilliams tuba
Steve Taddeo drums
Dan Gabel brought his upligting Ten-piece High Society Orchestra to Primavera Ristorante for a rehearsal on Thursday, relaxed, without the usual mandatory suits and ties. They were challenged by Dan, though, with the sight-reading of charts and arrangements they have never seen before. They read charts like we read books – they were amazing! It was a wonderful evening of dance music played during the depression of the 20’s and 30’s; way before their time!
In a 1927 tune that Bix did with Whitman, From Monday On, John Clark’s alto sax traded fours with Dan Gabel’s trombone . Marvelous! They sounded just like the Paul Whitman Band!
Rolling Along With The Breeze was breathtaking with the three clarinets
Three clarinets, Austin Yancey, John Clark, Richard Garcia
The orchestra played a lovely Irving Berlin medley, all doing second endings on a nice waltz, Marie and Coquette. Gabel says he’s known as “The Waltz King”. We agree.
Tuba and trombone were in sync for Frank Skinner’s Big City Blues.
Bill Doyle
There was a dance craze in the 1920’s, called The Baltimore, with a tune by the same name.
Rhythm guitarist Bill Doyle was great on banjo.
Clark likes arranger Archie Bleyer. They played both up and down parts on Up a Lazy River, with none of the usual stops – georgeous!
Dan on megaphone.
Dan took out the megaphone for a rousing vocal on an early Bing Crosby tune, Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella.
Upbeat – especially great banjo!
He also sang ‘Leven Thirty Saturday Night.
The saxes were featured on Sax Appeal. Fletcher Henderson’s Sugar – I Call My Baby My Sugar, was crisp and very fast, John Clark featured on alto sax.
Austin Yancey tenor, John Clark alto, Richard Garcia alto
I Surrender Dear (Bing Crosby) featured Adam Mejaour’s open, expressive trumpet, with Dan pushing out high notes on fine trombone.
The trombone and trumpets really got into the Big Band feeling, swaying back and forth, onPlease.
Kai Sandoval and Adam Mejaour on trumpet
There was a request for Take The A Train, piano intro, featuring Richard Garcia on alto sax.
Dan Gabel is President of the American Big Band Preservation Society, which gives him access to about 1500 arrangements. He gave them a medley of really old tunes:
The Bowery, Sidewalks of New York, Little Girls in Blue, Maizie, Daisie Bell, Comrades, Little Annie Rooney, She May Have Seen Better Days, The Band Played On, After The Ball is Over. We couldn’t believe our music coming out of young musicians, some still in Berklee and The Conservatory! Dan says he did this because he loves this music. So do we, Thank You, Dan!!
They closed with a WILD Archie Bleyer arrangement of China Boy.
There were three familiar faces on rhythm, newcomers to this orchestra:
Herb Gardner
Rick MacWilliams
Steve Taddeo
Dan Gabel’s High Society Orchestra was very busy this summer, handsome in their fine crisp uniforms, consistently playing for sell-out crowds, especially for young people and dancers. This kind of music is in good hands with them!
Jeff Hughes cornet, John Clark clarinet/tenor and baritone sax, Tom Boates trombone, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums
The Wolves were elated to return to the former Sherborn Inn, now known as The Heritage of Sherborn. They first played here in 1998. They played with lyricism and passion! It was a full house, with their many fans returning and happy to hear them again.
The seating has been changed, with the band set up in the right hand corner of the “T”, now playing directly to the 50+ listeners in what was the dead-end left corner. No problem hearing the band now!! This was taken during the break from what had been the ‘dead end’ left corner of the “T”. Our ‘music family’ was getting re-acquainted.
New Seating arrangement
The viewing tables inside the front door were replaced with a very active bar, and a tall table with tall chairs just inside the door, and a fine dance floor.
inside the front door
The Front Line was HOT right from the beginning, with At Sundown
Front Line: John Clark, Jeff Hughes, Tom Boates
Canal St. Blues is an old war horse, with Tom Boates’ growling trombone. He was just back from a well deserved vacation in Florida. He’s been teaching music for 40 years! He’ll be back at Guilford CT High School.
Jimmy was featured with a tune done by the Blue Steele & His Orchestra, in 1927, Sugar Babe I’m Leaving. John took out the baritone sax. RaeAnn video taped this with the Wolverines on November 7, 2015 at the 26th Annual Arizona Classic Jazz Society in Chandler AZ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWVjyTqKv28
Jimmy has a wealth of tunes and introduced one to the band this week, pianist Joe Robichaux’s 1933 After Me The Sun Goes Down.
Once In a While was a barn-buster! It’s on their new CD. They slowed down for a tune of Jeff’s choice, he picked Django’s Nuage, ending in a flamboyant cornet coda.
John and Gisela Brunaccini took advantage of the dance floor for the 1931 Pop tune, Strangers, and for the first blues ever recorded, Memphis Blues – nice fox trot. They’re in their 90’s and fabulous dancers.
John and Gisela Brunaccinis
Jimmy sang the vocal, Rick’s tuba had a great solo on Sunset Café Stomp. John took out the tenor sax for Robin’s Nest with Jimmy Scatting. John was still in good form from playing Sunday Brunch at the Griswold Inn Sunday with the 90-year-old Bob Card and The Freight Train Five, where they also played On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
The Wolverines recorded Wolverine Blues on their first CD, without a trombone, because John hadn’t found one good enough. Tom Boates definitely has filled in that gap!
Jimmy Mazzy has been playing almost every night with one band or another. Last Sunday he was with the New Orleans Trio on the Jazz Boat up and down the Cape Cod Canal. There’s only one cruise left this year, folks – September 4th. They board at 1:15pm.
Jimmy Mazzy and Dave Didriksen
Behind Jimmy is drummer Dave Didriksen, who has been with John Clark for years. Dave Didriksen knows his Jazz, and is booking Ken’s Steak House every Sunday afternoon 4pm starting in September. Ken’s Steak House
Rick MacWillliams
He and Rick MacWilliams have lead the rhythm section for John Clark ever since he started here in New England.
Rick leads the Commonwealth Jazz Band that includes John Clark or Noel Kaletsky on reeds and Jimmy Mazzy banjo and vocals.
There was a request for Let Me Call You Sweetheart, The Wolves played it in Dixieland style like the Halfway House orchestra in 1927. (They were named after a dance hall called the Halfway House that was halfway between New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.)
Robin’s Nest was in remembrance of Sir Charles Thompson, a jazz pianist of supple power who bridged the swing and bebop eras. He died June 16 at age 98.
John Clark sings too
John sang a rambunctious Happy Feet, from the 1929 King Of Jazz (named for Paul Whitman.)
Tom Boates gives it 150%
Tom sings on the new CD, Now & Then, Hello Central, Give Me Dr. Jazz, with Jeff adding some cornet vibrato.
Jeff uses strange mute
A slow bluesy blues had many names, they stuck with Audrey, banjo intro, tenor sax, trombone, cornet muted with a wine glass.
Ross Petot, widely known and respected pianist
Ross Petot is an essential part of this band, playing his excellent stride piano. He was featured on a WILD Birmingham Breakdown. John on bari sax. CineDevine recorded it at the 2013 Hot Steamed Jazz Festival.
John returned to tenor sax with Jimmy Singing September in The Rain, Tom’s trombone sneaking in a bit of In My Solitude. They inspire each other; when they get together it’s magic!!
They closed with dynamic solos on an exciting, freewheeling, Strutting With Some Barbecue. Fabulous!
The Wolverine Jazz Band and its individual members will be kept busy next year, including many festivals. We try to keep up with them, but it isn’t easy!! Their Gatsby Weekend on Star Island off Portsmouth NH Aug 27-28 is sold out!
Keep an eye out for them on our Calendars at nejazz.com.
Their new CD, Now & Then is out. Number 14? It has some tunes they recorded in the past, including a couple from 1998!
Now & Then
You can get them wherever John or the Wolverines appear, or at theirwebsite.
For their appearances, keep an eye on our Calendars at www.nejazz.com.
Eli and Hot Five, (Plus Four) at Primavera August 18, 2016 by Marce
Ted Casher clarinet/tenor sax, Bo Winiker trumpet, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter keys, Eli Newberger tuba, Bob Tamagni drums, Carolyn Newberger washboard, and special guests Elaine Woo, Sarah (Gardner) Nova, and Watson Reid on vocals.
Eli and The Hot Five are a Powerhouse group of accomplished musicians, playing music like you will hear nowhere else. Relaxed and with honest camaraderie, they thoroughly enjoy themselves, and so inspire the audience.
An upbeat Jazz Me Blues started the evening, then leader Eli Newberger immediately asked individual musicians to play tunes of their choice.
Bob Winter
Bob Winter tore into a joyous romp on Margie, reaching down and creating music with almost a classical approach to the melody (but with elegant, surprising harmonic choices beneath).
Herb Gardner
Herb played superb trombone and sang It’s Almost Like Being In Love, with Ted supporting on clarinet and Bo on flugelhorn.
He later returned for one of his favorites Hoagie Carmichael’s Old Rocking Chair”
There is free interplay in this amazing front line; they inspire one another, and are backed by brilliant rhythm accompaniment.
Front Line
Eli called on Elaine Woo for her choice of songs. She took over the band for an inspiring Body and Soul. She is vibrant bundle of energy, (She is also an MD in Internal Medicine.)
Elaine Woo
Watson Reid
There was another MD in the audience, an internist and a psychiatrist who retired from medicine after 29 years to pursue his love of music full time. Watson Reid joined the band singing Ain’t She Sweet.
Just for the fun of it, the vocalists formed a quartet and resuscitated an oldie, You Are My Sunshine.
Quartet has a conference on what song they will sing.
Bob Winter’s keyboard introduced one of our favorites, an instrumental on Limehouse Blues.
Bob Tamagni
Bob Tamagni, a Professor at Berklee, puts heart and soul into it. He articulates and phrases drumming with the same expression as any other instrument. Eli said“He’s one of the most musical drummers in the world!”.
Carolyn Newberger joined the band on washboard with a bouncy Miami Rhumba that had the audience swaying in their seats. The energy was far from flagging!
Elaine returned with Taking a Chance on Love. The two came together for a foot stomping Darktown Strutters’ Ball.
Carolyn Newberger and Elaine Woo make a great team!
Route 66 started with a tuba line, then Elaine on vocal. Eli could not resist joining Bob for Four Handed Piano. They do have fun!
Bob Winter and Eli Newberger play four-handed piano
Sarah Nova’s warm voice caresses the melody and lyrics
Sarah Nova’s deep feeling takes us inside each song, I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter and Everybody Loves My Baby. She writes and sings songs for Babies and Children and has many CDs – passing on good life lessons.
Principle vocalist Elaine Woo also sang Sentimental Journey, Embraceable You, and Getting Some Fun Out Of Life, (good motto for a life lesson), .
Bo does Louis Armstrong
Bo was featured with soaring trumpet on Louis’s Hello Dolly. He dedicated When You’re Smiling to a member in the audience, Matt Robino, who went to High School with him – they haven’t met since 1970!
Eli Newberger solo tuba
Eli was featured, alone on Somewhere Over The Rainbow, an incredible, awesome solo on tuba.
There was more instrumentals, Midnight in Moscow, Muscat Ramble, Savoy – with Ted on tenor sax. Wow!
Carolyn was sketching away throughout the evening. . (She is also a Dr. and clinical and research psychologist, artist, musician, and essayist. Maybe we’ll see some of them.)
They closed with a sensational Strutting With Some Barbecue.
Nowhere else will you hear such accomplished musicians relaxed and having fun playing classic, contemporary jazz and swing. They are here at Primavera on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Next one will be September 15th – come see abd hear for yourself!
We were thrilled to have the Midiri Brothers back, and they were happy to return to Bemis Hall in Lincoln, Massachusetts with Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders:
John Clark director on reeds, Paul Monat cornet, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Ross Petot piano, Bill Doyle guitar, Justin Meyer string bass, Steve Taddeo drums, Caroline Griep and Paul Agnew vocals, and of course Joe Midiri on reeds and Paul Midiri on vibes (and drums).
Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders opened their Aug 13, 2016 concert with the Midiri Brothers with this 1928 classic Crazy Rhythm – Harold McAleer’s videos tell the story best:
The next tune shows the band’s great solos by each musician, as well as the Midiri Brothers together, and portrays the fabulous afternoon of Swing and Jazz that we witnessed here today:
When I Grow Too Old To Dream
Bemis Hall was filled with avid fans, and they were not disappointed.
There were more tables in the rear.
Caroline Griep
Caroline Griep joined the band for Out of Nowhere,Slow Boat to China, Taking a Chance on Love. She’s always a joy to hear!
After You’ve Gone was WILD! Joe Midiri HOT clarinet. Paul Monat holding a long note on cornet, Paul on vibes and John Clark on bari sax playing innumerable notes on that onerous instrument. It just couldn’t get any better than this!
But there was much more!
Paul Agnew
Paul Agnew sang All By Myself.
Paul is a local vocalist (Braintree) who interprets the timeless music of the Great American Songbook with meaning and authority.
Steve let Gene Krupa loose on Don’t Be That Way, with everyone stopped and focused on Taddeo.
Steve Taddeo solo
Joe Midiri singing Louis
Joe Midiri does a great Louis Armstrong, singing Pennies From Heaven, and playing a duet with Gerry Gagnon’s fine trombone.
Our favorite is always when Joe does Sidney Bechet on soprano sax, – Si tu Vois Ma Mère:
Avalon was over 18 minutes long, with many great solos and the marvelous Midiri Brothers playing together. Steve Taddeo was featured in an 11 minute drum presentation, including his ‘walk around’; Justin joins him on string bass at 10, and Paul Midiri joins him for a drum duet at 13. They do enjoy this!
They closed this superb evening with Russian Lullaby.
The Midiri Brothers enjoy being here and promised they would return; we’re certainly looking forward to them next August 13th, 2017 at Ken’s Steak house, Rt. 9 Framingham MA – The Big Four, with The Midiri bros,Paul Midiri vibes, Joe Midiri reeds, Jeff Barnhart stride piano and Steve Taddeo drums, and With Caroline Griep vocals
Stay tuned to our calendars at www.nejazz.com.
Bob Winter keyboard, Eli Newberger tuba, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Bob Tamagni drums, Bo Winiker trumpet, Herb Gardner trombone.
Jimmy Mazzy and Eli Newberger have performed together for years.
Jimmy opened singing a beautiful melody, C’est Ci Bon; he was right – this evening was SO good!
He and Eli later played the banjo’s National Anthem, The World is Waiting for the Sunshine – they’ve done this often with The Tuber Trio.
Eli and Bob
Eli joined Bob on Sentimental Journey for amazing four-handed piano.
Bob Tamagni, teaches drumming at Berklee
Bob Tamagni is a unique drummer, capable of interweaving beautiful melody on drums. especially when he let loose on Sentimental Journey.
This isn’t the Boston Pops – Bob winter explodes on a fast Sing, Sing a Song, You could have heard a pin drop when he played sweet and soft on Duke’s Sophisticated Lady.
Bo Winiker
Bo sings Louis’s Wonderful World.
He was featured on Lady Be Good on sublime muted trumpet, then trading 4’s on open bell with Eli on tuba. They do have fun!
He takes out a smokey flugelhorn when backing vocals.
Herb Gardner
Herb played and sang Walking Stick — tribute to the cane he’s not using anymore since he broke his hip in March.
He’s playing in MANY bands, here and in New York!
Elaine Woo
Elaine Woo is a spitfire on vocals, singing down and dirty on Route 66. She also sang Billie Holiday’s Getting Some Fun Out of Life, a sweet Embraceable You, and It Might as Well Be Spring. She joined Carolyn later.
Carolyn joins Hot Five for Washboard Round-o-lay.
…..and we loved Miami Rhumba!
Carolyn and Elaine brought the house down on Darktown Strutters Ball.
These world-class musicians really enjoy playing together every chance they get.
We really missed our favorite tenor sax, Ted Casher, and look forward to hearing him again.
It was a fun, unforgettable evening!! Hopefully, Eli and The Hot Six will be back August 18th. See you there?? Mark your calendars!
“Ragtime Jack” came to Primavera solo for the first time, to give us a history and samples of Ragtime Piano, but interjected many fabulous tunes of the 1920’s.
He began with a vocal on W.C. Handy’s St. Louis Blues.
He said that noted musicologist and Morton biographer Alan Lomax first wrote that Jelly Roll Morton claimed to invent jazz.
“JRM played at Tipitina’s in New Orleans. He wrote Sweet Substitute, “ Jack’s fingers floating over the keyboard. He just returned from New Orleans and said “Tipitina’s has reopened”. http://www.tipitinas.com/
He began Up a Lazy River in a slow tempo, moving into triple time, then back to slow.
“Andy Razaf wrote lyrics for Fats. S’posin’ he wrote himself. “ Radcliffe interjected a ‘vocal trombone’ into the piece.
Jack talked about Andy Razaff when he was here previously, backing Bonnie.
He continues:
“Billy Strayhorn was a 19 year old country boy, living in Iowa, when he was asked to join Duke Ellington. On his way to New York, he wrote the lyrics to Take The A Train. “
Jack wanted to do something in French, adding some French lyrics (in a perfect accent ) to Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans.
Going back to ragtime, he played Scott Joplin’s Easy Winners, one of Joplin’s most popular works.
He explained the fingering on Boogie Woogie, saying “The left hand played the rhythmic ‘Boogie’, while the right hand played ‘the Woogie’. “
He sang the verse to Georgia, holding an elongated note on vocal that seemed to take forever!
Back Home Again in Indiana was played instrumental – making the keyboard yell for Help!
“Richmond, Indiana was the birthplace of Glenn Miller. “ Radcliffe gave us his beautiful version of Sentimental Journey.
“Lazy Bones was written at a time when it was too, too hot to go fishing. “
He closed with the 1924 Andy Razaf’s Porter’s Love Song to a Chamber Maid.
This was an interesting evening, filling in blanks on our knowledge of Jazz History, and backing it up with fine playing. Then he got away back to Newport, where he moved recently.
Trumpets: Larry Panzeri, Skip Gummoe, Bill Cable and Joe Hostetter. Trombones: Chris D’Senzo, Kurt Thaler, Rick Ongoing and Bob Sinclair. Saxes: Steve Gold, Maureen Ameral, Bob Tyler, Ben Petrucci and Dick Hieman. Piano: Dave James, Guitar: John Deardon, Bass: Paul Brann
with Caroline Griep vocals and Steve Taddeo Drums and Leader.
Steve Taddeo has had a big band off and on since 1978, as well as The Swing Senders. He brought this 18-piece Big Band to Bemis Hall to a good appreciative crowd on June 25, 2016.. They opened the concert with Don’t be that way. Great band!
Highlights were the give and take between Caroline Griep and Steve about the origins of the songs. Caroline sang many songs that afternoon including, I’ve got the world on a String, Massachusetts, from the Gene Krupa book, Tangerine, How ‘bout you, Orange Colored Sky.
Trumpeter Larry Panzeri reprises this Sinatra special Luck Be a Lady!
The band roared thru a Count Basie tune, Freckle Face, Orange Coast (Bill Holman chart).
Caroline Griep is dedicated to her music. The whole spirit of the room perks up perceptibly when she sings.
I’ve Got The World on a String
They closed with the 1939 Gene Krupa Classic Drumming Man which featured both Caroline and Steve.
Steve has plans for bringing more musicians to Bemis Hall – Midiri Brothers and Dan Levinson:
Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders with special Guests the Midiri Bros at Bemis hall Aug.13th, 2016. 2pm-5pm
Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders with special guest Dan Levinson,Sept.24th 2016 at Bemis hall 3pm-5pm.
Galvanized Jazz Band at Aunt Chilada’s, Hamden, CT, June 19, 2016, celebrating Holman and Fran Rice 70th Wedding Anniversary, 1946 – 2016!
by Jean Hadley
photos by Angelo
The Band: Freddy Vigorito, Russ Whitman, Noel Kaletsky, Bill Sinclair, Joel Schiavone, Bob Bequillard, Art Hovey, Tom Artin, Cythia Fabian
Rice Family
As the Galvanized Jazz Band arrived, friends, fans and family gathered. It appeared we were going to have a packed house and an evening of much celebrating.
Balloons, posters, beads, cards, flowers, gifts, and parasols filled the room. Cameras were in abundance everywhere. This was going to be a night to remember.
Fran and Holman’s life started as youngsters in Maine, married after WW2, eventually finding their way to Connecticut, raised two boys and two girls. Their two girls live here in Connecticut and the two boys live in Arizona.
Holman and Fran Rice Singing,
Fran and Holman are proof that through good times and bad, a positive attitude, perseverance, the importance of family and friends and, above all, love and prayers have kept Fran and Holman together for SEVENTY years.
They sang If I Had My Live to Live Over.
I met Fran and Holman when I was first introduced to OKOM, at the Millpond Tavern, here in Connecticut (Galvanized Jazz Band’s Sunday night gig.) Holman was 65 (on Medicare) and Fran was about to catch up the next year. Do the math! Holman will be 90 this year and next year Fran will enjoy her 90th.
Holman continues playing banjo and piano and belongs to the Elm City Banjo Society in his hometown of Wallingford, CT. Fran accompanies Holman at all his gigs and is his consummate supporter
Fran and Holman dance. Photo by Donna Rice
The room was filling, with family and friends, gathering to celebrate Fran and Holman’s union of 70 years and, listen and dance to music of 1946. Indeed, Fran and Holman still cut a rug. Freddy did a splendid job in selecting the music and the band performed top shelf!
Here are some of the songs that brought back memories for so many sitting in the audience.
Old Fashion Love, A Sunday Kind of Love, Blue Skies, If I Had My Life to Live Over (sung by Fran and Holman,) Beale Street Papa, There are Smiles, When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New (sung by Holman to Fran) and, a very touching moment. There were many more numbers and some beautifully delivered by Cynthia Fabian.
It was time for the band to take a break and bring out the cake. What a cake! During this time, friends and family from as far as Arizona, surrounded the happy couple’s table to congratulate them on such a memorable achievement; a very special “moment in time” to remember.
After the well-wishers played tribute to Fran and Holman, the band resumed; playing numbers that brought parasols front and center. The audience went mad!! So many wanted to take part in the parasol parade, we ran out of parasols and space. Even Freddy joined us.
Freddy chose some great songs for the second set. Cynthia belted out You Gotta See Mama Every Night, Walkin’ After Midnight, Is You Is or Is You Ain’t and, several others; ending with Zippity Do Da just for Fran and Holman. And, of course, the standard closing number When the Saints Go Marching In….which brought out the parasol parade once again. The fans went wild and didn’t want the evening to end. What a wonderful evening….thank you band, Aunt Chilada’s, wait-staff and friends. It would not have been possible without you.
Remember, it is not how long we live but how well we live our lives. Fran and Holman are certainly a wonderful example of this.
Dan Gabel trombone, Bill Drake guitar, Mike Peipman trumpet, Bill Reynolds leader/drums, Billy Novick alto sax and clarinet, Stu Gunn tuba/string bass, John Clark clarinet, tenor and baritone sax, Ross Petot piano, Nancy McGhee vocals.
Bill Reynolds has revivified his Dad’s band, The Back Bay Ramblers, playing hot dance and jazz from the 20’s and 30’s. Four members remain from a previous band: Billy Novick and John Clark reeds, Ross Petot piano, and of course, Bill Reynolds drums. Filling in some very big boots are Mike Peipman for Jon-Erik Kelso, who now plays every Sunday at the Ear Inn in NY; Dan Gabel for Bob Connors, who moved to Florida and is collecting old movies; Bill Drake guitar for Peter Bullis banjo who is Manager of the New Black Eagle Jazz Band; and Stu Gunn for Vince Giordano, who needs no explanation.
Ed’s Back Bay Ramblers
They started with their theme song, Dream Sweetheart, and played many of Ed’s favorite songs and vocals, aptly sung by Nancy McGhee.
Nancy McGhee
Nancy gave a strong, effervescent singing performance, beginning with Daddy, Won’t You Please Come Home. Nancy is a graduate of Berklee and is Choral Director at Lawrence High School Performing Arts. She sang songs of the Boswell Sisters, An Evening In Caroline, Eva Taylor’s 1937 Clarence Williams’ Top of The Town, Mildred Bailey’s Commentating on You. She also touched on Ed’s favorite vocalist, Annette Henshaw, with The Right Kind of Man.
The Band played Little By Little done by the Louisiana Rhythm Kings in 1929. Tiny Parham’s dark, somber Congo Love Song, arranged by Bob Connors. Cho King was arranged by pianist Robin Verdier.
Dan holds megaphone with left foot
Alcoholic Blues, 1929 by Doc Daugherty, Dan Gabel with a slow, moaning muted trombone.
Dan was featured on The River and Me, playing trombone into a 4-foot megaphone braced on his left foot.
He took the first chorus on Red McKenzie’s 1929 Hello Lola, done by the Mound City Blue Blowers. It featured all the guys with many marvelous solos by the front line.
Front Line, Dan Gabel, Mike Peipman, Billy Novick, John Clark
Mike Peipman
The 1951 Nullabor was the most recent tune, an Australian Band jazz revival. It probably means ‘null arbor’, or no trees; a grassy plain, or desert? No one knows for sure. Bill ended it with a pulsating tom-tom drum beat.
Mike Peipman is Australian. His crystal-clear trumpet led many of the tunes.
Riding But Walking – My Wonderful You, arranged by Steve Wright, the interaction between the saxes was mind boggling!
Billy Novick on alto sax, John Clark on baritone sax
Stu Gunn had big boots to fill!
Fat’s Waller’s Vipers Drag was a knockout! Virtuoso bassist Stu Gunn gives the band energy and drive. He brought two instruments, string bass and tuba, excluding Vince’s bass sax.
A full time musician, Stu Gunn plays fine classical music in local symphonic orchestras, and is fantastic on Jazz and Blues.
Bill Drake on guitar
Bill Drake’s acoustic rhythm guitar is barely heard by the audience. You can ‘feel’ him more than hear him, but he adds depth to the music that would definitely be missed!
John and Gisella really enjoy dancing!
John and Gisella Bruneccini couldn’t resist dancing!
Ross Petot is renowned for playing stride piano.
Ross played a solo on Clarence Williams Longshoreman’s Blues, improvising but never straying far from the melody. It was arranged by Billy who was on clarinet.
Shadows on The Swanee also had Ross’s fine piano.
Duke Ellington’s Red Hot Band was played by the Cotton Club Orchestra in 1927.
They closed with Joe Steele’s Top and Bottom, front line playing in staccato, saxes interweaving, twining around each other.
Bill Reynolds closes his eyes and listens
Bill Reynolds has a passion for this music. Ed Reynolds is looking down and smiling.
The Back Bay Ramblers brought a level of style and sophistication of jazz that is rarely heard today. We would like to hear them more often!
Bill has many CD’s of the various Back Bay Ramblers available for sale.
CD: The original band’s first album was in 1986, with Scott Philbrick, Johnny Battis & Billy Novick (no trombone), Robin Verdier, Jimmy Mazzy, Stu Gunn and Bill Reynolds (Thank you for this, Steve Wright. He and Bob Connors joined the band when Johnny Battis left.)
There will be no Sunday afternoon Jazz at Ken’s Steak House for the summer. Stay tuned – we’ll definitely let you know when it’s back!
