Jordan Brent, bass, is leader of this fine young band, with Skyler Hagner alto sax, Alex Cross piano, and Josh Goslin drums.
At first the audience was apprehensive when they saw teenagers up on the stage, until the band broke into Girl from Ipanema, and everyone sat back and listened, stunned. The quality of their musicianship was superb.
Jordan Brent is from Wallingford, Connecticut. 18 years old, an acoustic bass player, whose solos full of variety and propulsion.
She’s a talented musician, and very smart. She even designs her own clothes.
Jordan will be attending Brown University, taking Psychology in September.
Skyler Hagner is one of Art Hovey’s protégés from the Sugarfoot Jazz Band.
Now an accomplished professional, he plays in many genres of bands in the area and he’s sat in with the Galvanized Jazz Band.
This is Sky three years ago, when he played reeds with the Sugarfoot Jazz Band at the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival.
This is only part of his vast collection of instruments.
Feelings, Nothing More Than Feelings! Alex Cross is passionate about the piano, his intense facial expressions show it.
Young drummers haven’t had much exposure to jazz, especially the “laid-back, just keep time” of the older styles of jazz. A Train, alto sax playing the melody, enthusiastically conversing with drums.
Josh Goslin style is fluid, but focused on the snare drum.
Duke Ellington’s In a Sentimental Mood, fantastic sax. Josh using brushes on snare, soft and sentimental. He’s perfectly capable of slam-banging Gene Krupa-style, but maintains his composure for this particular audience. Segue into a blistering Saints, still with the brushes.
We learned later that this group generally plays modern jazz, but were advised to play some Dixieland for this crowd by Ross, Ken, and a tuba player (who will remain anonymous). They pulled if off! Let’s hope they keep playing our music for younger folks out there.
Paul midiri vibes, drums; Joe Midiri clarinet, alto sax, soprano sax, cornet; Pat Mercuri guitar, Ed Wise bass, John Lawlor drums, Dan Tobias trumpet
They opened with Jubilee, from a 30 or 40’s movie with Clark Gable and Jean Harlow. It was written by Walter Donaldson, who wrote more than a hundred tunes, including Did I remember to Tell You I Adore You?
Dan Tobias
Jim Lawlor
It was raining, a veritable deluge – Joe said they were wishing for this rain in New Jersey! Joe was featured on Poor Butterfly, fabulous clarinet, quoting a bit of Sundown. Still on clarinet, Joe played rapid fire passages on After You’ve Gone.
The band went wild with a tune by Ed Wise, a blistering Where No Man Has Gone Before
Ed Wise
Alto sax intro Sunny Sideof the Street, Joe singing in his best Louis Armstrong voice, scatting, with Paul comping on trombone
Written by Gloria Gaither, There’s Something About That Name, Joe on stirring sop sax. They closed out this set with Avalon.
The second set opened with Paul’s fierce mallets racing across the vibes on Running Wild.
The audience always insists the band play one tune whenever/wherever they perform. Joyce Kilmer’s home was in New Jersey, and he is noted for writing the poem, Trees. Paul has a his own special arrangement, making his own lyrical statement on vibes.
Pat Mercuri guitar intro on This Little Light of Mine, on a Paul Midiri arrangement, with Joe on alto sax, Paul on trombone. It was pure delight!
Paul’s arrangement of the Ray Charles Band Let’s Go was FAST! Dan had his muted cornet right on the mic, Ed Wise loose as a goose.
We never tire of hearing Sidney Bechet. Joe’s version of his Midnight in Paris, Si Tu Vois Ma Mere on soprano sax was inimitable.
Never get tired of this band, either. They play fabulous ensemble, and solos are unbeatable. You can catch them at just about any Jazz/Dixie/Swing Festival across the country, and venues in and around the Tri-State area.
Skyler Hagner alto sax, with the Galvanized Jazz Band
The Galvanized Jazz Band was one of the first Jazz Bands to bring New Orleans Traditional and Dixieland Jazz into the New England area.
Fred Vigorito cornet, Russ Whitman clarinet alto sax, Bill Sinclair piano, Bob Bequillard drums, Art Hovey tuba/string bass, Craig Grant trombone, Cynthia Fabian vocals.
They immediately set sparks flying with a feisty Oh Baby. Louis’s Hot 5 – 1920’s set the stage for all that came after, Louis’s Sunset Café Stomp.
Fred Vigorito drives the band with his hot, dynamic cornet. His major influences were Louis Armstrong, Kid Thomas, Kid Howard, Wild Bill Davison, Bobby Hackett, Muggsy Spanier, Ruby Braff. No wonder.
With a variety of instruments, versatile Russ Whitman is one of the most sought after reed men in the business. He’s played with Jimmy Dapogny’s fabulous Chicago Jazz Band.
Louis Prima wrote their next tune in1946, Sunday Kind of Love
Craig Grant began playing Dixieland while attending Harvard University, first at Boston’s Red Garter with banjoist Joel Schiavone, then at several of Joel’s ‘Your Father’s Mustache’ clubs in Mass, NJ and NY.
Bill Sinclair has an incredible feel for New Orleans jazz and plays from the heart. He drives the rhythm section.
The rhythm boys drive the band…
Bob Bequillard
Art Hovey
This was Bob Bequillard’s 80th birthday!! Bob still pushes the band with a sturdy, dependable beat.
Art Hovey also has a solid beat, whether on tuba or string bass. Art has been playing tuba since he was a teenager. He became a high school physics teacher, but his love has always been Traditional Jazz. He spends a great deal of time impressing young musicians with his enthusiasm for the music. Some of his protégées are already playing professionally – see young Skyler Hagner playing saxophone with the band above, and with Jordan & Friends.
Cynthia Fabian sang her own version of a traditional African American spiritual, most famously recorded by Sister Rosetta Tharpe in late 1944, Strange Things Are Happening Every Day. It was really something romantic to dance to.
Cynthia is an amazing vocalist from the Blue Lights Jug Band, and has been singing off and on with the Galvanized J.B. for many years, giving new life to old melodies.
You Gotta See Your Mama Every Night or You Can’t See Your Mama At All, A Good Man is Hard to Find
She put heart and soul into Crazy, a tune Willie Nelson wrote in 1961, and made famous by Patsy Cline.
Driven by Freddy’s vigorous cornet, the band continued with a barn-burning Wrought Iron Rag, and closed with a sizzling Fidgety Feet.
The Galvanized Jazz Band plays stimulating, revitalizing jazz. They played at the Millpond Taverne in Northford Connecticut for 25 years. Now well into their 41st year, the band plays at various venues around Connecticut, and on the 3rd Sunday of the month at Aunt Chilada’s in Hampden, CT.
Freddy Vigorito cornet, Skip Hughes & Ben Griffin trombone, Sherman Kahn and Noel Kaletsky reeds, Charlie Freeman piano, Albie Bernard tuba, Gim Burton banjo, Bill Logozzo drums/leader, Tish Rabe vocals
The Dixieland stage was in a tent set up outside the Four Points Hotel, when the sky suddenly opened up and a veritable deluge ensued. But fans of Traditional Jazz have been through worse – the rain and lightening didn’t faze us as we listened to these fantastic musicians playing our kind of music.
Bill Logozzo’s Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band doesn’t stick with any one genre – they’ll play a bit of swing, add some ragtime, New Orleans style Dixieland, and even throw in some classic Rock & Roll.
Gim’s banjo started the Festival with a wild, frenzied Washington & Lee Swing (The Dummy Song).
Fantastic.
Great way to start the day!!
Freddy Vigorito lead the group with his hot, driving cornet.
The pace slowed down for an old New Orleans Blues, Tin Roof Blues.
Bill Logozzo introduced Tish (Patricia) Rabe. Tish’s voice has a lovely sound; had tasteful phrasing on Amazing Grace.
She is primarily a childrens book author. She and her husband reside in NYC and travel back and forth to a home in Mystic Connecticut.
As both a songwriter and music producer she has created children’s songs that have been broadcast on PBS Kids, Fox, Nickelodeon and HBO Family. For the last three years she has been visiting elementary schools to help kids get excited about reading and writing.
Bill’s drums and Ben Griffin’s trombone were featured in a sensational conversation on It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing. Marvelous!! Ben plays trombone passionately, straight from the gut. The front line picked up on it, improvising counterpoint. That’s what this jazz is all about!!
Ben Griffin
Bill Logozzo
Two clarinets give the band awe-inspiring flexibility, Sherman and Noel cutting it on Avalon,taking turns racing up and down the registers. That fired up the band!
Charlie Freeman
They skipped the verse as Charlie Freeman’s piano took the intro into a stomping Lulu’s Back in Town.
Charlie fills in the holes with rhythmic embellishments, and offers just the right chords behind soloists.
Tish is from New York. She knocked us out with her Red Hot Mama rendition of San Francisco Bay.
Fred pointed out the original “Red Hot Mama”, Sophie Tucker, was born in Russia as Sophie Abuza, but was brought here by her parents as an infant, and grew up in Hartford Connecticut.
Skip Hughes’ trombone was exceptionally melodic on a Jelly Roll Morton tune, Sweet & Slow. He is a phenomenon, and we are really fortunate that Skip is here playing for us.
He has survived so many extreme hardships in the last few years.
First his 200-year-old farm house burned to the ground. He and his wife lost everything but his trombone, which fortunately was still in the trunk of his car from the last gig!
Then he lost his wife Joyce, who was already ill at the time. Then he himself became seriously ill, and we thought we’d lost him too.
But he has bounced back and is wholeheartedly enjoying life, singing and playing trombone better than ever.
Skip Hughes
Ben Griffin is a Tiger on that trombone, and that long reach was the ferocious beast in an old chestnut, Tiger Rag.
No less ferocious is Albie Bernard’s low-down beat on the sousaphone, pushing the bass lines and the band.
The second set started with Ben Griffin and the band on a breathtaking Basin Street Blues
Tish returned for the gospel tune, Just a Closer Walk With Thee. Beautiful!
She has an indelible, personal voice, that makes you feel as if she’s singing just for you.
Bill Logozzo also has a 3-piece Rock & Roll Band, Triple Play, the music that influenced lifestyles, attitudes, and us, back in the 50’s.
Triple Play wasn’t here today, neither was Marshal Lytle of the original Bill Haley’s Rock Around The Clock. They had us Jazzin’ With The Stars and dancing in the aisles at the First Church of Christ in Middletown, CT not too long ago.
Nevertheless, the Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band rocked on with Shake, Rattle, & Roll, with Skip performing and singing with gusto, adding his own unique version of the lyrics.
Change of pace – Bill said it was time to feature the two ‘youngest’ members of the band, “to fight it out again,” two clarinets in a grudge match in After You’ve Gone. Fabulous duet! Couldn’t tell who was running up and down the register playing the most notes!
The band touched on the 60’s when Tish returned with Patsy Cline’s plaintive I Go Out Walkin After Midnight.
Rain or shine, nothing could have delighted this audience more than these talented musicians. It’s easy to understand why the Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band has been dubbed “New England’s Most Lovable Jazz Band”.
Bill Logozzo’s Heartbeat Jazz Band can be heard every Wednesday 12-2pm at the Jazz luncheon at the Yankee Clipper Restaurant, 157 West Main Street, Niantic, CT
Were you SPOTTED? at the Jazz & Blues Extravaganza?
The Traditional/Dixieland Jazz was in a tent set up out front of the Four Points Hotel. It didn’t take long, the tent was filled to capacity. We had four great bands that played two sets each:
Joel Sylvestro was back swing-dancing with the ladies.
The tent was packed, and dancers glided across the dance floor.
This powerful music brings us all together, it’s infectious. We listen in anticipation to the musicians making it up as they go along. What are they going to do next?? Their many voices play different musical lines at the same time, but it all comes together. It’s spontaneous and ad libbed – their instruments expressing their feelings. How can do they do that?? Sometimes a soloist will go too far….
“He’s way out there – how is he going to get back?”
He hears a chord from the piano, responds, and the band is back in unison, playing happy, foot-tapping music. It’s always different, never gets boring.
We listeners are included, we give them feedback, and the musicians react in kind. It’s a symbiotic relationship. This was a great day where everyone put aside their trials and tribulations, cleared their heads, and just relaxed and enjoyed fine Dixieland Jazz.
This Jazz & Blues Extravaganza ended up in the black! On to next year!
The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival and The Connecticut Blues Society
present
The Jazz & Blues Extravaganza
The Festival Band 2011
The Festival Band consisted of Charlie Freeman piano (not pictured), Mike Hashem banjo, Craig Ball clarinet, Al Bernard tuba, Scott Philbrick cornet, Steve Taddeo drums, and Harry Arnold trombone. From the first note, their high energy level ignited the crowd. First time they ever played together, it’s all spontaneous. They listen to each other and respond. These musicians are skilled at their instrument, play emotional and imaginative solos, and fiery ensembles.
Scott Philbrick has been a capable and resourceful manager of the Festival Band for most of its 25 years.
Scott played Boston hotels as a teenager (where he first met Bobby Hackett) and clubs including the infamous “Lenny’s on the Turnpike”. He started a 30-year stint in TV production at age 19 on the Dave Garroway Show and appeared many times playing trumpet with the likes of Arthur Fiedler and B.B. King. He’s played with Doc Cheatham, “Big Chief” Russel Moore, Buzzy Drootin (one of Bobby’s favorite drummers), Tommy Newsome, Bob Havens, Leon Redbone, Dave McKenna, Cy Laurie, B.B King, Vince Giordano, Jimmy Mazzy, Turk Murphy, Banu Gibson, Jerry Fuller, Ted Goddard, Spiegel Wilcox, Neville Dickie, George Masso, Eddie Hubble, Bob Crosby Bobcats, Major Holley, Eddie Davis, Cynthia Sayer, and Gray Sargent.
He’s been named New England Musician of the year, and has a 4-year chair at the Royal Academy of Music in his name for jazz trumpet of which he’s extremely proud
Scott had ‘fond memories’ of the early festival days. Everybody Loves My Baby reminded him when: “Playing on the Steam Train was not fun – Jeff Barnhart joined them several times for an added front line.” “Lake Greenberg” at TGCTJF in the early Essex days, (when 2X10 boards were laid across streams so people could go from tent to tent after a heavy downpour). And the night at the camp when all the lights went out and they had no sound system. We were there – The bands sounded GREAT! Candles were set on the paths so folks could find their way back to their cabins.
Ed Metz Sr. was one of the early piano players. Ted DesPlantes filled in when we lost Ed. Having Charlie Freeman play with the band this day was a real treat.
Charlie Freeman provides the backbone for many Dixieland Jazz Bands, big bands, and other music combos in New England Craig Ball is leader of the White Heat Swing Orchestra and plays reeds with Lost in the Sauce and the Seacoast Stompers..
Mike Hashem was featured on full chord melody style banjo and vocal with Somebody Stole My Gal. Scotty asked for requests and was bombarded from all sides! He settled for Avalon. “Key of F – the peoples’ key,” featuring Craig on clarinet and Steve drumming, backed by by Charlie Freeman’s magical skills on piano.
Steve Taddeo of Waltham, Massachusetts had ample opportunity to display his Gene Krupa style. He has studied Krupa’s every move, and absorbed his style with a passion, from the drum-walk-around, to making GK faces. Dr. Jazzwas a hot one, the front line on fire, Hashem blazing away on banjo, Al’s prodding, pulsating tuba.
Al is devoted to this music, and drives from Rockport, Massachusetts to anywhere in or out of New England to where he can play that mammoth tuba.
He definitely expands the musical aspects of the tuba – makes it look so easy, and fun.
Steam Trains are his other avocation; he is an Engineer, and you’ll find him spending weekends on the Steam Trains in New Hampshire.
Steve was featured in a GK drum-walk-around onDinah, but was hampered by the lack of front steps. He usually picks up a crash cymbal by its stand and carries it around the room, alternately drumming on the cymbal and anything else within reach, tables, chairs, drinking glasses, bar bottles, without missing a beat. That cymbal is a 1939 Zildjian Crash Cymbal from Buddy Schutz, who played with the Benny Goodman Big Band. That loud crash at the end of “And The Angels Sing” was this cymbal.
He considered jumping off the stage, but probably would end up with a broken leg.
He had to settle for drumming on the mic stand and Buddy Schutz’s cymbal.
Scott called for dueling banjos from the movie “Deliverance”. But they only had one banjo – Mike Hashem. So Al provided the second banjo on his tuba. Al emulating Mike almost note for note. This is a real trial for the tuba! Then the banjo took off with several other tunes, Al closely following right behind him. Unbelievable!! (Albie and Mike started this routine at Sweeney’s Gay Nineties in Rowley, MA in the 70’s, when the Deliverance movie first was released.)
On a more serious note, The Sheik of Araby was a great upbeat tune, with Hashem on vocal, backed by Charlie’s pyrotechniques on the piano..
Mike is a ‘Journeyman’ banjo player and antique collector from Ossipee, NH Harry Arnold played in the Coast Guard Band for 25 years. He is also leader of the Freight Train Five.
Mike Hashem’s spectacular fingering and rapid right hand were featured on banjo with Somebody Stole My Gal. Skip Hughes joined the band in the last set, adding momentum to the ensemble with his deep, burnished trombone and booming voice on Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor.
Steve Taddeo, New England’s Gene Krupa
This band isn’t for hire, it only plays at The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival. But we hope to hear Scott Philbrick with the Festival Band sometime next year. This is probably the best way to introduce our music to a younger generation, and create additional revenue to continue The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Fest – and Blues – for the near and distant future.
Help us keep this festival by becoming Patrons or Supporters of this fine jazz.
