Tag Archives: Jim Guttmann

Jack Soref Trio at Primavera Ristorante August 23, 2018

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Jack Soref Trio

Jack Soref guitar, Jim Guttman bass, Jameson Stewart guitar,

The last decade has seen a flowering of Django Reinhardt’s legacy, with bands and festivals popping up internationally.  The Jack Soref Trio is an exciting gypsy jazz ensemble. Reaching both forward and back in time, it pays homage to the music of Django Reinhardt, while simultaneously enriching the tradition with its own compositions, arrangements and swinging improvisations.

Jack on o-hole guitar

Jack Soref

 

Jack is one of the pillars upon which Boston’s considerable gypsy jazz scene rests.  A Wisconsinite, graduated from Berklee, started hanging with European itinerants, moved to France in order to live and play with them. (He still wears their weird pointed shoes.) He has performed with such gypsy jazz luminaries as Adrien Moignard, Gonzalo Bergara, violinist Tim Kliphius and the great German Sinto musician Titi Bamberger.

 

 

 

also on o-hole gypsy guitar

Jameson Stewart

 

Jameson Stewart is originally from California, but has been performing on the East Coast in many different musical styles, on many different instruments, for the last 8 years. When Jameson’s not on the road, he can be found playing Django style guitar with Jack on Tuesdays at The Burren in Somerville. Just about every other night of the week, he can be found playing Upright bass, bass guitar, Tenor Banjo, mandolin, or guitar, somewhere in New England.

 

 

 

 

Jim bowing string bass

Jim Guttman

 

Bassist Jim Guttmann has played everything from klezmer to classical — and most styles in between.  He’s been with the Klezmer Conservatory Band (KCB) for 38 years. The KCB was almost single-handedly responsible for launching the modern klezmer music revival. Guttmann has remained with the group ever since, appearing on all ten of their recordings; touring Europe, Australia, and America; and performing and recording with Joel Grey and Itzhak Perlman.

 

 

 

The Band kicked off the first set with “Rosetta”-

Rosetta

They also played tunes by modern Django Style guitarists like “When I was a Boy” written by Spanish guitarist Biel Ballester, or “For Sephora” a composed by Sinti (the gypsy tribe Django comes from), virtuoso Stochelo Rosenberg

Each set included many of Jack Soref’s original compositions like the moody, “Rain on the Terrace” about the  Memorial Union Terrace in Madison Wisconsin.

Swing numbers like “It Might be True”, and it’s sister tune “Some Things Are”
His high energy waltzes “Valse Jacek” “Valse Kilsyth” or the uptempo, minor key, romp “Stompin at Atwood’s”

Guitarist Jameson Stewart was featured playing the lead on the band’s arrangements of
“It Had to be You” by Jones, & Kahn and Django Reinhardt’s “Artillerie Lourde”

When he plays at the Primavera, Jack always likes to dedicate a tune associated with Sidney Bechet, to Stan and Ellen McDonald. Tonight, it was “Georgia Cabin”

The band also played some sweet, classic tunes like “Me, Myself, and I” by Gordon, Roberts, and Kaufman (on which Jack sang in front of an audience for the first time)
“I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling” by T. ‘Fats’ Waller and “Hummin’ to Myself” by Fain, Magidson, and Siegel.

Jack is here at Primavera on the 1st Thursday of every month with The Blue Horizon Jazz Band.  Join us September 6th?

Videos and pictures by Marce

New Black Eagle Jazz Band at Ken’s Steak House

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7-pc real Trad Jazz Band

New Black Eagle Jazz Band at Ken’s Steak House, November 22, 2015

Tony Pringle cornet/vocals, Billy Novick reeds, Stan Vincent trombone, Peter Bullis banjo, Moishe Feldman piano, Jim Gutmann string bass, Bill Reynolds drums.

by Peter Gerler and Marce

November 22, 2015, Framingham, MA. The New Black Eagle Jazz Band brought their romping classic New Orleans Jazz to Ken’s Steak House and were greeted by a colony of loyal fans. They came from all over—New York, Connecticut, even London—including many from the former Sticky Wicket. Marilyn Charkins, present in the house, was in her 20’s when she first heard the NBEJB at the Wicket.  Elizabeth Mazza sold CDs at the breaks.

Ruth Schwab was there, driven by Joe Grassia. Ruth’s husband Walter created the first Black Eagle CD in their cellar. The Bob Chicoine family was here celebrating Bob’s birthday–his fervent wish. Artist Joe Mathieu accompanied them; he created our logo and has illustrated many Jazz CD covers. This band has faithful, steadfast friends.

Guttmann bowing bass

Jim Guttmann excellent bowing string bass

 

 

 

 

They started the set with a prescient When I Grow Too Old To Dream, then Special Delivery Blues, Jim bowing bass for the first time of many.

 

 

 

Tony on muted cornet

Tony Pringle

 

Of Jelly Roll Morton’s Froggie More Blues, Tony Pringle said the title was supposedly taken from a contortionist who did frog imitations. (On the other hand, there is a corner of Joe “King” Oliver’s hometown, Donaldsonville, LA, known as “Froggie Mo’”) Pringle played lovely muted cornet (as did Oliver), underscored by rollicking piano and rhythm from Feldman,  Pameijer, Guttman, and Reynolds.

 

 

 

On Roaming, Billy Novick rendered some great alto sax. The tune was recorded by Luis Russell’s Band in 1930, with Henry “Red” Allen on vocal.

Stan playing passionate trombone

Stan Vincent

 

 

 

Stan’s trombone was featured on Ain’t Misbehaving, along with a Pringle/Feldman muted cornet/piano duet. Guttman and Reynolds followed, laying down fine bowing against soft brushes.

 

 

Following Cole Porter’s It’s All Right With Me, the band rolled out Paul Barbarin’s New Orleans chestnut Bourbon St. Parade. Second liners with parasols were nowhere in sight. We’ll have to fix that!

On Sam Morgan’s Bogalusa Strut, Novick played dance-step angulations, his solo echoing the original from Morgan’s 1927 New Orleans recording. Moishe’s piano threw gossamer over the heat.
 Morgan’s band was first in New Orleans to record spirituals in jazz time—a marker, since the black church was a crucible for swing.

This band is one of the few that still plays authentic traditional jazz as it was played in 20s and 30s New Orleans.  Leader Tony Pringle is adamant that this beat be maintained, which is what these people come to hear – tight ensemble and challenging New Orleans polyphony.

Peter on banjo, mouth open, still wearing his red sox

Peter Bullis, original member since 1971

 

The band has just begun its 45th year.  The original members, still with the band since 1971, are Tony Pringle, cornet and leader; Peter Bullis (still wearing red socks), banjo and manager; and Stan Vincent, trombone.

Bill Reynolds started subbing on drums when Pameijer moved to Connecticut, but Pam pops back in for special occasions.  Billy Novick arrived in 1986 and has had a big influence on the band.

 

 

Moishe, wearing gamulka, at piano

Moishe (Michael) Feldman

 

 

Sitting in were Jim Guttman on string bass – he plays regularly with Novick at Gloucester’s Franklin Cafe –and pianist Moishe Feldman. Moishe revels in being part of it, his hands evoking soft riffs and touches, giving distance to the soloists. It’s a perfect, conversational alliance.

 

 

The last set was a short one. On Ellington’s Rent Party Blues from 1929, Billy’s alto sax echoed Johnny Hodges’ lyricism, while Stan’s trombone evoked a New York City nightscape. Swaying at the keyboard, Moishe answered the band’s every move.

Bill with drum stick raised over snare drum

Bill Reynolds

 

They closed with a fine solo by Bill Reynolds—one of New England’s best trad drummers–on the barn-burning Weary Blues. The Black Eagles have always burned that prairie fire—no different here. The tune symbolizes the New Orleans polyphony.  A 1978 recording has the Louis Nelson Band with Butch Thompson, Sammy Rimmington, and  Danny Barker, all of whom have played with the Black Eagles at one time or another.

Danny Barker, along with Tommy Sancton, were the last guests to play at the Sticky Wicket – it closed the next day, November 1990.  But the New Black Eagle Jazz Band continues with concerts all over the country, and the support of faithful fans.