Jeff Hughes trumpet/flugelhorn, John Clark leader, clarinet/alto sax, Herb Gardner piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums
By Bill Falk
Listening to this group reminded me of traditional jazz of yesteryear – those days of King Oliver and ballrooms full of followers.
Despite missing their trombonist, band members meshed together beautifully – mixing brilliant solos with great backup.
John Clark
John Clark led the band plus did an excellent job on clarinet and alto sax. He also vocalized on The Preacher, Stairway to Paradise and Egyptian Ella.
Jimmy Mazzy
Jimmy Mazzy was brilliant on banjo – when isn’t he terrific? His vocal on Take Your Tomorrow was very impressive, and his solos on Chasing the Blues Away, Monday Date and How Deep is the Ocean were outstanding.
Jeff Hughes
Jeff Hughes trumpet and flugelhorn never disappoints. I was particularly excited by the full sound he produced on the flugelhorn on I Surrender Dear. He delivered great solos on a variety of tunes throughout the program.
Herb Gardner
Herb Gardner on keyboard contributed vocals on Staten Island and The Preacher. He is a vital ingredient to the group’s sound because of his ability to backup others and hold things together.
Rick MacWilliams
Rick MacWilliams on tuba soloed occasionally while helping the rhythm section keep a steady pace. He works the instrument like a saxophone.
Dave Didriksen
Dave Didrikson was the drummer – not flashy but terrific at keeping the beat. He did take an occasional brief solo, but he played much like the drummers from way back – unsung but important.
The band also played What’s the Use, A Foggy Day in London Town, Froggy More, There Ain’t No Sweet Band Worth the Salt of My Tears, Lonely Melody, Oh Miss Hannah, Struttin’ With Some Barbecue, I Ain’t Gonna Tell Nobody, Sleepy Lagoon, The Work Song, Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans and ended a wonderful evening with their signature Wolverine Blues.
Make it a priority to see this group in person! They get into the roots of jazz as invented in New Orleans very successfully.
Jeff Hughes cornet, John Clark clarinet/tenor and baritone sax, Tom Boates trombone, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums
The Wolves were elated to return to the former Sherborn Inn, now known as The Heritage of Sherborn. They first played here in 1998. They played with lyricism and passion! It was a full house, with their many fans returning and happy to hear them again.
The seating has been changed, with the band set up in the right hand corner of the “T”, now playing directly to the 50+ listeners in what was the dead-end left corner. No problem hearing the band now!! This was taken during the break from what had been the ‘dead end’ left corner of the “T”. Our ‘music family’ was getting re-acquainted.
New Seating arrangement
The viewing tables inside the front door were replaced with a very active bar, and a tall table with tall chairs just inside the door, and a fine dance floor.
inside the front door
The Front Line was HOT right from the beginning, with At Sundown
Front Line: John Clark, Jeff Hughes, Tom Boates
Canal St. Blues is an old war horse, with Tom Boates’ growling trombone. He was just back from a well deserved vacation in Florida. He’s been teaching music for 40 years! He’ll be back at Guilford CT High School.
Jimmy was featured with a tune done by the Blue Steele & His Orchestra, in 1927, Sugar Babe I’m Leaving. John took out the baritone sax. RaeAnn video taped this with the Wolverines on November 7, 2015 at the 26th Annual Arizona Classic Jazz Society in Chandler AZ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWVjyTqKv28
Jimmy has a wealth of tunes and introduced one to the band this week, pianist Joe Robichaux’s 1933 After Me The Sun Goes Down.
Once In a While was a barn-buster! It’s on their new CD. They slowed down for a tune of Jeff’s choice, he picked Django’s Nuage, ending in a flamboyant cornet coda.
John and Gisela Brunaccini took advantage of the dance floor for the 1931 Pop tune, Strangers, and for the first blues ever recorded, Memphis Blues – nice fox trot. They’re in their 90’s and fabulous dancers.
John and Gisela Brunaccinis
Jimmy sang the vocal, Rick’s tuba had a great solo on Sunset Café Stomp. John took out the tenor sax for Robin’s Nest with Jimmy Scatting. John was still in good form from playing Sunday Brunch at the Griswold Inn Sunday with the 90-year-old Bob Card and The Freight Train Five, where they also played On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
The Wolverines recorded Wolverine Blues on their first CD, without a trombone, because John hadn’t found one good enough. Tom Boates definitely has filled in that gap!
Jimmy Mazzy has been playing almost every night with one band or another. Last Sunday he was with the New Orleans Trio on the Jazz Boat up and down the Cape Cod Canal. There’s only one cruise left this year, folks – September 4th. They board at 1:15pm.
Jimmy Mazzy and Dave Didriksen
Behind Jimmy is drummer Dave Didriksen, who has been with John Clark for years. Dave Didriksen knows his Jazz, and is booking Ken’s Steak House every Sunday afternoon 4pm starting in September. Ken’s Steak House
Rick MacWillliams
He and Rick MacWilliams have lead the rhythm section for John Clark ever since he started here in New England.
Rick leads the Commonwealth Jazz Band that includes John Clark or Noel Kaletsky on reeds and Jimmy Mazzy banjo and vocals.
There was a request for Let Me Call You Sweetheart, The Wolves played it in Dixieland style like the Halfway House orchestra in 1927. (They were named after a dance hall called the Halfway House that was halfway between New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.)
Robin’s Nest was in remembrance of Sir Charles Thompson, a jazz pianist of supple power who bridged the swing and bebop eras. He died June 16 at age 98.
John Clark sings too
John sang a rambunctious Happy Feet, from the 1929 King Of Jazz (named for Paul Whitman.)
Tom Boates gives it 150%
Tom sings on the new CD, Now & Then, Hello Central, Give Me Dr. Jazz, with Jeff adding some cornet vibrato.
Jeff uses strange mute
A slow bluesy blues had many names, they stuck with Audrey, banjo intro, tenor sax, trombone, cornet muted with a wine glass.
Ross Petot, widely known and respected pianist
Ross Petot is an essential part of this band, playing his excellent stride piano. He was featured on a WILD Birmingham Breakdown. John on bari sax. CineDevine recorded it at the 2013 Hot Steamed Jazz Festival.
John returned to tenor sax with Jimmy Singing September in The Rain, Tom’s trombone sneaking in a bit of In My Solitude. They inspire each other; when they get together it’s magic!!
They closed with dynamic solos on an exciting, freewheeling, Strutting With Some Barbecue. Fabulous!
The Wolverine Jazz Band and its individual members will be kept busy next year, including many festivals. We try to keep up with them, but it isn’t easy!! Their Gatsby Weekend on Star Island off Portsmouth NH Aug 27-28 is sold out!
Keep an eye out for them on our Calendars at nejazz.com.
Their new CD, Now & Then is out. Number 14? It has some tunes they recorded in the past, including a couple from 1998!
Now & Then
You can get them wherever John or the Wolverines appear, or at theirwebsite.
For their appearances, keep an eye on our Calendars at www.nejazz.com.
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.
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!
Myron was an incredible figure…Myron the Memorious, I will remember him. Fantastic memory, and endless stories, all recalled with precision and detail, and that Great Humor!
He once told me he was a close friend of Henny Youngman (although maybe not of Milton Berle!), and his great humor, told in endless stories and one-liners, reflected a similar Yiddish irony and sensibility. Always recalled with unbelievable emphasis, and spot-on clarity, enthusiasm, and brilliance.
He never forgot a name. He never forgot a face. He never forgot a story. He never forgot a person whom he’d met. He never failed in supporting the causes he was passionate about. He loved classic jazz and swing. He was the greatest patron of the music that we, collectively as current players, have ever been thankful for. He discovered and promoted new venues for the music, and funded many of these himself and through the generosity of his many friends. He was always kind, gentle, generous, and supporting. Myron was never one to denigrate or belittle, criticize or condemn, ignore or discard any person, despite their worst attributes.
I’m not a Mason, but I think of Myron, as a Brother in that circle, as perfectly embodied by Masonry’s codes: To follow principles to achieve higher standards in life; to show tolerance and respect for the opinion of others and behave with kindness and understanding; to practice charity and care for their own, as well as the community as a whole, both by charitable giving, and by voluntary work as an individual; and, to strive for truth, requiring high moral standards and ethical conduct at all times.
The great Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges once wrote a fantasy titled “Funes the Memorious”, in which a young Ireneo Funes, who, after falling off his horse and receiving a bad head injury, acquired the amazing talent — or curse — of remembering absolutely everything.
We have never been cursed by Myron’s crossing our paths. We have been blessed beyond all measure, and we will miss him, terribly.
Jeff’s Jazztetwith vocalistMara Bonde at Thursday Jazz, January 28, 2016 at Primavera Ristorante
This is one smokin’ band! Performing before a packed house, Jeff Hughes led the group through three great sets. His solos throughout the night on trumpet and flugelhorn were outstanding, as was his leadership of an extremely talented, upbeat band. Craig Ball excelled on clarinet and alto sax – producing many terrific solos. Jeff and Craig played off each other perfectly. Herb Gardner on keyboard is always steady working with the rhythm section –using his vast experience to great advantage whether backing up the front line or soloing. Steve Taddeo on drums set a great beat, plus he brought the house down with a Krupa solo on “Jabberwocky.” Ken Steiner makes the upright bass sing. He did a marvelous job helping the group rock, plus he threw in some fine solos. Eric Baldwin on guitar complimented the great rhythm section, and showed he can really swing.
The band was swinging all night, plus they featured Mara Bonde on vocals. It was unusual to have a soprano combine with a swinging group like this one, but it worked very well once they adjusted to each other after one or two numbers. I don’t recall ever seeing this attempted, but the crowd loved it. In fact, those in attendance enjoyed everything they saw and heard all night.
Mara opened with an upbeat version of “The Song is Ended”, then did several ballads beautifully. She added a wonderful touch to a great evening.
All in all, the performance was memorable to me. It possessed all the right ingredients – great band, excellent singer and a happy tone. I’m sure everyone there loved it. If you get a chance, go to see and hear these performers.
Bill Falk
Mara Bonde
Jeff backs Mara on I Thought About You
Steve Taddeo plays Krupa on Jabberwocky
Mara sings My Funny Valentine
Ken Steiner – one of a kind!
Craig is featured on I Would Do Anything For You
Rhythm Boys, Eric Baldwin, Ken Steiner, Herb Gardner
Tunes:
1st set
The Song is Ended – Mara uptempo
I Thought About You – Mara
S’Wonderful
Someone to Watch Over Me
Ciribiribin – instrumental
They Can’t Take That Away From Me – Mara
720 In The Books – instrumental
2nd set
Jabberwocky
It’s Been So Long
You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To – Mara
Funny Valentine – Mara
I Get a Kick Out Of You – Mara
It Might As Well Be Spring – Mara
Blue Lu – Craig Ball feature
3rd set
Nearness of You – Mara
‘Till There Was You – Mara
I Would Do Anything For You – Craig Ball feature
Speak Low – Mara
Thou Swell – Mara (closure)
Jeff Hughes (dubbed “Mr. Melody” by Ray Smith) has made a name for himself as a Bix-styled cornet player and disciple of Bunny Berigan in the Boston area with the Wolverine Jazz Band, Dave Whitney Orchestra, Dan Gabel and the Abletones, and numerous other groups. By day, he is a mild-mannered marine biologist, but by night he is the leader of many bands:
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 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.
I am not a jazz musician, nor am I knowledgeable about music, so this review expresses my feelings as an undying fan of over 70 years. I thought the band was sensational. They were really “hot” as they romped through many great standards with outstanding improvisation around the melodies. Jeff Hughes did a terrific job both leading the group and playing the trumpet. He blended everyone’s talents wonderfully – especially since his usual group of stalwarts were augmented by the addition of Jack Soref on guitar and Kellian Adams on vocals.
Soref plays in the style of the master gypsy guitarist Django Reinhart. He was phenomenal, and he blended in with his new mates quite easily, Jeff gave him plenty of time to show how terrific he is.
Jack Soref, gypsy Jazz guitar
Kellian can belt out tunes focusing mostly on middle range. She provided a change of pace nicely.
Kellian Adams Pletcher is a Joy!
Herb Gardner was outstanding on the keyboard as usual. He also entertained us with a couple of solos on the trombone.
Herb Gardner, keyboard and trombone
Herb’s daughter Sarah Nova was in the audience. She showed us she has the
inherited talent of her father when she got up and sang.
Sarah Gardner Nova
John Clark is an extremely versatile reed man as he alternated playing clarinet, soprano sax and baritone sax – all with excellent results.
John Clark on baritone sax
Steve Taddeo is really into it on drums. He’s wonderful setting the beat and soloing.You can tell the he really loves playing, and it rubs off on the audience.
Steve Taddeo on his brand new Slingerland Drums
Al Bernard handles the tuba great as he anchors the rhythm section – plus he solos excellently.
Al Bernard, tuba, rhythm,
Unfortunately, the heavy rain kept the crowd down, but Jeff and the group will return to the Primavera on October 22nd.
Come see them perform – you’ll love their music and they are a congenial, friendly bunch appreciative of everyone who comes to see them play.
The music took me back to the days when jazz was extremely popular, and bands like this played all over New England. I wish I could see more of this band – they are so great. They really have no weaknesses for an old time jazz fan like me.
Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark clarinet/bari sax, Tom Boates trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Ross Petot keyboard, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums
The Wolves were on FIRE at Primavera, playing hot freewheeling Traditional Jazz to an erudite, attentive audience. This was Joy of music with a Bang! John Clark selected tunes from their 13 CDs in preparation for their performance at the end of June at America’s Dixieland Festival, Olympia, WA http://www.olyjazz.com/. We were privileged to participate!!
They meant business, bringing heavy equipment, Jeff on flugelhorn and a 1927 limited edition Vintage Bach Stradivarius trumpet, dating back to the first quarter of the 20th century.John Clark with his clarinet, alto and bariitone sax.
Tom Boates
Tom Boates usually drives two hours from Connecticut to get here. But Tom was already in the neighborhood for his son’s wedding, and raring to go, with his whole family here to support him. His zealous tailgate trombone elevated the whole band to another plane!
It was a beautiful June Night, and that tune set off this fantastic evening, followed by a captivating Memphis Blues.
Ross Petot, extraordinary stride pianist
Ross Petot is back now that school is out. He is a teacher, composer and arranger.
He was featured on complex, rhythmic, stride piano on Don’t Be Late.
John Clark’s clarinet on Cushion Foot Stomp from their Street Beat CD was phenomenal. A Good ol’ good one, a swinging Let Me Call You Sweetheart. Jimmy vocal with Dave Didriksen simply tapping on a clutched cymbal.
Jimmy Mazzy picks one of his umpteen tunes
They gave Jimmy a choice, which is always dangerous with his familiarity with millions of tunes from 1919 to the 30s; the members never heard some of them. He chose a relatively late one, If I Didn’t Care, a tune made popular by the Ink Spots in 1939; the band eased in behind him.
They honored the late Banjo Bob Sundstrom with Elmer Schoebel’s Prnce of Wails. Tom took a vocal on the 1920’s Here Comes The Hot Tamale Band,
John Clark on baritone sax
John Clark’s baritone sax was spellbinding on Sidney Bechet’s Passport to Paradise.
This was their maiden voyage for this tune.
Dixieland: they challenged the ODJB with The Original Dixieland One Step that is on their 13th CD – Baker’s Dozen. It’s their latest and available now. (Their first CD was The Wolverine Jazz Band Live, recorded by Ed Williams in 1999 at the Sherborn Inn.
Rick MacWilliams hidden behind monstrous tuba
Rick played the poignant melody on tuba with his drum colleague keeping time tapping on woodblock.
Jelly Roll Morton was well represented with Original Jelly Roll Blues. FrankieTrumbauer’s on There’ll Come a Time, from their Michigander Blues CD, featured Tom’s virtuosic trombone.
John Clark has been singing more tunes (at the insistence of his #1 fan, Betty Weaver). He sang all the verses of Oceana Roll from memory! Dr. Jazz verse sung by Tom, with exciting exchange between trombone and banjo, and Tom scatting to the end.
Jeff Hughes on flugelhorn
Jeff played a full, rich, smoky flugelhorn for Don Redman’s Save It Pretty Mama.
Ross played the chimes on piano on King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band Chimes Blues, followed by another K.O. with Jimmy scatting on a lively Shake It and Break It.
Drummer Dave Didriksen sparks the band by providing solid support every note of the way.
Dave Didriksen keeps the beat
There was never a dull moment; the crowd was feeding off the energy of the band and the band was feeding off the responsive crowd! (Be prepared, Washington!)
They calmed down with Jimmy singing an Elvis tune, Love Me Tender, with each musician taking a solo between Jimmy’s many smoldering stanzas. They finally closed with On The Mall, from their CD of the same name – trombone and clarinet connected, trombone going wild! Fans left elated!
On the following Saturday,, on a warm and sunny June afternoon, the Greater Boston Vintage Society featured The Wolverine Quintet on the S. S. Samuel Clemens, a reproduction of a 3-deck riverboat at Rowe’s Wharf; on a 3-hour Boston Harbor Cruise. It was their first Dixieland Jazz Boat, and filled with Swing Dancers. We had a ball!!
We’lll have many chances to hear this top Traditional Jazz Band again, when it returns from Washington, as John noted in his email:
“We will be heading out to the West Coast to do America’s Dixieland Festival in Olympia, WA for the last weekend in June, but we have quite a few concerts when we get back:
Sherborn Town Concert Weds 7/1 630-8 (weather permitting)
Willows at Westboro Weds 7/8 7-830
Wayside Inn Tues 7/14 (info and tickets at http://www.wayside.org/node/286)
Bar Harbor Summer Music Sunday 7/198-10pm (info and tickets at http://barharbormusicfestival.org/2010_calendar.html Weston Town Concert Weds 7/22 7-830 (weather permitting)
St, Matthew’s in Acton Sunday 8/2 6pm West Boyleston Town Concert Sunday 8/95-7pm (weather permitting)
Natick Senior Center, Thursday 8/20 Stark Park, Manchester, NH Sunday 8/232-4pm (weather permitting)
Walpole Town Concert Tues 8/256-8pm (weather permitting)”
You can join John’s once-a-month emails at jazzbnd@aol.com
and purchase many of their 13 albums here.
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 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?
