Riverboat Stompers
Steve Straus reeds, Larry Baxter cornet, Frank Batchelor trombone, Phil Hower piano, Jim Mazzy Banjo, Pierre Lemieux tuba, Rick Malcolm drums.
Riverboat Stompers played at the Sherborn Inn June 25th, 2013, featuring the music of Hoagie Carlichael, Gershwin, Cole Porter, and more. They began hot and heavy with That’s-a-Plenty.
Front Line: Steve Straus, Larry Baxter, Frank Batchelor
Steve Straus moves easily from clarinet to soprano sax on New Orleans. Jimmy Mazzy had many of the vocals, but Larry Baxter took over for some tunes, Lady Be Good C’est Si Bon. Steve Straus also did a fine vocal on Cottontown.
Pierre Lemieux
Pierre Lemieux thoughtfully supports the band and each musician without pushing.
They dedicated Blue Turning Gray Over You to their late trombone player, Tom Page, who died about 1 ½ years ago. Ensemble vocal took the intro to Sophie Tucker’s Some of These Days, with Jimmy taking it over with soft backing by Baxter’s cornet.
Phil Hower
Pianist Phil Hower listens carefully; responds with delicate and resourceful phrases.
This is a fun band. Medley for today, with audience participation, Ain’t She Sweet, Five Foot Two, I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover. Everyone gets into the vocal on Alabama Jubilee, and on kazoo. They have a ‘name this tune’ contest. Jimmy singing, scatting, carefully not giving away the title. But this time no one came up with the tune “South”. Maybe next time.
Rich Malcolm
Drummer Rich Malcolm is capable of slam banging with the best of them, but he’s unselfishly maintains the beat, letting loose on solos so that we sometimes hear the melody in his drums. He started with a Latin beat on Comes Love, with swinging bridges.
Jimmy Mazzy
They slowed the pace for Why, a little known tune played by Golden Gate Rhythm Machine on the West Coast, and the Riverboat Ramblers on the East Coast. Mazzy putting his heart into the tune in his own unique Mazzy style.
They closed with ‘Till We Meet Again. We might be able to catch them playing somewhere on the North Shore. Check out www.riverboatstompers.com for their schedule.
Tunes played today:
That’s a Plenty, New Orleans, Lady Be Good, Blue Turning Grey Over You, South, Alabama Jubilee, Why, Who’s Sorry Now, Home, Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Cottontown, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Miss Otis Regrets, Medley, Comes Love, Lulu’s Back in Town, C’est Si Bon, Some of These Days, ‘Til We Meet Again.