Neil Flewelling/cornet, Phil Hower piano, Dave MacMillan banjo, Blair Bettencourt clarinet/mini sax, Frank Batchelor trombone, Gerry Gagnon tuba, Rich Malcolm drums

by Marce

Riverboat Stompers blew the roof off  Primavera Ristorante, playing Our Kind Of Music – Traditional Jazz!  They don’t waste any time –  play one tune after another, many, many great tunes! (See list below.)    Neil Flewelling, cornet,   Gerry Gagnon on tuba,  Dave MacMillan filling in for Jimmy Mazzy, singing and strumming a fine banjo.

They hit the ground running with Darktown Strutters Ball.  Neil sang When You’re Smiling, Rich Malcolm keeping time – drumming with his hands.  Avalon was even Hotter, ensemble parts twining around each other.  Dave took the vocal on From Monday On.

 

Blair Bettencourt has a wonderfully relaxed style on clarinet and mini sax, playing warm and vibrant tones on both instruments.  He’s never been in this band before, but he’s been around for over 30 years and knows the music. He listened and focused on the tunes, playing amazing solos.  It was a pleasure to hear him again.

 

 

 

There Are Smiles that Make Us Happy, tuba playing 4/4 time, Blair Bettencourt on mini-sax.
Frank Batchelor playing  trombone with flawless, earthy, intonation, used his hand as a mute.

 

 

 

Pretty Baby is on their new CD – see below.

 

Neil Flewelling, leader pro-temp in the absence of Steve Straus, directed the musicians, played melody on cornet and sang his heart  out with  All of Me, the band segueing into Five Foot Two.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marvelous ensemble on My Blue Heaven, with Gerry showing his stuff on tuba, playing straight four / four beat without taking a breath, giving the band energy and drive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phil is constantly playing keyboard  in the background; keeping everyone on their toes.

 

 

 

 Exactly Like You, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Neil vocal.

 

This turned  into a Happy Birthday tune for Tina Cass, whose birthday was Sunday.  She and Ralph are heading for Canada and will return in five weeks.  We’ll miss them.  They are always sitting front and center, inspiring the band.

 

 

 

The Riverboat Stompers  continued with New Orleans tunes that we all love, Down To  New Orleans segueing to Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans.   Then showing us what it was like in N. O.  with Struttin’ With Some Barbecue. 

 

Way Down Yonder in New Orleans – Dave MacMillan playing around in falsetto voice.  Fun!

He knows innumerable old tunes and sang many, including Sunny Side of the Street, From Monday On, There are Smiles. 

 

 

 

Rosetta:

 

Bourbon St. Parade  was a Barn Raiser! Blair letting himself go on clarinet, pushed by Rich Malcolm’s drums.

 

 

 

Rich is a rare treasure.  No slam-banging, showing off.   He kept it simple, keeping them in proper time, with subtle tapping on snare drum, rims, hi hat.

 

 

We couldn’t believe it was almost over.  Where did the time go??  Neil said they would close with a Rap song.   We waited apprehensively –

until he came up with Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams.
We will – until they return on  September 12^th.   Come join us – guarantee you will be exhilarated!!

Tunes:
Darktown Strutters Ball
Found a New Baby
When You’re Smiling
Sunny Side of the Street
Avalon
Ain’t Misbehaving
From Monday On
Pretty Baby
Smiles
Rosetta
All of Me
My Blue Heaven
Exactly Like You
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
Happy Birthday to Tina Cass
Down To New Orleans
Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
Strutting With Some Barbecue
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans (cut short)
Bourbon St. Parade
Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams.

*          *          *
CD
Get their new Audio CD – just out – and It’s About Time.
— That’s the Name of the CD!
from:   Steve Straus – stephen.straus@comcast.net