Lee Childs Memorial

Lee Childs, sitting, holding soprano sax, and enjoying ride on Jazz Boat

Lee Childs on Jazz Boat in 2012

Memorial for Lee Childs, June 19, 2013, by Marce.

JoAnne Childs gave Fans and Friends an opportunity to say a final “Goodbye” to  Lee Childs, at the Lighthouse Inn in West Dennis, MA, a year after his sudden, unexpected death in 2012. It was a terrible  shock for all of us!

Lee performed on clarinet and saxophone somewhere on Cape Cod and the Greater Boston area, many days a week for over 40 years. Some of the musicians who played with him were here to celebrate his life. A hot buffet and passed hors d’oeuvres were served.

The main band was led by Ted Casher, tenor sax, with Phil Person trumpet, Paul Schmeling piano, Michel Lavigniac banjo, Gary Johnson drums, and Laird Bowles string bass, playing many of Lee’s favorite tunes, Mood Indigo, That’s A Plenty; several musicians sat in.

Gary Johnson, Laird Bowles, Phil Person, Paul Schmeling, Ted Casher

Gary Johnson, Laird Bowles, Phil Person, Paul Schmeling, Ted Casher

Michel on banjo

Michel Lavigniac

 

 

Michel Lavigniac performed with Lee Childs for about 35 years. He continues Lee’s Sunday Jazz Boat out of Onset, with Rick MacWilliams tuba and Paul Nossiter reeds.  Rick was here today.

 

 

 

Michel, Stu Gunn tuba, Gary Johnson drums, and John Clark reeds represented the band that Lee had for years at the Edaville Railroad. Jimmy Mazzy couldn’t be here because he’s at the Colonial Inn every Wednesday. Just a Little While To Stay Here, John Clark had to learn Riverboat Shuffle  when he subbed for Lee. Just a Closer Walk With Thee; tuba and drum drove the band on Shine.

Gary Johnson, Stu Gunn, John Clark, Michel Lavigniac

Gary Johnson, Stu Gunn, John Clark, Michel Lavigniac

Gene Blood on drums

Gene Blood

 

 

 

Gene Blood sat in on drums for When I Grow Too Old to Dream and At The Jazz Band Ball.

Barbara Nye, vocals

Barbara Nye

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barbara Nye, a real livewire vocalist from Monday nights at the Roadhouse Cafe, came up for rousing Cabaret.

 

 

Ted Casher singing

 

 

Gary and Ted returned, with Ted singing When You’re Smiling.
Ted picked up the soprano sax, and sang The Best Things In Life Are Free (or at least reasonable). Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans. Fantastic!   Back Home Again in Indiana was a hot one.

 

 

Pianist Bob Hayes was here with his grandson Kareem Sanjaghi. Kareem took over the drums for Honeysuckle Rose, with Ted, Paul and Laird all trading 4’s with the drums.

Kareem drums, Bowles string bass, Phil Person trumet, Paul Schmeling keyboard

Kareem, Laird Bowles, Phil Person, Paul Schmeling

Gary Johnson returned for the Finale, Lover Come Back To Me, and Lee’s special song “Think of Me”   an arrangement done by Lee and Kurt Wenzel of the song from The Miz.

Jimmy Enright and I first heard Lee Childs playing outstanding clarinet in 1975, when he was in John Fuller’s New Cabaret Jazz Band with Jimmy Mazzy at Billy Mitchell’s Post Time in Nantasket.  We’ve followed him since at some of the places he’s played: Jordan’s Furniture, Top of the Hub at the Prudential Building, Edaville RR, Embargo, Alberto’s, Cuffy’s, Del Mar Bar and Bistro, Isaac’s, on the Jazz Boat up and down the Cape Cod Canal, http://www.nejazz.com/oldsite/LeeChilds2011.htm .

JoAnne had a special tribute for her husband; a plane flew overhead, circling the Lighthouse Inn, trailing a banner that read “THINK OF ME.  WE HEAR YOU LEE CHILDS.  FOREVER!  LOVE  ME.

Banner

Banner

 

 

 

Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Cafe, June 1, 2013

Four-piece front line & drum

Seacoast Stompers

videos by Harold McAleer

Piano and Leader – Frank Stadler, Reeds – John Clark, Banjo and Vocals – Jimmy Mazzy, Cornet – Scott Philbrick, Trumpet and Vocals – Dave Whitney, Trombone – Lee Prager, Sousaphone – Al Bernard, Drums – Bobby Reardon

Seacoast Stompers are a Traditional Jazz and Swing band led by pianist Frank Stadler.  Frank has a list of everything they’ve played in the nearly five years the Band as been at the Acton Jazz Café; he tries to avoid repeating tunes played recently.   Last month, they broke tradition by playing all their old favorite and most requested tunes.  This month it was back to normal, with no repeats of anything played for many months.

But they always begin with their theme song, At The Jazz Band Ball,  with Albie giving this one extra emphasis on sousaphone.  A medium swing tune followed, Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.

John Clark on tenor sax

John Clark

 

 

You never know what will happen with Jazz musicians, that’s why this never gets dull.   John Clark took out a smokin’ Coleman Hawkins tenor sax – new instrument for John, making use of the rich lower register, keeping this listener enthralled all afternoon,  Beale St. Blues, Undecided.

 

 

Dave Whitney on trumpet

Dave Whitney

 

 

 

Dave gave New Orleans the respect it deserves with fine trumpet and a Whitney vocal.

 

 

John Clark on tenor sax

Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Al Bernard sousaphone

 

 

Jimmy’s unpretentious sincerity comes through with Porter’s Love Song to a Chamber Maid along with many quips that we can’t print here. Never give Jimmy a microphone!
Fidgety Feet had feet tapping, check out Lee having fun trading trombone with Albie’s tuba.

Frank Stadler on new Yamaha piano

Frank Stadler on new Yamaha piano

 

 

Frank was swinging from start to finish on the new Yamaha piano;  Rosetta, a tune that Earl Fatha Hines’ recorded in Chicago in 1939.

 

Eva Belazs sitting on tall stool with legs hanging down

Eva Balazs

 

Eva Balazs, tiny as she is, found a really high stool to perch on so she could clearly see his impressive piano fingers.  Her feet were dangling 2 feet from the ground, but she was enthralled.

There are four Sports’ TVs in the Café. Our Sport is Jazz – no one was watching the Red Sox or Bruins.

 

John Clark choose the next one, a scorching San, dazzling polyphony by the front line.  Bei Mir Bis Du Schoen, Sundown.

Carrie’s Mazzy’s choice was a lyrical I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling:

Fran D’Agostino, Tuesday night JazzJam host, took charge of the sound system.  He had his guitar with him, and sat in playing catchy riffs on Things Ain’t What They Used To Be.

Fran D'Agostino joins the band on guitar

Fran D’Agostino joins the band

Break time.  Sax and cornet soon returned with a trio on a hot Tuxedo Junction, with Dave Whitney on drums! You never know!

There’ll Be Some Changes Made, nice interchange between drum and tuba. Albie was featured with Jimmy’s vocal on Louisiana Fairytale, the theme song for This Old House and a Paramount Jazz Band favorite.

John took out his clarinet for a Slow Boat to China, which was anything but!  It sizzled! He’s the youngest in this crowd.  He was drawn to jazz in the Library at Connecticut College when he became immersed in its vast collection of Traditional/Dixieland Jazz, and absorbed every recording.   (Thank you, Jeff Barnhart!)

You never know what’s coming. They tried S’Wonderful with NO sound system, which is generally the norm for our Trad Jazz Bands, and sounded just fine to me.  But they couldn’t hear the piano and banjo from the back of the Café.

Scott Philbrick on cornet

Scott Philbrick

 

 

Sound on.  Something between Dixie and Swing – Scotty began  I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate, fun tune.  Whitney took the vocal on The Preacher.

 

 

 

They closed with a fiery, wild Somebody Stole My Gal.

The Seacoast Stompers are an imaginative and versatile Traditional Jazz and Swing Band.  You never know what they will do next.  The Band is here at the Acton Jazz Cafe on the first Saturday of the month for the rest of this year – next one is July 6th.  Join us for some fun Jazz and Swing!

Jazz Jesters at the Sherborn Inn, May 28, 2013

                  The Jazz Jesters

The Jazz Jesters

Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark and Craig Ball Reeds, Ross Petot piano, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Al Bernard tuba, Steve Taddeo drums, and special guest Bob MacInnis on cornet.

This is My Lucky Day – always is when the Jazz Jesters start their theme song and bring Hot Dance music of the Jazz Decades to the Sherborn Inn; plentiful 20’s and 30’s early Bix and Bunny Berigan.  We were especially delighted to have a surprise guest sitting in!

Ross playing stride piano

Ross playing stride piano

 

Dot Prescott was remembered with Ross Petot featured on stride, But Not For Me.  The first time they ever played it was in concert at the Prescott Traditional Jazz Library at UNH, with Johnny Battis.

 

 

 

Radio – remember radio, when the DJ would play something familiar, then sneak in something new?   Jesters played Breakaway, and sneaked in Con Conrad’s Broadway Melody.

What’s the Use is one of Steve Taddeo’s favorites, by Isham Jones.  Bobby Hackett recorded it on the Commodore label.  Craig was featured on clarinet with Three Little Words.

Craig on tenor sax, John on alto sax

Reedmen Craig Ball and John Clark

The dynamic reed-men Craig Ball and John Clark are as expressive as the multi-reeds sections of a Big Band, changing combinations, saxophones on Song of India, clarinets on East Coast Trot.  They inspire each other, alternating alto and tenor sax and clarinet, and challenge the leader by changing the program on him.

The charts you see are just suggestions for chords.  No one tells these spirited Jazz musicians how to play, (although Jeff sometimes gets head arrangements to work).

Bob MacInnis on cornet

Bob MacInnis

 

Surprise treat was the appearance of Bob MacInnis on cornet.  He’s back!!  Better than ever! Eight-piece band, with trumpet and cornet, played fantastic ensemble on Bix’s Deep Down South.

 

 

Steve tapping on choke cymbal

Steve Taddeo

 

Taddeo was behaving himself with sensitive, smooth brushwork, and soft tapping on choke cymbal.  He’s getting the hang of this Trad Jazz!

Jeff let him loose on Irving Berlin’s 1927 Russian Lullaby, then Steve’s inherent Gene Krupa materialized, backed by the band in stop time.  Fabulous!

 

 

 

Jimmy singing and playing banjo, with Al Bernard and Steve Taddeo in background

Jimmy Mazzy, with Steve Taddeo and Al Bernard

There Ain’t No Land Like Dixieland, Melody From The Sky, Cabin in the Pines, Jimmy Mazzy vocals.   Eat your heart out, Europe!

Jeff gave Jimmy his choice from the myriad collection of tunes stored in his genius brain.  They ducked for cover,  never knowing what Jimmy will come up with.  This time it was  Sam the Accordion Man.

Pardon My Southern Accent, Jeff Hughes taking a very expressive vocal.   MacInnis added “Another one I don’t know”, but jumped right in.

They closed with a WILD Fats Waller stride tune.  Dismissing us with Fats is a good choice, making sure we all return – Zonky.  We’ll come back September 24th and November 28th to hear more of these outstanding Jazz Musicians!

Williams Reunion Jazz Band at DBMS opening of the Bay 2013

Williams Reunion Jazz Band

Williams Reunion Jazz Band

Ship at dock, with sponsor banner

Schooner Thomas E. Lannon

 

 

On Friday, May 24, the schooner Thomas E. Lannon sailed into Duxbury Bay for the Duxbury Bay Military School’s 16th Opening of the Bay, with the Williams Reunion Jazz Band.

 

 

The Williams Reunion Jazz Band was born on New England college campuses in the 1950’s when Dixieland was alive and well and “runnin’ wild”. The core four here today were Williams College Boys: Bob Kingsbury ’58 on clarinet; Fred Clifford ’58 on Tuba; Tom Hayne ’59 on Drums and John Halsey ’59 on keyboard, with John Bucher cornet. (Amherst ’52.) They were joined by two permanent guests and members of the Wolverine Jazz Band, the inimitable Jimmy Mazzy Banjo/Vocals, and Tom Boates, trombone.

Opening of the Bay is a fund-raiser for the Duxbury Bay Maritime School. The school serves 1800 students from age 3 to adult, through educational and recreational programs that stimulate individual growth and an enduring love and appreciation of the sea. The Williams Reunion Jazz Band assembles every year for the event.

The day started out with a fine Youth Swing Band before the YRJB’s drum introduced some New Orleans Standards: Bourbon St. Parade, Dr. Jazz, with Jimmy Mazzy on vocals, drum tapping cymbals.

Let Me Call You Sweetheart was in an upbeat Dixie; never sounded better! Cornet growling, trombone responding with a growl.

Atlanta Blues, also Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor. If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight.

Orie’s Creole Trombone.

Bob Kingsbury led the band, and explained the Heart and Soul of the WRJB:

John Bucher, cornet

John Bucher

Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals

Jimmy Mazzy

 

– The Heart John Bucher from NY, who was in the the Woody Allen Band for several years

 

 

 

 

The Soul: Jimmy Mazzy

Kingsbury on clarinet, Clifford on trombone and scatting

Bob Kingsbury, Fred Clifford

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kingsbury says he was Fred’s classmate for 50 years and never able to hold that Tiger back.

 

 

 

Tiger Rag

Everybody Loves My Baby, great cornet drum exchange, each member of the band trading 4’s with the drums. A tune WC Handy stole from Louis’s record Hesitation Blues featured a ‘diminished chord’ with clarinet intro of Edmund Hall. Nice blues.

The Finale was an upbeat Canal St. Blues, with a young couple enjoying a sprightly dance.

The band also played a dockside reception Friday night with an Island Creek Oysters raw bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres by the Silent Chef, and cash bar.
Sunday they played at the service for the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church.

Opening of the Bay is a fund-raiser for the Duxbury Bay Maritime School. The school serves 1800 students annually, through educational and recreational programs that stimulate individual growth and an enduring love and appreciation of the sea. Because of this fund-raiser, the school remains debt-free.

The WRJB will be back in May next year for the Duxbury Bay Maritime School’s 17th opening of the Bay! See you there!

Swing Senders with the Midiri Brothers in Lincoln MA

Swing Senders with the Midiri BrothersSteve Taddeo’s Swing Senders were enriched by the presence of The Midiri Brothers at this year’s final performance of Classic Jazz at Lincoln Library in Lincoln, Massachusetts, on May 22, 2013.

Personnel: Midiri Brothers, Joe reeds, Paul vibes, trombone and drums; John Clark reeds, Jeff Hughes trumpet, Scott Philbrick cornet/guitar, Bill Doyle guitar, Dan Gabel trombone, Ross Petot piano, Justin Meyer string bass, Steve Taddeo drums, Caroline Griep vocals. They looked and sounded like a Big Band – ten pieces of the finest Swing you would ever want to hear!

Caroline Griep

Caroline Griep

 

Joe Midiri on clarinet

Joe Midiri

Charismatic vocalist Caroline Griep flashed a gleaming smile and regaled us with Just You, Just Me, Jeepers Creepers, All of Me,  improvising and scatting with Bill Doyle on guitar on Don’t Get Around Much Anymore. 

She enjoys singing, and her pleasure comes through.

 

Paul Midiri on Vibes

Paul Midiri

 

Consummate entertainers, the Midiri Brothers drove from New Jersey to Massachusetts to be here with the SteveTaddeo’s Swing Senders.  Joe is a monster on reeds, whether on alto or soprano sax, or clarinet, had us on the edge of our seats when he hit D above high C and held it for a long note.

Lionel Hampton’s Flying Home, 1939-41,  Paul flying on vibes.  Steve closed it with the drum walk-around that is his specialty. “Got that Harold?”

Ross Playing stride piano

 

Ross was featured on Crazy Rhythm, with Bill Doyle on guitar and Scott cornet and Paul Midiri playing drums.

A trio, band within a band, had Clark on clarinet, Steve drums, Ross’s marvelous stride piano, You Do Something To Me.

 

 

Stomping at the Savoy piano did the intro with the two fabulous guitars of Bill Doyle and Scott Philbrick, John on bari sax,  Dan trombone, Jeff on trumpet, Joe clarinet, Paul vibes, Steve drums.   A scorcher!

Joe was on alto sax for his infamous version of Sunny Side of the Street, singing in the Louis voice he does so well.

Midiri Brothers were featured on Avalon.  ’nuff said!!

Dan Gabel trombone, Jeff Hughes trumpet

Dan Gabel and Jeff Hughes

 

 

Dan Gabel and Jeff were featured in a mellow Day Dream, a beautiful instrumental written by Billy Strayhorn and Duke.

 

 

 

 

Fred Waring’s Sleep is usually a Midiri’s full band feature, and it was marvelous with all the instruments, with drum intro, hot clarinet at each end.

They closed with the Swing Senders theme song, Dinah – video below in two parts, with hard driving tempo, Midiri on clarinet, Gabel trombone, ending with Paul and Steve battling it out on the drums.  Videos by Harold McAleer.

Dinah Part 1, Dan Gabel takes off on trombone.

Paul Steve drums 1
The sticks vie for dominance on this closing number of the Swing Senders at Bemis Hall — Harold McAleer videos.

Dinah Part 2

WOW!

Bob and Dan MacInnis

Bob and Dan MacInnis

 

Can’t tell you how great it was to see another set of brothers here –  Bob and Dan MacInnis.  Welcome back!!

 

 

Charlie  and Evelyn (90 years old)

 

 

Charlie and Evelyn find a space to dance no matter how crowded it is!

 

 

This was an impressive  evening of solid, hard driving Swing, with the Midiri Brothers joining the Swing Senders.  Steve Taddeo assures us there will be more to come this summer.

Meantime, the Midiri Brothers left at midnight for that long ride home.  They are seasoned musicians and inveterate entertainers!