Tag Archives: Hot Steamed Jazz Festival 2012

Hot Steamed Jazz Festival 2012 Festival All Stars

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Festival All Stars – 2 sets – 4 to ? pieces – with Buffalo’s Jon Seiger as leader-trumpet-piano-vocalist-mc, Albie Bernard-sousaphone (we could actually see his face!) Bob Bequilard-drums and Jeff Barnhard-piano… and any other pro that wanted to sit in. It was two rolicking, hot, hard driving, fun loving sets with talent dripping from the stage. “The quartet of four that drew in more!” Two of the best all star sets I’ve ever seen.                                                                 Lauren Humpage

The All Stars are just that – Stars in their own right, and Jon Seiger was a shrewd choice to lead them. He is known all over the world and even has his own All Star Band.  A charming entertainer and unique performer, he loves preserving the legacy of Louis – sounding unbelievably like Louis whether he’s playing trumpet or singing.

In this set, they recruited a few younger musicians who are well on their way to becoming All Stars.  They opened with Indiana.   Shake That Thing, Georgia.  The crowd joined in with Jon leading the Hi De Ho on Cab Calloway’s Minnie The Moocher. Jon and Ray Skalski challened each other over who was the best ‘Louis’ on Armstrong’s Old Rocking Chair’s Got Me.

Darktown Strutters’ Ball Jon quoting snippets of Ipanema, and A Train, featuring Ben’s fabulous trombone trading  twos with each instrument.


Ben Griffin puts heart and soul into his playing, energizes the band.  He’s been playing all over Connecticut and environs since leaving the Coast Guard Band a couple of years ago.

Basin St. revealed his lightening dexterity on trombone!

A quiet, 21-year-old unassuming young man, Frank LiVorsi has a fondness for Ragtime, a knack for picking up tunes from the old masters by ear.  He’s played at West Coast Ragtime Festival, Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival, Sacramento Jazz Festival, and many others.

He slipped into fine stride piano for Sweet Georgia Brown, and took the intro for The All Stars on a blistering King Porter Stomp.  This is Frank’s version on YouTube. Frank is enrolled at URI in Mechanical Engineering.   We may have him around for a few more years!

Ben Griffin and Ray Skalski played scorching duet on trombone.

The All Stars covered other genres of music, moving into Rock and Roll with Rocking Is My Business, with Jeff Barnhart playing some mean boogie woogie, and everyone in the band started dancing out of Jon’s control!

except for New York’s Alex Owen. Another promising young trumpet player, he not only played with a crystal clear tone, he maintained his composure when everyone else was goofing off!

Bob Bequillard kept this unruly troupe on time, with the help of Albie Bernard on tuba.  Great tuba solo on Darktown Strutters’ Ball.


Jon Seiger finally coerced them back into some kind of sanity with Show Us The Way To Go Home.  

In spite of all the tomfoolery, and maybe because of it, these All Stars consistently play exciting, outstanding jazz!

Hot Steamed Jazz Festival 2012 Riverboat Ramblers

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Riverboat Ramblers – 3 sets – 5 pieces – Formerly a Coast Guard band director, extremely skilled in brass instruments and about any other instrument he wishes to play… and a vocalist. John Banker is one talented performer and entertainer. His hand picked side men were, Al LaPorte-synthasizer-vocals, Sal Ranniello-drums, Sherman Kahn-reeds and Bob Barta-banjo. John always guarantees a non-stop high energy performance that more often than not includes audience participation. This weekend was no exception!  Lauren Humpage


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The Riverboat Ramblers have been playing New Orleans Jazz, Gospel and Mardi Gras music throughout the East Coast since the 1980s.  Five talented Connecticut musicians who sound like a full orchestra, but you never know what they’re going to come up with!  This set consisted of some of the oldest tunes they could find.

Raniello began with a loud drum intro to Why Don’t You Go To New Orleans? John on cornet playing Louis, Sherman Kahn wild tenor sax, LaPorte’s lightening left hand on piano. 

Banker has an array of instruments – cornet, trombone, tuba, washboard.
He plays piano and just about anything else he can get his hands on.

Egyptian Ella, Barta on vocal.  “Ella must have weighed 320 pounds, but the boys liked her that way out there.”

Sherman Kahn on clarinet and tenor sax, patiently puts up with much nonsense from Banker.

A journeyman clarinetist, he was featured on an inspiring, passionate Begin The Beguine.

Banker and his wife celebrated their 32nd anniversary the  day before the festival.  It happens every year – she gets to celebrate their anniversary with all of us at this festival.  Fun.

Every year he dedicates this song to her. I Don’t Know Why I Love You Like I Do. But it’s no sweet love song. He recreates the high-pitched voice of a 1930 crank-up Victrola, with LaPorte replicating the scratches.  Inevitably there’s a crack in the record, with the repeat, repeat, repeat.  Then Banker sings the complete song – backwards!! 

They went even farther back to 1814 with Colonel Jackson and The Battle of New Orleans, sung by Johnny Horton, and played from Bismarck to Alaska! “We fired our guns but the British kept a-comin’.  There wasn’t not as a many as there was a while ago. We fired once more and they began to running, down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.”

Al Laporte is a resourceful pianist.  One has to be to play with Banker!

He played keyboard for all of the tunes.  We missed the fantastic  Boogie Woogie he did on real piano last year.

An Infamous Trio – LaPorte took the vocal on the1890 love song, Bill Bailey.  Sherman took the vocal on Just Because, John took the Dummy Song, and they sang them all together  – at the same time!

The Mardi Gras song had everyone clapping in the wrong beat, Second Line John playing tuba.  

Sal Ranniello’s superb drumming was featured on It Don’t Mean a Thing If it Ain’t Got That Swing.

His powerful playing inspires and drives the band.

John Banker said his parents are in Pennsylvania.  His Mom just had her 78th birthday, and his Dad was having his 80th that Tuesday – and they were celebrating their 50th Anniversary.  So Banker sang Elvis’s Are You Lonesome Tonight?  in a little girly voice, using the old words, with Raniello’s melodic backup on drums. 

Those Were the Days. 

You will find John Banker on piano and vocals, with Friends every Sunday 8:30pm-12:30am at the Griswold Inn in Essex, Connecticut.  Never gets dull!
John Banker accommodates any audience, and keeps it motivated. One of his idols is Robin Williams, because he can entertain any age group.  “You only live once – Live longer with laughter!”

Thanks to Bob Johnson for sponsoring this band.  Bob is the former owner of the Sunrise Resort in Moodus, where TGCTJF was held for many years.  We’ve gathered some fond memories listening to the bands and especially staying in those cabins!!

Hot Steamed Jazz Fest 2012
Jeff Barnhart – Connecticut
Galvanized Jazz Band – Connecticut
Riverboat Ramblers – Connecticut
Festival All Stars – All over
Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band – Connecticut (mostly)
The Midiri Brothers – New Jersey
Swing Times Five led by Jeff Hughes – Massachusetts
Ben Mauger’s Vintage Jazz Band – Pennsylvania
Wolverine Jazz Band – Massachusetts
Sugarfoot  Youth Band – Connecticut
Saturday Night Big Jam
Gospel Service with Jon Seiger
Funky Butt Jazz Band
Dan Levinson’s Millenium All Stars – New York
Bob Seeley – Michigan

Hot Steamed Jazz Festival 2012 Galvanized Jazz Band

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The Galvanized Jazz Band– 4 sets – 10 musicians – The always dependable stall-ward foundational trad jazz band in CT, graced by vocalist Jane Campedelli performed admirably as ever. Always a wonderful performance! Friday night Lou Green led the group with Fred Vigorito regaining the helm on Sunday.                                                                                       Lauren Humpage


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Connecticut’s Galvanized Jazz Band with Jane Campedelli vocals and Craig Grant trombone was lead by  Lew Green on Friday, June 22nd, with regulars Russ Whitman reeds, Bill Sinclair piano, Art Hovey tuba, and Bob Bequillard drums.   Fred Vigorito returned on the 24th with Jane, Craig, and Joel Schiavone.

June 24th with Fred & Joel: Galvanized Jazz Band:

Lassus Trombone:

June:

Nobody Knows you When You’re down and out:

Limehouse Blues:

Basin Street Blues with Jane Campedelli:

Sunday, Jane Campedelli

On the 23rd, with Lew Green, they opened with Lil Armstrong’s My Heart, a tune she recorded with Louis in Chicago. Jane Campedelli joined them beginning with a soft sweet verse of You’ve Got to See Mama Every Night, or You Can’t See Your Mama At All.

Sammy Kahn’s Until The Real Thing Comes Along, Russ on beautiful alto sax.

Lou’s cornet was featured on South,with Russ on curved B♭sopranino saxophone, one of the least common of the saxophones in regular use today.

We had just learned of the sad passing of Joe Muranyi.  In his memory, they played Blues for Joe, Bequillard beginning with soft brushes on the snare drum.  Lou Green has been playing off and on with Joe since 1971.  Muranyi has been around a long time, he played with Louis Armstrong.  When asked how to pronounce his name, Louis said “Think of Ma Rainey.”

Janie returned for an upbeat, risqué 1920’s tune, I Double Dare You,with Green on clean crisp cornet, sounding almost like a trumpet.  Lou lead the Original Salty Dogs from Purdue University. (The band is  now in its 64th year.)

Cutting to a slower pace, a sing-along from the Big Band Era, Les Brown’s Band of Renown, Sentimental Journey.

Piano vamp intro to Yellow Dog Blues,  fabulous trombone by Craig Grant. He plays with such passion, the instrument almost becomes an extension of his body.  And the New England audience actually responded to the Yellow Dog, jumping up and yelling in the breaks!  (We’re learning.)

Craig is a fantastic trombone player, one of the best in New England, but is generally unknown outside of Connecticut.   Your loss, our gain!!

Bill Sinclair piano keeps the band in line.

Bill has been playing New Orleans Jazz for over 40 years, he even played with W. C. Handy when he was 16, picking up an incredible feel for New Orleans Jazz.

The dynamic duo, the basic foundation of the Galvanized Jazz Band, maintain its steady, solid beat – Bob Bequillard drums, and Art Hovey, tuba and string bass.

Bob has been playing Dixieland for over 40 years and is known and respected for holding a strong, steady beat.

Art may be a physicist, but he lives and breathes music, and is determined to ensure the survival of Traditional/Dixieland Jazz with his  very successful Sugarfoot Youth Jazz Band

They concluded this set with Janie’s Hot Mama version of Cake Walking Babies.

The Galvanized Jazz Band plays all over Connecticut, and at Aunt Chilada’s, 3931 Whitney Ave, Hamden, always on the 3rd Sunday of every month, with Tom Artin-trombone, Cynthia Fabian-vocals, Bill Sinclair-piano, Noel Kaletsky and Russ Whitman-reeds, Art Hovey-bass, Fred Vigorito-cornet, Tom Palinko-drums, Joel Schiavone-banjo, a 9 piece band! Don’t miss the hot Jazz, great food, and dancing too! No cover, no minimum! Call 203-230-4640 for reservations.

http://galvanizedjazz.com/

Hot Steamed Jazz Fest 2012
Jeff Barnhart – Connecticut
Galvanized Jazz Band – Connecticut
Riverboat Ramblers – Connecticut
Festival All Stars – All over
Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band – Connecticut (mostly)
The Midiri Brothers – New Jersey
Swing Times Five led by Jeff Hughes – Massachusetts
Ben Mauger’s Vintage Jazz Band – Pennsylvania
Wolverine Jazz Band – Massachusetts
Sugarfoot  Youth Band – Connecticut
Saturday Night Big Jam
Gospel Service with Jon Seiger
Funky Butt Jazz Band
Dan Levinson’s Millenium All Stars – New York
Bob Seeley – Michigan

Hot Steamed Jazz Festival 2012 Jeff Barnhart

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Jeff Barnhart – 2 sets +… as a soloist, in a duet, or part of a larger group, in my opinion the living reincarnation of Thomas “Fats” Waller in performance, style, technique, humor, voice, projection, etc., etc. I can’t pay him any more honors than that. Jeff can always be counted on for a 150% performance filled with love for the music and his audiences.                                        Lauren Humpage

“From Barrelhouse to Ballads” was his second set.  He said of Barrelhouse players – most of them had no training, they just picked up the tunes from whoever came before them.  Jeff said “Best thing to do is just listen!” St. Louis Blues.

Bob Sealey was in the audience, enjoying every note.

With the boogie-woogie meister listening – Jeff dared play a Chatanooga Choo ChooBoogie. Watch Seeley at the end!

1919 –  Blues by then had superceded Ragtime.  Jeff thinks Ragtime and the Blues went off on an illicit weekend and nine months later, Jazz was born.  Jazz synthesized the best of both.
Blues My Naughty Sweetheart Gives To Me

1923 Bessie Smith Sang it, everybody was singing it; Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out

Jack Teagarden said St James infirmary Blueswas the oldest blues he ever heard.

Jeff thanked the magnificent crowd.  Said no matter where he and Anne go in the world Essex is home, This is the place – he loves this Festival!

‘Lasses Blues  was real Barrelhouse!!

At Jeff’s invitation, Seeley jumped up onto the stage.

Alone they are whirlwinds – together they are a cyclone!  It started out civil….

but that didn’t last long –


Seeley finally got up and danced/jigged up and down the stage while Jeff kept playing.




All in good fun – mutual admiration society.

Many thanks to the organizers of this festival for bringing these two world talents together for our listening pleasure!

Hot Steamed Jazz Festival 2012 Saturday Night Jam

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Jon Seiger led The All Stars into the most unique Saturday Night Jam that we have ever witnessed!

Jon is charming, personable, entertainer, a master of New Orleans Jazz.  His singing and playing inspires the band.

Jon closeup

Cornet/trumpet – Jon Seiger, Alex Owen
Clarinet – Joe Midiri
Trombone – Emma Sayles,Tom Boates, Ben Griffin, Ray Skalski,
Mike Rocha (of New Bedford’s SouthCoast Jazz Orchestra)
Piano – Jeff Barnhart, Frank LiVorsi
Tuba – Al Bernard
Drums – Bob Bequillard, Molly Sayles
(somebody let me know who I missed!)

7 front line musicians and tuba

They opened with Avalon, fine hot jazz, with Barnhart on piano, and continued with Basin St. Blues.

Young New Orleans Jazz players, including Art Hovey’s Sugarfoot members Molly Sayles on drums and sister Emma on trombone, were outstanding; Alex Owen solo on trumpet, two trombones comping.

Jon said this day really was different – the youngsters were leading the oldsters for a change!  Joe Midiri provided encouragement and support on fiery clarinet.

New York’s Frank LiVolsi demonstrated his fantastic stride piano on Sweet Georgia Brown.

Frank is really dedicated to playing Ragtime.  He is enrolled at URI in Mechanical Engineering, so we may have him around New England for a few more years!

21-year-old LiVorsi on piano

They moved to genuine, “bluesy blues”, with Blues in the Night.  Nice change of pace!

Albie, with big white beard, posing face front with tuba

We can’t have a Festival Band, or Big Jam without tubist Albie Bernard!!

He’s one of our favorites!

Jeff sitting with his legs crossed on the piano bench

Barnhart returned to piano and picked up the beat for a hot Hindustan.

A fan from the audience asked Jon if he still could play trumpet while standing on his head, as he used to do.  Jon hemmed and hawed for a few seconds, then stepped off the stage.  Balancing with his feet on a pole, he did just that – played trumpet while standing on his head!

He even stunned the band.  We wouldn’t believe it if we hadn’t seen (and heard it!)

Jon on his head, feet braced against a pole, playing trumpet

Getting serious, Jon jumped back on the stage and said “This Festival wouldn’t be complete without The Saints.  An emotionally charged Jon changed the words to “I want to be in Essex!”

They closed with Jon on vocal for Show Me The Way To Go Home.

Jon Seiger is an exceptional human being, and led a truly exceptional Jazz Jam – Folks won’t ever forget this one!