Jeff’s Jazz Jesters at Primavera Ristorante April 28, 2016

Posted on May 6, 2016 by admin

Jeff’s Jazz Jesters

Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark clarinet/alto and bari sax, Herb Gardener keys, Hunter Burgamy guitar, Craig Ball (Obediah Schwank) clarinet/tenor sax, Steve Taddeo drums, Sarah Nova vocals

The sextet kicked off with their theme song, a resolutely cheerful, My Lucky Day. It’s always a Lucky Day for us when these good natured musicians come to Primavera Ristorante and speak to us through their music. They are a joy, playing the music of the 1910’s to 1930’s, with their old school musicality, camaraderie and a lot of fun.

They were joined by amiable Sarah Nova, beginning with Everybody Loves My Baby. Everybody loves Sarah! She was joined by John on alto sax and Craig clarinet on a peppy, upbeat You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To. She resurrected memories of Billie Holiday with Miss Brown To You.

Sarah singing with Hughes on trumpet behind her

Sara Nova

Sarah is muti-talented, preserving our jazz for future generations by writing and producing CDs for Little Jumpers and Babes. She sang one of our favorites, It’s Raining Cats and Dogs (and the frogs are angry!) She keeps toddlers jumping and swinging at many local libraries.

Herb Gardner, multi-instrumentalist

Her Dad is Herb Gardner, a rock solid, all around player, whose style on piano or keys is between Dick Hyman and Teddy Wilson. He has played with just about everybody from here to New York. Herb is also first call on trombone. With the Jazz Jesters he’s both front line and rhythm.

Craig Ball

The Jazz Jesters sounded like a New Orleans Street Band with Peter Bocage and Armand Piron’s 1914 Bouncing Around. Fabulous!

Paducah is always a rabbel-rousing favorite. We don’t hear Walter Donaldson’s Little White Lies very often. The band sizzled on Deep Henderson with John and Craig on alto and tenor sax, then the two changed with John on smoking bari sax and Craig on clarinet hitting the stratosphere!

Hunter Burgamy is now the youngest member of the band.

Hunter Burgamy’s guitar presence was felt in every tune that the Jazz Jesters played. He’s a student at Berklee. His solos were impeccable, and he adds to the solid rhythm section with Bernard, Taddeo and Gardner, all complementing each other.

Benny Moten’s Jones Law Blues was sung by Annette Hanshaw, an American Jazz Age singer and one of the most popular radio stars of the 1930s. This was a first for us.

There was breathtaking ensemble on Blame It On The Blues, arrangement by Robin Verdier. He was the Paramount Jazz Band’s pianist and arranger, and the Jazz Jesters play many Paramount tunes.

Jeff Hughes plays fabulous Bix

Bix wrote a Debussyian piano piece in a tribute to his home town, Davenport Iowa. John Clark arranged this one, Davenport Blues. Excellent trumpet, piano and guitar.

Time for a spiritual, remembering Louis with Dear Old Southland (based on Deep River.) Jeff took the first chorus playing solemn trumpet, then the whole band entered, with both reeds on clarinet. Fine solos on tuba and guitar.

John Clark sings Zonky

Black Maria, a quintessential Clark arrangement, was a WILD one!

He sang another of his arrangements, Duke’s Zonky. Marvelous! This was the first time we ever heard the words.

Jeff said his Dad loved Empty Saddles in the Old Corral, a classic American cowboy song written by Billy Hill. It became widely known to the public in July 1936, when Big Crosby sang it. Herb on keys and Steve on drum provided the Cowboy ‘clip, clop’.

Steve Taddeo on new set of Slingerland Drums

Steve Taddeo is well known as a slam-bang Gene Krupa drummer, but he has adapted to the early 30’s drumming made famous by Krupa, Vic Berton, and Stan King.

He keeps time tapping rims, the cow bell or wood block, choking cymbals and playing press rolls.

Sarah returned with another Billie traditional, My Mother’s Son-in-Law, with the backing of her Dad. She followed with Billie’s Me, Myself and I, with John’s soulful bari sax.

Sarah Nova, Hunter Burgamy, Herb Gardner (hidden behind him) and John Clark on bari sax

Al Bernard pushes the band with his large tuba

They closed with a live-wire tune, ‘Leven Thirty Saturday Night, followed by Albie’s tuba sneaking in a departing snippet of the theme from The Little Rascals, Good Old Days.

The Jazz Jesters originated when the General Manager at Public Radio WGBH asked Jeff Hughes to recreate tunes similar to the late Ray Smith’s Paramount Jazz Band. Ray played Traditional Jazz every Sunday night on WGBH, and his tapes are still streaming. The Jesters have since created their own sound, without losing the exciting optimism of the Roaring 20’s. The joy is contagious!

They will return sometime on the last Thursday of the month at Primavera Ristorante. That particular month is committed to Jeff Hughes and any one of his many bands! Check our Calendars!

Marce

Jeff Hughes and The Jazz Jesters

Posted on November 17, 2015 by admin

Craig Ball, Steve Taddeo, Jeff Hughes, Al Bernard, Hunter Burtamy, John Clark, Herb Gardner

by Bill Falk
photos: Marce

Jeff Hughes’ Jazz Jesters keep getting better every time I hear them. Their recent gig
at the Primavera on 11/12/15 was superb. The band ripped through a wide variety of tunes, some well remembered from the 20’s and 30’s and some relatively unknown. Their execution was terrific – very melodic and enjoyable.

Unfortunately, the crowd was sparse, but all in attendance loved the music. Two reed
players on the front line worked extremely well. Craig Ball ripped off excellent solos on both clarinet and tenor sax and John Clark did the same on clarinet and alto sax. They
augmented each other soloing and backing up others. Also, John’s arrangements were outstanding.

Craig Ball

John Clark alto sax and clarinet, Herb Gardner keyboard

John Clark and Herb Gardner

Jeff Hughes, Steve Taddeo (rear)

As usual, Jeff displayed his great ability to lead the group, backing up soloists and still exhibiting his outstanding trumpet prowess. He ‘gets into the tunes so well, plus his sound is marvelous. I can’t get enough of Jeff.

Hunter Burtamy banjo, Al Bernard tuba

Hunter Burtamy on banjo added even more guts to the rhythm section. He didn’t solo much, but he brought out the band’s depth. Herb Gardner is a joy on keyboard. He drips with experience and innovation. Al Bernard is a wonder on tuba. He controls the
instrument completely. Steve Taddeo sets a steady beat on drums. He doesn’t overpower the rest of the players, but he sets the pace very well.

Sarah (Gardner) Nova

Sarah Nova, who is Herb Gardner’s daughter, was delightful on vocals. She shows her pedigree well on both jump tunes and slower music. Sarah was a terrific addition to the group as she delivered style and sound on “Keeping Out of Mischief”, “Where Are You”,
“Russian Lullaby”, “Keep Your Hands Off It”, to name some of her numbers.

The band featured “Lucky Day” (theme song), “Diane”, “Not Much,” “Bouncing Around,”
and lots of other songs. Their last number was the theme from “Our Gang”. I liked
“Empty Saddles in The Old Corral” – a perfect ending to a marvelous performance.

Bill Falk

Jazz Jesters at Primavera Ristorante March 19, 2015

Posted on March 20, 2015 by admin

The Jazz Jesters with Dan Gabel trombone

Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark clarinet/alto sax, Dan Gabel trombone, Herb Gardner keyboard/trombone, Al Bernard tuba, Steve Taddeo drums

We have so many marvelous Jazz Musicians here in New England, unknown to the rest of the world. The Jazz Jesters are a primary example. All except Jeff have made music their livelihood. They love what they’re doing, as does Jeff. But Jeffrey Hughes, Ph.D. lectures in Biological Sciences at Wellesley College to support that precious Jazz habit.

Jeff Hughes on trumpet

Jeff’s trumpet tonight is a 1946 Olds Super trumpet that he found in original condition at a second-hand store and picked up for peanuts.

The Jazz Jesters capture the style of music of the 20’s and 30’s that our mentor, Ray Smith featured in his Jazz Decades. They kicked it off with a Jimmy Mazzy vocal on Lucky Day, their theme song. (We are the lucky ones!!) They continued with Copenhagen, a tune the bands of the 20’s loved to play – named not for the city, but for chewing tobacco. John Clark arrangement.

Dan and Jeff play counterpoint to John’s clarinet.

Dr. John meticulously researches the original arrangements and gives them his added touch. Jeff Hughes said “a good arrangement gives the musicians plenty of room to improvise.” These musicians have astonishing improvisational skills!

Violinist Stuff Smith contributed to the song “It’s Wonderful” (1938) often performed by Louis Armstrong. That was in an interesting time. Bobby Hackett and Jack Teagarden also played it. Jeff gave it a zesty delivery on flugelhorn, Jimmy vocal; Steve swirling brushes on snare drum.

Steve Taddeo

Steve Taddeo is proud of his 1939 Slingerland Radio King drumset with one cymbal sent to him by Ray MacKinley. The remaining cymbals are from Buddy Schutz who played with Benny Goodman and Jimmy Dorsey.
He swirls brushes on the snare drum, uses cowbells, woodblocks and rim shots to maintain the beat.

Herb at keyboard. Primavera has no piano yet.

Herb Gardner, pianio-trombone

Herb Gardner has become the pianist of choice here at Primavera on Thursday nights. Herb’s solos are intelligent and heartfelt, and he offers just the right chords behind soloists.

Al Bernard maintains the Trad Jazz rhythm.

Gently pushing the band, Al Bernard maintains the harmonic structure with a steady, rhythmic pulsation.

One of Al Jolson’s most famous tunes was California Here I Come; this band prefers the sequel, Golden Gate. We liked Jeff’s vocal!

Dan Gabel gives his all to Margie

Dan was featured on Margie. Craig ball is usually here on reeds, but he’s nurturing a broken left hand that will be in a cast for a while. Dan Gabel filled in for him on trombone, playing off of Craig Ball’s saxophone chart.

He also did the vocal. Fabulous – he’s a natural. At 26, he holds the future of our music in his hands.

Bix’s Birthdate was March 10th. They celebrated him with the last tune he ever recorded, Deep Down South.

In 1929, after suffering a nervous breakdown Bix Beiderbecke went back to his hometown of Davenport, Iowa, to recover at his parent’s home. He returned to New York in 1930 and made his last recording sessions in September of that year, with the Dorsey Brothers, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Joe Venuti and others. He was 28 years old when he died.

The band also played Davenport Blues, a tune Bix Beiderbecke wrote about his home town.

Jazz Jesters play Davenport Blues

John Clark does a mean vocal.

Interesting interlude with the band
playing and John Clark handling a fast,
challenging vocal on a tune Fats Waller
recorded in 1935 – Zonky.
This was a first for us!

Herb Gardner joined Dan on trombone with I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me, with exciting, rhythmic improvisations.

Two virtuoso trombonist

We had just celebrated St. Patrick’s Day two days ago, so an Irish tune was called for – great head arrangement of Wearing of the Green with neat segue into Deep Henderson. Later they added Irish Black Bottom in 1920’s style.

Kansas City was the germination center of Jazz in the 20’s and 30’s. Benny Moten’s tune, Jones Law Blues, was a precursor to the Count Basie Band. Smooth number, nice dance tune.

The inimitable Jimmy Mazzy

Jimmy Mazzy was featured on a Louis Armstrong tune, in his own inimitable style, Mighty River. Great arrangement, with clarinet and tuba trading fours. Jimmy also had the vocal on a stock arrangement from the 20’s to the 50’s of River, Stay Away From My Door. (Appropriate with four feet of snow slowly melting into our local rivers.)

.Another tune that was hot in the 20’s and 30’s ‘Leven Thirty Saturday Night, by Archie Blyer, an American song writer, arranger, and record executive, and music director for Arthur Godfrey. (John Clark wasn’t born yet, but he has become an expert on Blyer.) The Jesters used the stock arrangement made famous by vocalist Julius LaRosa on the Godfrey Show, with Jeff singing the vocal.

Change of mood, a high-spirited arrangement of Paducah, composed by Don Redman in 1928 that was played by McKinney’s Cotton Pickers. Many of the music leaders were familiar with Paducah as a river port. In the late 1920s, jazz made its way up the Mississippi from New Orleans to points north and east as small bands and orchestras provided entertainment on river boats.

Coming to a close, Jeff Hughes and the Jazz Jesters sent us home with fun memories, Black Mariah (paddy wagon) then segue to Good Old Days, the theme song for Our Gang, the Little Rascals.

These virtuosic New England musicians achieve the marvelous sound of Jazz from the 20’s and 30’s, but give it their own twist. It’s still happy, toe-tapping music. We’re very happy and contented to have them here, but wouldn’t mind sharing them with the rest of the world! Are you ready, World?

Marce

Jazz Jesters at the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival 2014

Posted on February 14, 2015 by admin

Jeff Hughes trumpet/leader, John Clark and Craig Ball reeds, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Ross Petot piano, Al Bernard sousaphone, Steve Taddeo drums

Once again the Jazz Jesters brought their Hot Dance music of the Jazz Decades to the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival, with plenty of 20’s and 30’s early Bix and Bunny Berigan. They play many of their own arrangements with have tight ensembles and exciting solos. Unfortunately, most of those pictures were lost, so we’ve picked some substitutes.

They started with This is My Lucky Day – Henderson 1926, with piano intro, Jimmy scatting. Anytime they can can perform together is a lucky day – they’ve made this their theme song.

Craig Ball was featured on high register clarinet for the 1930’s Three Little Words.

The band played early Bix in his Wolverine Days, before he joined Goldkette, with John on baritone sax: I Need Some Petting

John Clark on baritone sax

The dynamic reedmen Craig Ball and John Clark are as expressive as the reed sections of a Big Band, changing combinations, saxophones on Song of India, clarinets.
They inspire each other, alternating alto and tenor sax and clarinet, baritone sax, and sometimes challenge the leader by changing the program on him.

1940’s Tommy Dorsey with Craig on clarinet, John on alto sax, I Know That You Know.

Jeff Hughes sings snappy Golden Gate

Jeff Hughes’ love of this music radiates out of every pore. Hot tempo on custom-made tuneable bell Yamaha trumpet for Al Jolson’s Golden Gate. Jeff even sang the vocal.
(He found the old sheet music list for this music one weekend going through an antique store.)

Davenport Blues with Jeff on flugelhorn:

Al Bernard

Pushing the band is Al Bernard, wrapped in sousaphone.

Ross was featured with the rhythm section on Cole Porter’s most famous tune, the 1929 What Is This Thing Called Love, beautiful ballad, Jimmy wailing it in Mazzy style, with Ross backing him on stride piano.

Ross Petot

John on alto, Craig on clarinet Blame it On The Blues

Paduca

Pardon My Southern Accent Jimmy vocal, with great tenor sax by Craig.

Steve lets loose on drums (at Sherborn Inn)

Steve Taddeo lets loose on drums

They let Steve Taddeo go on Fats Waller’s 1920 Zonkie. He loosened the snare drum to give it the Gene Krupa treatment. (It’s inevitable.)

Steve stayed in Gene Krupa mood. Jimmy started the verse on Irving Berlin’s Russian Lullaby, Jeff adding some fabulous Bunny Berigan.

The one and only, Jimmy Mazzy

1920 Walter Donaldson’s Sam, The Accordion Man featured Jimmy.
They closed with Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?

The Jazz Jesters reminded us of New Orleans, Bix and Bunny, St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, all the places the early jazz from the 20’s and early 30’s was played.

Jeff Hughes’ Jazz Jesters at the Sherborn Inn, 28 October 2014

Posted on November 3, 2014 by admin

Craig Ball and John Clark reeds, Steve Taddeo drums, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Al Bernard tuba, Jeff Hughes leader/trumpet, Ross Petot piano.

Jeff Hughes trumpet, Craig Ball clarinet and tenor sax, John Clark clarinet, alto and baritone sax, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Al Bernard tuba, Steve Taddeo drums.

The Jazz Jesters were just back from a studio recording of their first CD. They presented a nostalgic evening of authentic old tunes by hundreds of revered players newly arranged by John Clark.

When Dr. John Clark enrolled at Connecticut College, he discovered their vast Traditional Jazz library. He immersed himself in it, absorbing every record and tape. With that knowledge, he was able to create authentic arrangements of the bands of the 1920’s and 30’s – tonight was spectacular!

Craig on tenor, John on alto, bari setting beside him

many saxes!

They always begin with their theme song, This is My Lucky Day, with Craig on tenor sax. Deep Henderson, Fred Rose 1920’s. It wasn’t meant for Fletcher – it was about Deep Henderson Creek. Two saxes give it a special fling. In Zulu Wail, the two featured a fascinating exchange between two clarinets.

Jones Law Blues (1929) was recorded by Bennie Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra. Nice blues, great solo by Jimmy on banjo, and muted trumpet by Jeff Hughes. This was the first time they used this tune.

Great trumpet solo. The Yamaha Tuneable Bell trumpet was custom made for Jeff; it has a wide bell that gives it a warm cornet sound.

Jimmy was featured in a 1927 Walter Donaldson, Changes. noteworthy Tuba solo by Albie, who is sometimes pushing, sometimes just providing a steady beat. Jimmy ‘owns’ Cabin In The Sky. My Blackbirds are Bluebirds Now. One tune was recorded by just about everybody through the ages, That’s My Desire.

John and Gisela dance all night!

Jeff and John like to test new tunes on us, like Lew Pollack’s 1920’s Dianne. Sweet dance tune, had John & Gisela Bruneccini dancing.

They played King Porter Stomp, Blue River, Cabin In The Rain, Copenhagen, sweet romatic Moon Song, transporting us back to the Golden Era of Jazz.

Golden Gate was HOT, with great solos and celestially rocking alto sax by Clark. Hughes was singing.

Jeff Hughes belts out Golden Gate

Ross Petot

Ross Petot is an exponent of George Gershwin’s and was featured on S’Wonderful. His piano technicque is always Wonderful!

The early 30’s were Depression Years and featured many love songs. Bunny Berigan recorded I Can’t Get Started. They let Steve Taddeo loose on drums. Steve used a newer 70’s drum, with 1930’s Buddy Schutz cymbals, cross sticking with press rolls like Gene Krupa used with the Mel Hallett band.

Steve standing and tapping on drum rims, rods

Steve Taddeo lets go!

Sweet Man was done by the Paramount Jazz Band. Jim and Jeff were proud to be members of Ray Smith’s Band. Tight number, with Craig’s clarinet, John’s alto sax and Jeff’s powerful trumpet on the front line.

They ended with an interesting 1920’s tune that interpolated another tune. That’s how they would introduce new tunes in the 20’s. The Jazz Jesters did their own, with a sweet Broadway Melody, interweaving Breakaway, with a surprise ¾ time tempo (waltz) and vocal by Jeff.

Jeff Hughes is a skillful band leader, and attracts the finest musicians. We’ll be hearing more of the great tunes played in the Jazz Decades when he collaborates with John Clark. We’ll let you know when the Jazz Jesters CD becomes available.

The Sherborn Inn has been sold. We may or may not have music here next year. We’re looking for a new venue to keep these fine musicians playing our kind of music, just in case. Any suggestions?

Jazz Jesters at The Sherborn Inn, August 26, 2014

Posted on August 26, 2014 by admin

The Jazz Jesters

Jeff Hughes cornet, Craig Ball clarinet and tenor sax, John Clark clarinet/alto and baritone sax, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Al Bernard tuba, Steve Taddeo drums

They are busy musicians, Ross plays in several bands and teaches, Craig leads the White Heat Swing Orchestra, John Clark bounces between Massachusetts and Connecticut, and his Wolverine Jazz Band plays at festivals and on many town commons. Steve leads the Swing Senders and directs the Dick Donovan Big Band. Al plays tuba and sousaphone in many Classical bands as well as Jazz bands. Jeff has multiple bands, the most active at the moment are Swing Times Five and the Jazz Jesters. Jimmy is always Jimmy, and we are most grateful to have him here with us.

Jeff and John dug down deep for some very old material, some of the best and hottest of the 20′s and 30′s, making it relevant to today with their own splendid arrangements. They came up with tunes we’ve never heard before, inventive and resourceful arrangements by our own Dr. John Clark, hot and sweet music reminiscent of The Jazz Decades.

They soared with their theme This Is My Lucky Day, Craig starting on tenor sax, John Clark on clarinet. These two dynamic reed-men create magnificent music with two clarinets, alto, tenor, and baritone sax, between them.

Albie had his smallest Conn Tuba that he saved from a demolition pile. He favors it when playing classical music; in Trad Jazz it pushes the chords and with Taddeo’s drums, keeps the beat. Ross Petot’s piano adds riffs and fills. The whole polyphonic sound has some folks dancing and others sitting on the edge of their seats. Fantastic!

They have a following of ‘regulars’ who never fail to appear for Jeff’s Bands.

Elke and Joan

Betty

Paul

Connie

Bob

Geri and Jerry

Stan and Gail

Charlie and Gisela Brunaccini

John and Gisela have been married over 60 years. They knew all the right steps, and danced all night!

John said “We enjoyed hearing the old original arrangements of great memorable tunes by talented musicians.”

There were more: Bix’s Davenport Blues, Sweethearts of Sigma Chi, Alabama Stomp, River Stay Away From My Door and Cabin in the Pines (that Jimmy sang with the Paramount Jazz Band.) Blame It On The Blues; a classic 1920’s tune played by many bands, Deep, was another John Clark arrangement.

Featured soloists were Clark on bari sax with Deep Down South. Jeff sang Archie Bleyer’s ‘Leven Thirty Saturday Night. Jimmy was featured on a ballad It’s Wonderful, (not Gershwin’s S’Wonderful.) Craig’s clarinet reached for the sky on House of David Blues. Ross was featured on Avalon, and did the arrangement for Lila. SteveTaddeo let his Gene Krupa loose on his own theme song, Dinah.

The band continued with a quintessential 1920’s tune, You Don’t Like It (Not Much!) and closed with Fats /Waller’s Zonky, with dueling clarinets and trumpet, exuberant rhythm – it was WILD!

This exciting and exhilarating band will return with more new arrangements of these marvelous old tunes on October 28^th. Mark your calendars, you won’t want to miss this!

Jeff’s Jazz Jesters at the Sherborn Inn, February 25, 2014

Posted on March 9, 2014 by admin

Jazz Jesters with Frank Bachelor, trombone

Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark clarinet/bari sax, Craig Ball clarinet/tenor sax, Ross Petot piano, Al Bernard tuba, Steve Taddeo drums.

The weather outside was 20°, but it was nice and cozy in the Sherborn Inn, with the Jazz Jesters and both fireplaces blazing. Jimmy Mazzy couldn’t make it, and he was missed. But it freed the band to play written arrangements, some of Archie Blyer, some of Dr. John Clark.

They began with their theme Lucky Day. We considered ourselves lucky that it hadn’t snowed – again. Bix is popular with this band. They featured his last recording, Deep Down South, with John on alto and Craig clarinet. These two produce all kinds of magnificent music with two clarinets, alto, tenor, and baritone sax, between them.

Violinist Stuff Smith contributed to the song It’s Wonderful (1938) often performed by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. New England Trumpeter Bobby Hackett liked to play it. Jeff obliged, Clark playing sweet alto sax, Steve Taddeo swishing brushes on the snare drum. It was wonderful!

Ross Petot

With the “Rhythm Boys”, Ross Petot, pianist, teacher, composer, arranger, famous for his stride piano, was featured on I Hate Myself for Being so Mean to You.

Sidney Bechet’s Blame It On The Blues, clarinet and alto sax were in perfect sync, then romping alto sax solo, clarinet hitting the stratosphere, incredible trumpet, Albie’s tuba always pushing, piano adding riffs; the whole polyphonic sound had everyone sitting on the edge of their seats. Fantastic!

Most of them are band leaders. Craig Ball has the White Heat Swing Orchestra, John Clark leads the Wolverine Jazz Band, Steve Taddeo with his The Swing Senders. They love playing this repertoire of the Jazz Decades.

Jeff Hughes is an astonishing leader, subtly signaling, mainly letting them do their own thing. He plays amazing trumpet, but tonight, on a relatively new 1983 Yamaha special bell trumpet, he stayed mostly with the Bix Beiderbecke repertoire. I Need Some Petting. A lovely tune Blue River, muted trumpet intro with piano, two clarinets.

Jeff wearing fedora hat, playing trumpet

Jeff Hughes

Jeff said John Clark ‘forced’ some arrangements on them. A Jimmy favorite, Mighty River, great with two clarinets, Jeff playing open bell trumpet with clarinet riffs.

Ball and Clark on clarinet, Hughes trumpet

Jazz Jesters front line

Sam the Accordion Man was dedicated to Jimmy and Carrie Mazzy, who couldn’t be here.

Jeff invited Frank Batchelor up on trombone for Russian Lullaby. Tricky – they were reading arrangements, Frank was winging it, thanks to Jeff’s signals. He added fine trombone to the Jazz Jesters. Then Jeff let Taddeo loose on drums.

Frank Taddeo (Steve’s Father) and companion Gladys Aubin were here to watch.

Steve Taddeo and Family

The band continued with a quintessential 1920’s tune, You Don’t Like It (Not Much)!. Closed with Fat’s Zonky, dueling clarinets, trumpet and trombone – WILD!.

That sent us back out into the cold with warm hearts! The Jesters are heading for the recording studio at the end of this month, and hope to have something in hand in time for the Essex jazz fest, end of June.

They will return to the Sherborn Inn, but we don’t have that date yet. Stay tuned to TUESDAY Jazz Schedule for Sherborn Inn future dates.

Jazz Jesters at the Sherborn Inn September 24, 2013

Posted on September 24, 2013 by admin

The Jazz Jesters

Jeff Hughes cornet, John Clark alto sax/clarinet, Craig Ball tenor sax/clarinet, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Al Bernard tuba, Steve Taddeo drums

We know it’s going to be an extraordinary evening anytime Jeff Hughes brings one of his many bands to the Sherborn Inn. The Jazz Jesters like to play the music of the 20’s and 30’s, when it was Bix Beiderbecke time in Davenport.

They began with Ross’s piano intro into Lucky Day, written in 1926 by DeSylva, Brown and Henderson. (They wrote many ‘feel good’ songs like The Best Things In Life Are Free, Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries.) The Jesters have made Lucky Day their theme song.

Getting into Bix mode – Sorry, was recorded by Bix and His Gang. House of David Blues – 1920, done by Fletcher Henderson with tenor sax played by Coleman Hawkins. The first time Jeff heard this one, in beautiful fidelity it was a life changing experience. Craig Ball was our Hawk on tenor sax. He also played gut-wrenching tenor on That’s My Desire.

Ross Petot plays Who’s Sorry Now?

Pianist Ross Petot has many tunes at his fingertips. His stride and intricate multi-layered playing was featured on Who’s Sorry Now. Jimmy says “It’s always a hit at Weddings.” (Who gave him a mike?)

Jimmy Mazzy

Jimmy introduced the 1920’s Song of the Wanderer with a vocal. Our favorite was Jimmy’s Cabin in the Cotton, 1932. Just beautiful! Close second was a smoldering ballad, Without a Song – not just one solo – he sang the whole song, in soulful, quintessential Jimmy.

This was an unusual evening where instead of all taking a solo, more than one musician had the whole song to himself. They are all accomplished artists, Jeff just lets them go.

Steve Taddeo

Bunny Berigan’s The Prisoner’s Song was introduced by Taddeo on drums, and Jeff just let him go for the whole 32 bars. Jimmy abruptly let loose with his infamous Mazzy holler.

Crisp Hughes cornet; he dedicated it to Bobby Hackett.

John Clark and Craig Ball

Oh Baby, done by Benny Goodman in the 1920’s, was a scorcher, Craig Ball on clarinet, Clark on soprano sax, pushed by Albie’s straight four on tuba.

Jeff Hughes on 1941 Henri Lefevre cornet

Jeff Hughes on 1905 Henri Lefevre cornet

Jeff played a tender solo, all his own, Dear Ol’ Southland, honest, straightforward, absolutely enchanting. His instrument of choice was a treasurable 1905 Henri Lefevre cornet, (precursor to the Selma Instrument Company). (Henri not only built each instrument by hand, he also built each part.) Remarkable tone.

Remarkable evening. There were hundreds of tunes, they only scratched the surface. More hot stuff of the 20’s and 30’s brought the evening to a close – Cabin in The Pines. Fats Waller’s special, the blistering Zonkie, released Taddeo’s inner Gene Krupa.

Couple passing by couldn’t resist dancing. Yes, they were waltzing!

They sent us home with a beautiful waltz, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, surprising a young couple who had just left the main dining room. They stopped and began waltzing on the dance floor. Maybe they’ll be back. We need more like them!

We are so lucky to enjoy all the talent here in New England. People love Jeff Hughes’ topnotch bands and musicians, when they can hear them; his bands are usually here on the last Tuesday of the month. Bring friends and introduce them to the fine Jazz and Swing at the Sherborn Inn!

Albie Bernard, without tuba, laughing and enjoying conversation

The Tuba Man

We do have fun!

Hot Steamed Jazz Festival – Funky Butt Jazz Band

Posted on August 19, 2013 by admin

Videos by Eric Devine – CineDevine

Pierce Campbell and The Funky Butt Jazz Band

Pierce Campbell guitar and vocals, Noel Kaletsky reeds, Lauren Evarts piano, Al Bernard tuba, John Rispoli drums

Pierce Campbell on guitar

The Funky Butt Jazz Band was started by his father, Pete Campbell and Bud Gettsinger 36 years ago. Pierce took over the band for playing traditional jazz, has various small combinations, and also performs solo..

He borrowed Noel Kaletsky and Albie Bernard from the Festival All Stars, for Summertime, Georgia, Dinah, One Meat Ball, I’m Confessing, Jelly Roll, Ain’t She Sweet, Buddy Bolden Blues. All great Trad tunes.
The Valley Railroad gave him an opener for Buddy Bolden’s Blues. Noel on soprano sax.

Lauren Evarts

Lauren is a regular member of The Funky Butt Jazz Band.

Noel on alto sax – Georgia

John Rispoli

John Rispoli is a monster on drums!

Al Bernard on tuba

Al Bernard put away the sousaphone and took out the tuba to play melodies for this session.

Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll

Noel Kaletsky

Noel Kaletsky is a complete band unto himself!
Unbelievable, from the Festival’s start to finish.

Price Campbell said it succinctly,
“Faster than a silver bullet!”

They all went WILD on Ice Cream!

Currently Pierce plays a variety of music which showcase his versatility. He performs solo singing and playing original and Celtic folk, American pop and Jazz classics. He performs Irish and original Celtic folk with The Kerry Boys, traditional Jazz with The Funky Butt Jazz Band, vocal Jazz classics and originals with The Pierce Campbell Jazz Duo/Trio and pop rock classics with Pierce Campbell and the Scramble. During the day, he entertains seniors at venues throughout CT.

Funky Butt Jazz Band

Hot Steamed Jazz 2013 – Dan Levinson’s New Millenium All Stars

Posted on August 17, 2013 by admin

Dan Levinson’s Millennium All Stars

Dan Levinson is a jazz Historian in New York devoted to Traditional Jazz, with a vast collection of memorabilia going back to the 1900’s. He has at least nine different bands. Fortunately for us, he spends much of his time searching out the newest talent coming out of the music schools and teaching these young NY musicians our kind of music, so it will be preserved well into the future.

He seems to save the Millenium All Stars for us at the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival. We have no idea how many young bands he is responsible for, but he has been bringing new ones here to the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival for 16 years. (He breaks the new ones in with a discerning Traditional Jazz Audience.)

This band was actually from the Millennium Generation, with recent graduates of the Manhattan School of Music. Jack Holkum on trombone is 21. Mike Davis cornet, Rob Atkins bass.

Mike Davis, Jack Holkum

Rob Atkins

Kevin Dorn, drummer

Except for drummer Kevin Dorn. Kevin was a young drummer when he first arrived here with Dan 15 years ago in 1998; now he’s one of the “elders” in the band, and has a great Traditional Jazz Band of his own.

Ian Frankel

Dan invited a fine Connecticut pianist, Ian Frankel, to join the band. Dan promised him there would be no reading, but this is Jazz, and it’s never the same twice. Frankel cleverly breezed through several surprises.

They began with Dan on clarinet with the title tune of an album by his Swing Wing Band, featuring Molly, At The Cod Fish Ball.

It includes Bud Freeman’s Summa Cum Laude Orchestra’s Copenhagen.

Molly has been coming here since 2004 – she is now Mrs. Dan Levinson. Molly also sang some tunes from her own new album, Swing For Your Supper, and I’d Like to Wake Up in the Morning Where The Morning Glories Grow.

Swing for your Supper

The Milleniums presented another tune from the Cod Fish Ball album, originally done by the Rhythm Makers, a mixed band, unheard of at the time. Oh Peter, You’re So Nice. In 1932 it featured PeeWee Russell on clarinet, with Eddy Condon on guitar, Joe Sullivan piano, and Zutti Singleton drums. Dan moved to tenor sax for the 1936 Mez Mezro & Sy Oliver, Hot Club Stomp.

Another from Molly’s Album, done by Bing Crosby and The Bob Cats, You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby. A mellow front line backed Molly on Ruth Ettings 1930 Ten Cents a Dance.

They closed with the Gershwin’s The Lorelei from Pardon My English that opened at the Majestic Theatre, New York on January 9, 1933.

We sure hope Dan Levinson and Molly Ryan are available with more of New York’s new talented musicians for next year’s Hot Steamed Jazz Festival!
http://danlevinson.com/ensembles.html

New England Traditional Jazz Plus

Swing, Traditional Jazz, Dixieland Jazz, Big Bands

Tag Archives: Jazz Jesters

Jeff’s Jazz Jesters at Primavera Ristorante April 28, 2016

Jeff Hughes and The Jazz Jesters

Jazz Jesters at Primavera Ristorante March 19, 2015

Jazz Jesters at the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival 2014

Jeff Hughes’ Jazz Jesters at the Sherborn Inn, 28 October 2014

Jazz Jesters at The Sherborn Inn, August 26, 2014

Jeff’s Jazz Jesters at the Sherborn Inn, February 25, 2014

Jazz Jesters at the Sherborn Inn September 24, 2013

Hot Steamed Jazz Festival – Funky Butt Jazz Band

Hot Steamed Jazz 2013 – Dan Levinson’s New Millenium All Stars