Tag Archives: Jazz

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante June 7, 2018

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6 piece Trad Jazz Band, no trombone or piano

Blue Horizon Jazz Band

Stan McDonald soprano sax, Andy Moore clarinet, Phil Person trumpet, Jack Soref guitar, Stu Gunn string bass, Richard Malcolm drums

Stan McDonald is a staunch supporter of Traditional Jazz.  The Blue Horizon Jazz Band is one of the few bands left who will satisfy us Trad Jazz fans!  Gerry Gagnon (tuba/trombone) couldn’t be here tonight, but his chair was filled with a fine clarinet player, Andy Moore, a friend and cohort of Jack Soref.

They began June with the welcome June Night, then sang a Happy Birthday to Stan’s son, Andy, who was sitting in the audience – he was 51 the day before.

Lilting energy on Four or Five Times,  

All of Me.  I’ll Never Be The Same – Andy and Stan playing spontaneous counterpoint to Phil Person’s sweet trumpet.

Andy Moore and Stan McDonald play counterpoint.

Rosetta, one of our favorites, closed the first set.   Stan McDonald stepped out.

with long white pony tail, playing fine trumpet

Phil Person

 

 

 

Phil Person took over lead of the band – his sweet trumpet taking on a more powerful tone.

 

 

 

 

Jack on Django guitar

Jack Soref

 

 

 

Jack Soref Manouch guitar was featured with Django’s Nuage.  Never get tired of hearing this!

 

 

 

 

Ron L’Herault, trombone from the Dixie Diehards, joined them for the rest of the evening.

playing drums. head thrown back

Richard Malcolm

 

 

Basin Street Blues was a request from drummer Rich Malcolm.  Andy Moore playing  low register clarinet.  They were in sync, fantastic solos backed by superb rhythm section.

 

 

 

 

After some conversation on the chords (this is a democratic band),  I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me began with celestial ensemble.

Jelly Roll Morton’s Honeysuckle Rose

head thrown back, singing

Andy Moore

We learned that Andy is also a fine singer, lending his voice to I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love With Me,  You Took Advantage of Me, and I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling.

Guitar took the intro on I’ve Got a Right To Sing The Blues, with  the front line each taking a full chorus.

Ron L’Herault took the vocal on Sweethearts on Parade.

Whispering

playing muted trombone

Ron L’Herault

 

 

 

They closed with Ron playing New Orleans tailgate trombone and singing Big Butter and Egg Man.

 

 

 

 

It was a fine evening, hearing Trad Jazz and getting re-acquainted with Andy Moore’s clarinet.  He and Jack Soref are both in the Sinti Rhythm Band, playing mostly private gigs all over New England.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band plays here at Primavera Ristorante on the first Thursday of every month.   Join us for some fine Jazz!!

Dixie Diehards Dixieland Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante 24 May 2018

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7 piece Dixieland Jazz Band

Dixie Diehards Dixiland Jazz Band

Ron L’Herault – MC – Vocals & Trombone
Carl Gerhard – Trumpet, Vocals – Music Director
Paul Peterson – Soprano Saxophone
Bill Kiesewetter – Keyboard
Jimmy Mazzy – Banjo/vocals
Bill Kass – Tuba
Dale Ellenberg – Drums

The Diehards opened with a rip-roaring South Bourbon St. Parade, moving to another hot one, the ODJB Royal Garden Blues.  Trumpeter Carl Gerhard effortlessly holding a long note.  Set everyone at the edge of their seats.

Carl on trumpet, I think

Carl Gerhard

 

Carl Gerhard’s trumpet is resonant with feeling and warmth.  He was the Director and Bandmaster of Navy bands, retiring  after 30 years of service.  His true love is playing traditional jazz in the New Orleans style.  He took a fine vocal on the Ain’t She Sweet, the 1927 song that sold a million copies of sheet music!.

 

 

 

playing soprano sax

Paul Peterson

 

Paul Peterson played soft soprano sax on the Andy Raszof Eubie Blake tune, Memories of you.  Paul has been teaching music in the Bridgewater–Raynham School District, and executes dramatic and remarkable solos on the soprano sax.

 

 

Ron holding trombone and singing

Ron L’Herault

 

 

Ron L’Herault MC’d, played tail-gait trombone, and sang many vocals; Five Foot Two, Sweet Sue, South Basin Street Blues. He sang a tune which started its life in a Yiddish Musical comedy production, “I Would If I Could.” In English it’s called “To Me You Are Beautiful,” but we all know it by its Yiddish title, Bei Mir Bis Tu Schoen.  

 

 

 

Avalon

 

Jim plays banjo and sings with tuba backup

Jimmy Mazzy

 

 

Jimmy Mazzy was featured on Up a Lazy River – you could have heard a pin drop.  They give him a lot of room to play and sing, Darktown Strutter’s Ball, Give Me Your Telephone Number, Up a Lazy River,
Struttin’ With Some Barbecue

 

 

 

looking at camera with a big smile

Bill Keiswetter

 

Bill KIesewetter plays excellent stride piano; he was influenced by Fats  Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Floyd Cramer and the Dukes of Dixieland.  Bill is retired from many years in the computer industry, and happy to be playing full time.

 

 

The rhythm section had “strength up the middle.”  They laid back on ballads but on a hot tune…look out!

playing tuba and reading script

Bill Kass

 

 

 

Bill Kass’s tuba provided chords and a strong, steady, beat.  Check out his solo again on Struttin’ With Some Barbecue!

 

 

 

 

Playing drum set with no large bass drum

Dale Ellenberg

 

 

Dale Ellenberg maintained that important Dixieland beat.  He introduced  Spencer Williams’  Everybody Loves My Baby, with Jimmy taking the vocal.

 

 

 

 

 

They closed this fantastic evening with the ubiquitous Closer Walk and The Saints:

The Diehards have a full schedule planned for this summer, most of them private.  The next public appearance is July 18, 7-9pm at The Old Stone Church
1st. Congregational Church, 785 South Main St, Raynham MA. 02767
508-822-6177

Williams Reunion Jazz Band at Winsor House Inn 2018

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6 piece Dixieland Jazz Band, no drums

Williams Reunion Jazz Band

By Marce, Videos by Brian Towne

Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Bates ‘62; Tom Boates trombone, U. Mass ‘73; John Bucher cornet, Amherst ‘52 …and Williams classmates: John Halsey ‘59, piano (pro in NYC); Bob Kingsbury ‘58, clarinet and Fred Clifford tuba ‘58.

The Williams Reunion Jazz Band played another fantastic Jazz Brunch at The Winsor House Inn, 390 Washington St. Duxbury MA on Sunday, May 27th 2018.  They were here this weekend for the Duxbury Bay Maritime School’s Opening of the Bay.   http://dbms.org/

The Williams Reunion Jazz Band was born on New England College campuses in 1954 when Dixieland was alive and well and “runnin’ wild”.  Three of them from Williams College were here, with John Bucher Amherst ’52, and two of their permanent guest stars,  playing the music they have cherished – the music of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Bix Beiderbecke and Hoagie Carmichael.  The music of Classical Jazz.

88 yr old cornet player

John Bucher

 

 

 

The Band started with a wild Just a While to Stay Here, Jazz Me Blues (Bix tune from 20’s).  It’s so good to hear John Bucher’s Bix type stylings again.

 

 

 

Keeping in the Bucher family, a tune he played with the Woody Allen Band at Michael’s Pub, Keeping Out of Mischief Now, Jimmy vocal.  These two are the heart and soul of the band, Bucher the heart, Jimmy the soul.  They played a duet, cornet and banjo, on As Long As I Live.

Trombone forefront, keyboard in back

John Halsey and Tom Boates

 

 

Tom Boates, Director of  Music at Guilford High School in Guilford, CT, kept the band jumping. with John Halsey behind him on keyboard.  There was an on again off again problem with the keyboard, so it was difficult to hear  John’s fingers flying across the keyboard! He’s still playing creatively at Arthur’s Tavern in NY.

 

 

 

At The Jazz Band Ball, is an ODJB original.  They closed the first set with a medley of two hot ones: China Boy and China Town. WOW!

 

Bob on clarinet

Bob Kingsbury

 

 

 

They returned with the 1902 Bill Baily. Rose Room – mellow, rich clarinet by Kingsbury.  Then a grand ol’ tune they never played before, C.C.Ryder, Jim vocal, fabulous muted trombone by Boates.

 

 

 

Fred on big tuba

Fred Clifford

 

 

Fred Clifford’s tuba makes up for the lack of drum, with his turbo-charged oompah beat. Next came one of Fred’s favorites, Running Wild, with Jim on vocal, backed by Fred’s tuba.  He also backed his banjo on the 1926 Deed I Do.  Amazing duo!

 

 

 

 

Carrie Mazzy, their ‘Den Mother’, came up for a duet with Jimmy, with a nice tune by Jabbo Smith, Love.

Jimmy singing and playing bano, with tuba in back

Jimmy Mazzy

 

 

 

Jimmy Mazzy is featured playing banjo and singing many of the tunes.  He played the intro to a tune from the Rhythm Kings, From Monday On. Banjo and Trombone teamed up again for I’m Confessing That I Love You.

 

 

 

Ice Cream:

The crowd was feeding off the band, and the band was feeding off the crowds energy!!  Bob Kingsbury thanked the attentive audience – a full house – saying “You brought out the best in these guys!”

The Williams Reunion Jazz Band ended as wild as they started, with their theme song, Swing That Music.

Jim Mazzy and Fred Clifford join The Dukes of Winsor’s who play a monthly Sunday jazz brunch at The Winsor House Inn from September thru June that includes Jeff Hughes on cornet, Stan Vincent on trombone, Pete Collins on clarinet, Herb Gardner on piano and Mark Endresen on guitar.

We’ll see the Williams Reunion Jazz Band again next year; they are here annually for the Duxbury Opening of the Bay on Memorial Day Weekend.  If you can’t wait, get their CDs – check out http://www.siterrific.com/WRJB/

Eli and The Hot Six at Primavera Ristorante April 19, 2018

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8 pc Hot Band, two trumpets

Eli and The Hot Six

Bo Winiker and Phil Person trumpet, Ted Casher clarinet and tenor sax, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba, Bob Tamagni drums, Elaine Wu vocals

Eli playing tuba at the front of the band

Eli Newberger

 

This band is never dull!  On this cold and rainy day, Jimmy opened on his renowned one-string banjo singing April Showers. But it soon got HOT in here with two trumpets and clarinet, Eli strolling up front playing tuba.

 

 

 

Eli says  “I can’t get over the excitement that Phil  and Bo create, individually and together, and the band’s new energy.  Add Elaine and our vocal themes and solos, including Bob Winter’s, and we’ve got a joyful evening, full of honest emotion and unexpected brilliance, every single performance.”

They continued with optimistic tunes for better weather.

Keyboard player sings. Bob plays with the Boston Pops.

Bob Winter Sings!

 

 

 

Hope For Better Days–  Surprise – Bob Winter Singing!!  Wonderful!   Followed by band ensemble on Look For The Silver Lining.

 

 

 

Bo Winiker

Bo Winiker playing flugelhorn

 

 

Speaking of Silver Linings, Elaine Wu was back with tunes that help people relate to each other – Carol King’s Music, Ellington’s In a Mellow Tone, and off to Rio for One Note Samba, with Bo on flugelhorn.

 

 

 

 

Phil on muted trumpet

Phil Person

 

 

 

Phil Person’s sweet trumpet was featured with Honeysuckle Rose, with Jimmy scatting.

 

 

 

Bob Winter continued in propulsive rhythm and fluid style on keyboard with Without You.

Caroline seeming in ecstasy with head thrown back, playing washboard.

Carolyn Newberger

 

 

Carolyn Newberger joined Jimmy singing Coney Island Washboard Rondelay.

Carolyn is usually sitting in the audience drawing pictures of the musicians.  She had a successful showing of her art this month at Galatea Fine Arts in Boston.

 

 

Elaine with left arm swung out, singing

Elaine Woo rules!

 

Elaine returned singing Too Marvelous For Words, then introduced a couple of friends to sing a song.  This whole evening was about friendships.  Belinda sang All The Things You Are, and Nat tried some Jimmy Durante on You Do Something To Me, and with a Jazz Waltz from the movie The Yearling, and I’m All Smiles.

 

 

Herb up front on trombone with Eli on tuba behind him

Herb Gardner

 

 

Herb Gardner was featured on trombone and vocals with ‘Till We Meet Again.

 

 

 

Jimmy playing banjo and singing

Jimmy Mazzy

 

 

 

Jimmy dove through his plethora of songs for a 1927 tune played by the  Jean Goldkette Orchestra, Slow River.

 

 

 

Ted on tenor sax

Ted Casher

 

 

 

Ted was featured on tenor sax with Squattee Roo.

 

 

 

Eli and Jimmy have been a team for many years. Eli backed him on a very slow If You Knew How Much I Love You.   The band ramped up with a real barn-burner, South Rampart St. Parade.

Bob, with eyes closed and head thrown back, playing snare drum.

Bob Tomagni

 

 

Behind the band, always listening, adding emphasizing beats, keeping them in time, Bob Tomagni on drums.

 

 

This fine evening closed with Bo back on flugelhorn and Jimmy singing New Orleans.

The large, enthusiastic crowd clapped all night long! This was an exhilarating evening – we didn’t want it to end – but time was up.  But…Eli and The Hot Six, with Bo and Phil on  trumpet and Elaine and Carolyn will return on  May 17th   – Join us for an evening full of surprises!

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante April 5, 2018

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5 pc. Traditional Jazz Band, no banjo

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band

 

Stan McDonald soprano sax, Phil Person trumpet, John Kafalas trombone, Jack Soref guitar, Gerry Gagnon tuba.   The band’s drummer, Rich Malcolm, director of Audio/Visual at Berklee, was absent because he had to cover the class for a fellow employee who underwent surgery.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Bands plays every 1st Thursday of the month at Primavera, a fine Italian Restaurant family owned since 1989.  Great Traditional  Jazz in addition to fine Italian Cuisine at a fair price!

Stan on soprano saxophone

Stan McDonald

 

 

Stan McDonald played for the first set, opening on soprano sax with fine renditions of Swing That Music, Memphis Blues and Dardanella.  That was followed by Canal St. Blues.  Feet were tapping as they continued with Everybody Loves My Baby.   That closed the first set.

 

 

 

Gerry on tuba

Gerry Gagnon

 

Gerry Gagnon took over leadership of the band, but he gave everyone a say on what they would play and how they would play it.

The important job of keeping that Trad Beat was accomplished by Jack Soref on guitar, with help from Gerry playing 4/4 on a monstrous Conn 20J recording tuba with a deep, sonorous tone.

 

 

The band started the second set with a barn-burning version of Limehouse Blues, and I Would Do Most Anything For You (dedicated to the audience).  And they did!!

John on trombone

John Kafalas

 

 

John Kafalas fills in on trombone whenever Gerry moves to tuba.  John has been a part of this band for many years, improvising fine counterpoint harmony lines to the lead parts of the  trumpet player.

 

 

 

On the 85th Anniversary  of Louis Armstrong’s playing with King Oliver, they gave us Sugar Blues.

 

Phil on trumpet

Phil Person

 

 

They moved upbeat with Found a New Baby.  Phil Person took the lead on trumpet on Margie.   Phil plays a sweet, ‘pretty’ trumpet. He is an Assistant Professor of Ear Training at Berklee who helps students learn arranging, harmony, conducting, tonal harmony and counterpoint.

 

 

 

The band kept the tradition of New Orleans music of the 20’s to 50’s alive and vibrant.
That’s a Plenty.

 

Jack on 'Django' guitar

Jack Soref

 

 

 

They continued with a tune requested by “regular” Connie T.  It Had To Be you.  Jack Soref took the last 8, demonstrating what a  guitar solo should sound like!

 

 

 

China Boy, was a rouser!  They continued with The Mill’s Brothers’ When I Grow too Old to Dream, I’ll See You In My Dreams.

This Blue Horizon Jazz Band is a light-hearted, versatile band.  They closed with Just a Closer Walk With Thee.  a traditional gospel song that has been covered by many artists.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band plays the 1st Thursday of every month here at Primavera Ristorante, 7pm.  They will be back May 3rd.     Consider joining us??

Marce

 

 

 

 

Eli & The Hot Six at Primavera Ristorante, March 15, 2018

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7 pc trad jazz - swing band

Eli and The Hot Six

Bo Winiker & Phil Person (trumpet), Ted Casher (clarinet/tenor & soprano sax), Herb Gardner (trombone), Bob Winter (piano), Jimmy Mazzy (banjo/vocals),  Eli Newberger (leader/tuba), Bob Tamagni (drums) & Elaine Woo (vocals)  .

After enduring three Nor’easters in three weeks, with loss of electricity, cancelled gigs, these musicians were raring to go!!  They hit it hot and fiery with That’s a Plenty that brought everyone to attention and sitting up on the edge of their seats.

Ted playing tenor sax

Ted Casher on smokin’tenor sax

 

 

 

Then Ted took out his tenor sax for a moody, smoldering Blue and Sentimental that turned our insides to jelly!

 

 

 

 

smiling and singing

Elaine Woo

Eli called on Elaine Woo, who had prepared a list of songs for spring, including the verses – many of were melancholy:  Spring is Here (why doesn’t my heart go dancing?)  Michel LeGrand’s You Must Believe In Spring.
She moved to something more cheerful – a Broadway tune that persuades flowers to bloom.  It begins as a shy prayer and ends up a classic Broadway Belt: Hurry! It’s Lovely Up Here.

 

clarinet, two trumpets, trombone

Front line: Ted Casher, Bo Winiker, Phil Person, Herb Gardner

Musicians were soaring!  But there’s no doubt who is in charge here, with Eli pointing to each one, each picked up spontaneously, improvising straight from the heart!

Winter at keyboard

Bob Winter

 

 

 

Bob Winter swung with expressive joy on Carioca, from a 1933 film Flying Down to Rio.

 

 

 

 

 

Phil with hair in long white pony tail, plays trumpet

Phil Person

 

 

 

Phil Person was featured with Duke’s soulful, sensitive Satin Doll.

 

 

 

 

 

smiling, holding trumpet and handkerchief

No one does Louis better than Bo!

 

 

 

Bo Winicker instinctively plays Louis’s Hello Dolly;

 

 

 

 

playing trombone up front

Herb Gardner

 

 

 

Herb Gardner played mellow trombone and sang Richard Whiting’s She’s Funny That Way.

 

 

 

 

hitting snare with one stick and top hat stand with the other

Bob Tamagni

 

 

 

Bob Tamagni’s sound generates dynamism and perfect propulsive thrust, driving the band.

 

 

 

 

Eli introduced a young student of Bob Winter’s, Rui (pronounced Ray) Zhong who plays both piano and Euphonium. With Jimmy, Rui and Eli took a turbo charged duet on Summertime.

euphonium, banjo, tuba

Rui , Jimmy Mazzy, Eli Newberger

Until a couple of years ago, Elaine was an Internal Medicine Specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital, and she only knew two songs. She reprised them for us, with all lyrics memorized:  I Got Rhythm, and Embraceable You.  Now retired and singing full-time, Elaine has become a seasoned professional vocalist, and belts them out with fervor.

Elaine singing with the whole band

Elaine Woo belts out a song!

Eli and The Hot Six closed with a march around the room on a flaming Tiger Rag.

That left us in a much better mood than when we arrived!

Eli and The Hot Six are here at Primavera on the 3rd Thursday of every month – next one is April 19th.  Come join in the fun!!

Wolverine Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante February 22, 2018

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7 pc. trad Jazz Band

Wolverine Jazz
Band

Jeff Hughes cornet, John Clark, Leader, clarinet/bass sax, Tom Boates trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Ross Petot piano, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums

An energetic, rambunctious Wolverine Jazz Band raised the temperature on this very cold February evening with uplifting, toe-tapping Traditional Jazz at Primavera Ristorante.   Just a week+ after Mardi Gras, this was an evening of tunes from the essential spirit of early New Orleans up to the 1950s in preparation for their umpteenth CD – and all of us were pleased to be a part of it!

Jimmy Mazzy kicked it off with banjo intro on Maybe, a song written in 1926 by George and Ira Gershwin, then Brown Bottom Bess, by Johnny Dodds.

Jimmy took banjo intro and vocal on Take Your Tomorrows and Give Me Today.

This front line lights up the room!  Trombone, cornet and clarinet against a four-piece rhythm section.

trombone, cornet, clarinet with

Tom Boates, Jeff Hughes, John Clark in Front Line

Clark playing bass sax set on seat of chair

John Clark on bass saxophone

The rhythm section had “strength up the middle.”  They laid back on ballads, but on a hot tune…look out!

Jelly Roll Morton’s Frog-I-More Rag was a killer with John Clark’s powerful bass saxophone! He reaches deep down and creates beautiful music.

John sang The Preacher, with the band in close harmony, and the 1934 Baby Brown, by Alex Hill with livewire ensemble band opening – marvelous.  Ross Petot was in full stride.

 

 

 

Ross looking up and smiling (this is rare - he never smiles when he's playing.)

Ross Petot, teacher and stride pianist

 

We were all happy to see Ross Petot back with the band.  He’s usually unavailable – teaching on Thursday nights.  Fortunately for us, school was out this week. His stride piano is inimitable!!

Check it out on the video of Honky Tonk Towne!

 

 

 

 

tom on open bell trombone

Tom Boates

 

Tom Boates requested I’m Gonna Charleston back to Charleston  –  love that growling trombone! He was featured on Stars Fell on Alabama.  (It refers to a spectacular occurrence of the Leonid meteor shower observed in Alabama in November 1833.)

Tom drove 125 miles from Connecticut to get here, putting heart and soul in a New Orleans tune recorded in 1940 by Sidney Bechet and Louis Armstrong
– Down in Honky Tonk Town.

video by Marce (sorry about shrinkage!  Listen to the music.)

Tell Me Why – sweet intro to Jimmy vocal with Jeff backup.  John actually played melody on that monstrous bass sax, with Tom on  trombone doing harmony.  Lovely!
Jimmy’s banjo opened on a sweet ballad, How Deep is The Ocean, with Jeff backing him on cornet.  (Jeff has been playing harmony for Jimmy ever since they were together in Ray Smith’s Paramount Jazz Band.)

Jimmy singing, Jeff playing cornet

Jimmy Mazzy and Jeff Hughes

Jeff and John  remembered playing In Our Cottage of Love with the Paramount Jazz Band.

Jeff Hughes is the Bix Beiderbecke in this Wolverine Jazz Band. His technique  encompasses a fabulous variety of moods and timbres, especially in a 1928 song Bix did with the Paul Whitman orchestra, Lonely Melody.

Let’s Have Another Cup of Coffee is a song by Irving Berlin in the musical comedy Face the Music, which opened in 1932. The song is sung by a group of once-wealthy citizens who were awaiting better times, as mirrored in the song’s opening lyrics: Just around the corner, there’s a rainbow in the sky.

Banjo played verse on a sweet ballad recorded by Mildred Bailey and Her Orchestra in 1937 If You Ever Should Leave / Heaven Help This Heart of Mine.  Harold Arlen’s Kicking The Gong Around had Jimmy scat-singing, with the band alternating fast and slow tempos..

Dave Didriksen

 

Hot toe-tapping Dixieland tune,   Sensation Rag, is also on another  one of their CDs, with drummer Dave Didriksen tapping on woodblock.

The buoyant rhythm section sparked by drums provided solid support.

Dip Your Brush In The Sunshine 1931 by Ted Lewis –  Jimmy singing backed by clarinet.

 

Rick looking up, playing tiba

Rick MacWilliams

 

 

 

Band in ensemble took the intro to I Ain’t Gonna Tell Nobody with nice tuba solo. Rick’s tuba gives the music support and richness and pushes the beat without racing the time.

 

 

 

These musicians get absolute rapture in making music and delectable hot jazz!!

The Wolverine Jazz Band has been invited to several festivals. They won’t be back here at Primavera until April 26th!   Mark your calendars! Don’t miss this amazing Jazz band!

You can purchase any of their fine CD’s at www.wolverinejazzband.com.

Scott Hamilton and Gray Sargent Trio at Chan’s Jazz & Blues Club, Woonsocket RI  26 November 2017

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Scott Hamilton returned to celebrate Thanksgiving weekend at Chan’s Jazz & Blues Club with the Gray Sargent Trio featuring 2 members of Tony Bennett’s band: the amazing Gray Sargent on guitar, the incredible Marshall Wood on bass and Boston Pop’s Jim Gwinn on drums.Scott on tenor sax, all others as noted

                        Scott Hamilton with Gray Sargent, Marshall Wood and Jim Gwynn                                           With Guest Vocalist Donna Byrne
                                  November 26, 2017 at Chan’s in Woonsocket, RI

By Bill Falk
pictures by Eric Falk

This was a match made in heaven! The incomparable Scott Hamilton on tenor sax, Gray Sargent on guitar, Marshall Wood on bass and Jim Gwynn on drums.

This is one of the finest groups I’ve ever seen or heard. They blended perfectly to produce marvelous swinging jazz that kept the sellout crowd enthralled all night. Everything they played was a hit from the time they opened with Chinatown My Chinatown.

Scott on tenor sax

Scott Hamilton

 

 Scott was at his best – which means he was phenomenal. My late wife Grace always said that he was the only one who could produce such an unbelievable sound. He smiled all night – meaning he enjoyed working with the trio behind him. I believe he is the greatest jazz tenor sax man ever whether he is soloing, blending in with the group or backing up a singer.

 

 

 

Gray Sargent on guitar soloed excellently. Plus, he coordinated with Marshall Wood on bass beautifully. I like it when Gray blasts away on his guitar. Marshall Wood

is a treat on bass. His facial expressions are priceless. He makes the bass sing. Jim Gwynn on drums set a terrific beat for the group. He took some breaks and soloed great later in the program.

All the players were smiling and enjoying themselves all night. Their happiness made the music sound even better. The crowed clapped and clapped as the group ripped through song after song.

If this group ever gets together again, and if you can get to see them, I guarantee you’ll love their music and upbeat mood.

Scott called Donna Byrne up from the audience for several entertaining song renditions. She, too, was a hit. Donna captured the spirit of the evening and performed very well.

Some of the songs played were Laura, Russian Lullaby, East of the Sun and West of the Moon, The Best Things in Life Are Free and Emily. There were many others, but I was unable to remember them.

Bill Falk

 

Sarah Spencer International Jazz Band at Bemis Hall  October 11, 2017

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9 pc Real Trad Jazz Band - two reeds

Sarah Spencer International Jazz Band

Sarah and Minnie Mouse

Sarah and Minnie Mouse

 

Sarah Spencer returned from her home in England; stopped by at Disneyworld to catch up with friends, then settled in Connecticut, playing at Bill’s Seafood.  We were fortunate to have her with us in Lincoln, MA, with her International All Stars.  Our local musicians were thrilled to have Sarah here – that was obvious!

 

Jeff Hughes cornet, John Clark clarinet/soprano sax, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Herb Gardner piano, Justin Meyer  bass, Bill Doyle guitar, Steve Taddeo drums, Sarah Spencer tenor sax/vocals/clarinet/alto sax.

They opened with Jimmy singing Exactly Like You.  Sarah and The All Stars  played New Orleans Traditional Jazz – it was refreshing to hear it again!  She explained where the tunes came from, and what bands played them, like The Sam Morgan band, Papa Celestin,  Billy & Dede Pierce, Kid Thomas, Ma Rainey’s Tiajuana Man.

Clark on soprano, Sarah on tenor sax

John Clark and Sarah duet

 

 

John Clark took up soprano sax for Sweet Jenny Lee, a  Cab Callaway tune.

 

 

 

 

Steve Taddeo has been studying Baby Dodds – surprising the members of the band on Traditional Jazz – his passion is playing drums!
Sweet Jenny Lee

Sarah sang several songs, including Love, by Jabbo Smith.

Sarah singing. Taddeo reveling on drums, Jeff Hughes trumpet

Sarah sings Jabbo Smith’s Love

both singing on same mic

Sarah and Gerry sing

 

 

The band reveled in playing unusual pairings of musicians.  Sarah played clarinet on Savoy Blues, persuaded by John Clark.  Jerry Gagnon sang a duet with Sarah – that was a surprise!

Jimmy playing banjo and singing, head lowered

Jimmy sings with Justin Meyer behind him

 

 

 

Jimmy Mazzy sang Sweetheart of TKO, from “Papa” Celastin’s Original Tuxedo Orchestra.
Closer Walk With Thee had both Sarah and John playing clarinet, backed by the rhythm section. Justin Meyer was behind Jimmy with fluid intonation and flawless timing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Herb Gardner learned and played many new songs this evening.

 

 

 

Herb Gardner enjoyed playing  on Bemis’s antique grand piano showing his astonishing improvisational skills – he had never heard some of these Traditional Jazz tunes!

 

 

 

 

Bill hidden behind mike, Gerry on muted trombone

Bil Doyle and Gerry Gagnon

 

Gerry Gagnon is amazing on trombone, improvising harmony lines, playing lovely slow glissando.
It was impossible to get a clear picture of Bill Doyle, playing guitar in the rhythm section, making every note count – invaluable to the band.

 

They closed with an astounding Panama.

All agreed that they will do this again next year.  The attentive and enthusiastic  audience applauded wholeheartedly!

The following Wednesday, Sarah Spencer played at a private house party in Concord MA that was well attended by Jimmy Mazzy fans.  She’s been driving from Connecticut to this party for years!

Thursday 26th she drove up to Primavera in Millis, Massachusetts and sat in with Jeff Hughes, Craig Ball, Jimmy Mazzy, Steve Taddeo and Ron L’Herault.  She said it was the most magnificent send-off possible; last few hours of her trip with the very best of friends.  Next morning she headed back home to England.

We look forward to her returning next year!!   We all love you, Sarah!

by Marce
videos by Harold McAleer

 

 

Jeff & Joel’s House Party #8, October 13-15, 2017

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Banu with 13 male musicians

Jeff & Joel’s House Party #8

by Marty Fay
videos Cine Devine

As always, it was a mixture of the familiar and the new. There were musicians and songs that have thrilled previous House Party audiences, as well as new performers and songs that have not visited the House Party before now.

singing into mic

Banu Gibso

Banu Gibson was the new headliner and brought an interesting mix of musical talent (she stuck with vocals for the House Party), charts and humorous stories. She is a consummate performer and was well received from her Friday night spotlight and throughout the whole weekend. She stuck primarily to working with “charts” –  it is difficult to travel and develop a quick rapport with new musicians to back up your vocals – but it all came out very well.

She actually arrived in New York City a few days earlier and spent some time with the NYC crew.

 

Vince on banjo, Banu smiling

Vince Giordano and Banu

 

 

Friday night she was backed by Vince Giordano (on his multitude of instruments), Dan Levinson (on reeds), Tom Palinko (on drums) and Jeff Barnhart (on keyboards). She also featured some vocal duties by Vince and Jeff. The charts gave the show more structure than we usually rely upon.

Jeepers Creepers
Banu Gibson – Vocal
Mike Davis – Trumpet
Dan Levinson – Reeds
Jim Fryer – Trombone
Dalton Ridenhour – Piano
Vince Giordano – Bass
Kevin Dorn – Drums
 
Joel and Banu laughing

Banu and Joel Schiavone

 

 

At the start of her career, Banu  actually worked for Joel Schiavone, so it was a homecoming of sorts for her. Your Father’s Mustache was alive and well in Branford this past weekend!

Vince Giordano – My Blackbirds are Bluebirds Now
For the rest of the weekend most of the structure was Jeff’s freewheeling mix of musicians and styles. He always prepares a list of which musicians are featured for
each song with only a suggestion of style of music and a nominal tune caller. Then he tells the musicians that they are free to ad lib and add others as they go.
On some of these Banu used charts and on others she joined into the loose structure for which we are known.

New for this year was Jeff’s depiction of a NYC crew and suburban crew.

The suburban crew included Jeff, Tom Palinko, Joel, Frank Tate (on bass), Fred Vigorito (on trumpet and cornet), Tom Boates (on trombone) and the inimitable Noel Kaletsky (on reeds).
China Boy

Big Noise From Winnetka featured Tom Palinko drums.

The NYC crew included Vince, Dan, Jim Fryer (on trombone and other brass instruments), Kevin Dorn (on drums), Dalton Ridenhour (on keyboards) and Mike Davis (on trumpet). Dalton and Mike were new to the House Party and performed well beyond their years. Note their names because you will be hearing more about them as time goes on. They were great new additions.

Shake It and Break It

 

Canal Street Blues

 

Jeff & Dalton play 4-handed piano – Everybody Loves My Baby