Seacost Stompers with Maureen Benson

Videos by Hal McAleer

August 3, 2013, The Seacoast Stompers were back at the Acton Jazz Café with Dave Whitney trumpet, Craig Ball clarinet, Lee Prager trombone, Scott Philbrick guitar/cornet, Frank Stadler piano/leader, Al Ehrenfried string bass, Bobby Reardon drums, and Maureen Benson vocals.

The Seacoast Stompers are celebrating their 6^th year of appearing on the first Saturday of the month at the Acton Jazz Café. This was an exceptionally enjoyable afternoon, with Scott on guitar (which he prefers) and charismatic vocalist Maureen Benson.    The venue sound system was shut down, with musicians controlling their own amplification, much better Traditional sound.

Whitney’s solo horn was free to interweave all kinds of tunes because Scott Philbrick was tied up on guitar, subbing for Jimmy Mazzy – most of the time.

The Rhythm Boys

Al Ehrenfried, was all smiles, picking at the string bass.  Lee Prager happy to be back on trombone, bouncing with the music.  Bobby was pulsating and alive. They all treasure his timing.  It was infectious.

Craig Ball’s hot clarinet set the opening with All That Jazz, their theme song, and after that it was all improvised, with quick discussions over what and how they would play next.

Maureen Benson

A natural charmer on stage, Maureen came up for Slow Boat to China, If I Had You, Dave backing on muted trumpet.

Lee Prager

Lee Prager was featured on
I guess I’ll Have To Change My Plans.
We were happy to have him back.

Maureen returned for I Cried For you – usually done in a slow tempo, but there was nothing slow about this afternoon!  There was no holding them back!

Bix time, Scott Philbrick moved to cornet with Dave Whitney trumpet duet for Singing The Blues. Fabulous!

Scott Philbrick and Dave Whitney

Piano took the intro to Claude Hopkins I Would Do Most Anything For You.  Scott was back on flaming hot guitar for this barn-burner!

Dave’s version of Back O’ Town Blues  is one of Frank Stadler’s favorites. Dave invited Maureen to join him.  But she’s never heard the song before, didn’t even know the words.  “I can handle Blues.”
This video shows her incredible spunk as she makes up her own words:

Frank and Al got together for an abbreviated Jitterbug Waltz, just piano and acoustic bass. Lovely – but too short, left us wanting more!

Whitney remembered Laurel & Hardy. Most people don’t realize that Oliver Hardy was also a good singer.  He sang Lazy Moon in the 1932 Pardon Us, sensitively reprised here by Scott on guitar and Dave on trumpet and vocal.

Neil Moret wrote many beautiful tunes, including Chloe, and  Song of the Wanderer, Ray Smith liked him so much he did a whole program on him.

(FYI, Ray Smith’s Jazz Decades is still playing Sundays 8-9pm on www.wgbh.org – even though we lost him a few years ago.  Listen and learn about Our Kind of Music.)

Scott on guitar, Whitney on crystal clear trumpet on Song of the Wanderer.

The Saints prompted Alice Brunton to lead the a Parade, sans parasol.  We’ll have one next month!

Alice Brunton leads the ‘Saints’ parade – no parasols!

Betty Countie

Surprise vocalist – Maureen introduced her Mom, Betty Countie, to sing a tantalizing Blue Moon.  It’s obvious where Maureen gets her voice and charm!
The mood changed back to Bix and the normal four-piece front line.  Their passion for this music is evident, they were really having fun with Since My Best Friend Turned Me Down.

Maureen Benson and the Rhythm Boys

It Had To Be You, Maureen singing Bob Sickles’ favorite song made him happy;    An explosive  Swing That Music was dedicated to  Vern, with Whitney on vocal.

Al Ehrenfried

Buddy Bolden’s Blues was the best Trad tune of the evening with Al’s tender bass solo.

Found a New Baby, found Al all smiles, bass in constant dialogue on this up-tempo tune.  Lee bouncing up and down, slipping in some tunes of his own, Scott slipped in a bit of the Russian  Ochi Chernye on guitar.

Frank Stadler softly touching keys

Approaching the finale, Maureen was called up for S’Wonderful, backed by Stadler, hands barely skimming over the piano.

They wrapped up this month’s session with Limehouse Blues.  Piano rules – with energy and syncopation, setting the pace.  Dave finally managed to sneak in Stumbling – he always gets that in somewhere.
This old music has so much energy and vitality, especially played by these accomplished musicians – it’s enlivening, .   We’ll all be back, enjoying more of the Seacoast Stompers 6^th Anniversary at the Acton Jazz Café.  See you there!

Maureen Benson lists Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Carmen McRae as her major musical influences.  She is a mainstay on the North Shore jazz scene, and appears monthly with Jazzport at the Seaport Restaurant in Salem.