Dan Gabel and the Abletones at SAC Park, by C.S. Imming

18 piece big band

Dan Gabel and the Abletones at  SAC Park, Shrewsbury MA

Listen and dance to New England’s favorite big band attraction!

by C. S. Imming

Elise Roth and Dan Gabel, unidentified trumpeter in background

Elise Roth and Dan Gabel

Elise Roth

Elise Roth

First Friday Swing at SAC in Shrewsbury, MA provided another great time for dancers and listeners alike.  Dan Gabel and the Abletones, featuring Elise Roth, performed a variety of tunes in their extensive playlist such as  “The Trolley Song”,  “How About You”,  “A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square”, and “Mack the Knife”, as well as songs by Vaughn  Monroe and other big bands.  The enthusiastic crowd kept the dance floor moving the whole night, as the band’s rich, dynamic sound kept irresistible melodies in the air.  Next First Friday Swing will be in April, so see you there and come prepared to move.

Video excerpts from the First Friday dance held March 7, 2014 at SAC Park in Shrewsbury, MA. Dan Gabel and the Abletones with vocalist Elise Roth.

More photos by C. S. Imming:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swimcsi/sets/72157642106328154/

The Scandinavian Athletic Society   SAC Park   has a large wooden dance floor, full cash bar, table seating, handicap accessible.

More info on Dan Gabel and the Abletones at: www.theabletones.com
Or from Dan Gabel: 774-280-1502

The BAND!

Jeff Barnhart and his Hot Rhythm for Essex Winter Series

Jeff Barnhart, Gordon Au, Dan Levinson, Vince Giordano

Jeff Barnhart and his Hot Rhythm

By: Jean Hadley
Photos by Ed Ohr
Videos by CineDevine

The music of THOMAS “FATS” WALLER
John Winthrop Middle School – Deep River, Connecticut,   March 2, 2014

Jeff Barnhart and His Hot Rhythm celebrate the music of Fats Waller at the The Stu Ingersoll Jazz Concert hosted by the Essex Winter Series.  Artistic director – Mihae Lee, Jazz artistic advisor – Jeff Barnhart.

Trumpet: Gordon Au (http://www.gordonaumusic.com/)
Reeds — Dan Levinson (http://www.danlevinson.com)
Piano: Jeff Barnhart (http://www.jeffbarnhart.com/)
Banjo: Bob Barta (http://sunnylandjazz.com/?page_id=6)
Bass — Vince Giordano (http://vincegiordano.com)
Drums: Kevin Dorn (http://www.kevindorn.com/)

Although the weather report was predicting threatening weather, people came out in droves to hear Jeff and his ensemble of fine musicians.  From the beginning to the end, it was an afternoon of delightful entertainment.

Jeff at piano

Jeff Barnhart                      all photos by Ed Ohr

 

 

Jeff, a piano virtuoso, opened (solo) playing Waller’s most well known HONEYSUCKLE ROSE/1929. From then on, it was non-stop.

 

Following this solo, the band members assembled and set the pace for an unforgettable performance. Each musician, highly skilled in his music artistry,  are men who have a plethora of credits and a dossier that has no end.

Some people think OKOM (our kind of music) is passé  or some say outmoded….not so!  Before us, on stage, one could see two very young musicians (30 years old) who have already made a huge name for themselves and an impact on the younger generation of musicians and fans.

Gordon on trumpet, Kevin on drums

Gordon Au and Kevin Dorn

To hear young Gordon Au (trumpet) you might think he has been playing for a very long time. He may be young but his music talent, repertoire and credentials are outstanding.  Next, Kevin Dorn (drums) another young and talented musician on the scene, has been delighting audiences for several years here in Connecticut, New York City and Europe.

 

The band came to full circle with three greats, in the music industry, Vince Giordano, Dan Levinson and Bob Barta all well known in the USA and abroad. These three wonderful musicians need no introduction.

Dan on clarinet

Dan Levinson

BoB Barta banjo, Vince Giordano string bass

Bob Barta and Vince Giordano

Now begins the music, for which the members of the audience were patiently waiting.

After Jeff finished his fantastic rendition of HONEYSUCKLE ROSE (and brought down the house) Jeff proceeded to spend time entertaining us with wonderful stories about Fats and his brilliance on the piano and his composing ability and, all this in his too short life of 39 years. However, what he left behind has and will last forever.

Jeff talks about Fats Waller – At Twilight

Jeff Barnhart – Handfull of Keys

You’re Feets Too Big

I am writing this, without giving you details of everything that occurred on stage, but rather to encourage you to make every effort to hear this band when they do a repeat of this concert. You will be surprised how many Fats Waller numbers you will recall, and hear some you never knew he wrote.

Here are several numbers that were played and introduced to many of us for the first time…..HOLD MY HAND, AT TWILIGHT, HANDFUL OF KEYS, THE MINOR DRAG, MOPPIN & BOPPIN AND RUMPSTEAK SERENADE and, some well- known to the audience, I’M CRAZY ‘BOUT MY BABY, THE JOINT is JUMPIN’, WHAT DID I DO TO BE SO BLACK AND BLUE, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’.

Thank you Jeff, Vince, Dan, Bob, Gordon and Kevin.

Jan Hadley
Videos by CineDevine
Photos by Ed Ohr

More Videos:
I’m Crazy ‘Bout my Baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iL6_rPspfM

Hold My Hand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgDcKBuuh3M

Handful of Keys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq9Lz7S1TRE

Keepin Out of Mischief Now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA8nWAO9EZY

You Must Be Losing Your Mind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=592mL8HEHTA

Minor Dag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOEVhOVN4h4

The 12th Street Rag:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBoG1Gsigjs

I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pnDOF3NhMQ

When The Saints Go Marching In
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZVdRAKjMTs

Keeping Out of Mischief Now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA8nWAO9EZY

Moppin’ and Boppin’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbN1bmceqKU#t=146

You Must Be Losing Your Mind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=592mL8HEHTA#t=11

Rumpsteak Serenade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ_g7jm0Y0g

 

Hot Cat Band at Donahue’s, February 23, 2014

 

6 guys standing in front of a tree

Ross Tucker’s Hot Cat Band

by Jean Hadley

The Hot Cat Band is playing once a month on Sundays at Donahue’s Madison Beach Grille, 1320 Boston Post Rd. Madison Ct. 06443.  (203) 318-8362

This Sunday was a moment in time!
The HOT CATS never sounded better.  Donahue’s was packed to capacity and space on the dance floor was at a premium.  The beautiful spring-like weather brought people out of hibernation.  Of course, anyone who follows the HOT CATS will come out rain or shine.   The age of fans ranged from 40-90 years old and their enthusiasm for the music was exciting!

The HOT CATS have moved on with the times and play to their audience in a way that encourages their return to Donahue’s each month.  Their repertoire has gone from strictly Trad Jazz to a wide range of music.  They include Dixieland, Big Band, Swing, Beatles, classic Rock from the 50’s to the 80’s and more.

two guitar players, one singingSelections such as….Bourbon Street Parade, Bill Bailey, Jump, Jive and Wail, In the Mood, Brown Eyed Girl, Johnny B. Goode, Soul Man, Pick Up the Pieces, and so many others thrilled the audience.  Not only did they play for our listening and dancing pleasure but many of us reminisced and sang along with the band.

I might note that not only are the band members fine musicians who effortlessly play to and for the audience but, also are one of the best bands technically.  This combination is what makes them so popular.  Thanks to Ross Tucker, their leader, his insight and knowledge of music has brought together one of the best bands in the area.

Donahue’s offers a varied menu of fine cuisine at prices to accommodate everyone and, their bar flows with a variety of libation.  Many thanks to the staff who are always helpful.   http://donahuesmadisonbeachgrille.com/

If you have not recently heard the HOT CATS, plan to hear them at Donahue’s Sunday, March 30th at 5:30pm and you will see people you know and even make new friends.

The HOT CATS play once-a-month at Donahue’s Madison Beach Grille, 1320 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443 Phone: (203-318-8362). To get their schedule  email: ross@hotcatjazz.com

See you March 30th at 5:30pm!

Jean Hadley

 

 

 

 

A Concert for Valentines, with Debby Larkin and Jeff Stout

Debby and Jeff, back to back and smiling

Debby Larkin and Jeff Stout

Monument Music, the Concert Series at the Church of the Holy Name, 60 Monument Ave, (at the corner of Thomas Rd. and Monument Ave.) in Swampscott, MA, presents jazz vocalist, Debby Larkin in an afternoon concert on February 16, beginning at 4PM.  Come join us and bring your valentine to enjoy the romance of the season. There will be a “Meet-The-Band” reception following the concert and you will still have time to take your valentine out for a romantic dinner. Monument Music is very kid friendly, so along with your valentine, you can even bring the whole family. The concert will feature:
Debby Larkin – Vocals
Jeff Stout – Trumpet
Tim Ray – Piano
Mark Carlsen – Bass
Dave Mattacks – drums

Monument Music is celebrating its sixteenth season of bringing live performances of stellar musicians to the North Shore. The suggested donation is $5 at the door, children under twelve are free. For more information, please call 781-771-3286.

 

 

 

Eli Newberger’s All-Star Septet, featuring Bob Winter and Randy Reinhart

Feature picture

Eli’s All Star Septet at the Sherborn Inn, January 14, 2014 Randy Reinhart trumpet, Ted Casher Reeds, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Jeff Guthery drums, Eli Newberger tuba,  Rebecca Sullivan vocals, Caroline Newberger washboard.

This was delectable hot jazz by musicians playing from the heart, enjoying the challenge of improvising, never quite knowing what was coming next, deeply listening to each other and responding in lively, pulsating jazz.

The All Stars opened with At the Jazz Band Ball, a jazz instrumental first recorded by the ODJB (Original Dixieland Jass Band) in 1917.  Eli introduced Randy Reinhart , a celebrated virtuoso on cornet, trumpet and slide trombone, just back from playing in Japan.   Randy played lyrical cornet on You Can’t Take That Away From Me, setting the tone for this splendid evening.

Randy Reinhart on cornet

Randy Reinhart

Rebecca Sullivan’s phrasing adds to the sweetness of the songs. Blue Skies, Lullaby of Birdland, Them There Eyes sung in her own unique expressive nuances.   She has an extraordinary broad range, and uses it to the fullest.      Jimmy  took the final vocal, with Ted on tenor sax, cornet  interweaving with trombone.   Fabulous!

Rebecca in black dress

Rebecca Sullivan

Rebecca was backed by all the instrumentalists in a poignant Georgia, with tuba solo that shows why Eli was voted best Traditional Jazz Tuba Player in polls by the Mississippi Rag and Jazzology Magazine.

Bob Winter, smiling and playing piano

Bob Winter loves playing piano!

Bob Winter has played with the Boston Pops and supported vocalists for over 30 years.  He obviously enjoys making fine music and sharing it with us.  His stunning harmonies and sudden key changes on Over the Rainbow took our breath away.  Some of the band literally gasped.  He was featured with a passionate and riveting Satin Doll and backed Rebecca’s capricious Dancing Cheek to Cheek with smooth walking bass notes.  

Jimmy Mazzy plays and sings "Tomorrow Night"

Jimmy Mazzy plays and sings “Tomorrow Night”

 

 

 

Jimmy dug into his storehouse of great early 1900’s tunes and came up with  Tomorrow Night.  Just Jimmy and banjo; soul warming, he really gets his head around the lyrics:

 

 

 

Ted Casher on tenor sax

Ted Casher, powerhouse tenor sax

 

 

Ted Casher is a precious gem.  He’s a powerhouse on tenor sax, and was featured on a Lady Be Good that raised goose bumps.  Let’s hope we get a video of this one!  Eventually there will be a DVD,

clarinet, cornet, trombone

Dynamic Front Line

What a Difference a Day Makes – the front line  was a combustible combination, brilliant polyphonic improvisation with extraordinary give and take.   They toned down for the piano solo backed only by Jeff’s fine brushing on the snare drum.

At times Randy’s cornet executed clever embelishments all around Eli’s tuba.   Randy was relaxed and enjoying himself.  So was the audience, intently listening to this fabulous music.

Only ten minutes left, Randy approached the close with an unforgettable Someday You’ll Be Sorry, a tip of the hat to his idol, Louis Armstrong.

Introducing Special guest, Carolyn Newberger, adding spice to the All Stars with her washboard on Jelly Roll Morton’s Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll.

Jimmy, Eli, Jeff, and Carolyn and washboard

Carolyn Newberger adds zest to the All Stars with washboard

They closed with a quick Tiger Rag, originally played by the ODJB in 1917.  Eli’s All Stars played it with equal fiery enthusiasm, with a roaring tuba tiger, great solos – drummer let loose, nice muted trombone by Herb Gardner.   Another barn burner! We’re looking forward to more lively New Orleans Jazz in the next version of Eli’s All Stars with Bob Winter, piano (Boston Pops) and Rebecca Sullivan, vocalist (New England Conservatory), and Bo Winiker, trumpet, with Ted Casher, clarinet and tenor sax, Herb Gardner, trombone, Jeff Guthery, drums, Jimmy Mazzy, drums, Eli Newberger, tuba, and guest washboard wizard, Carolyn Newberger at the Sherborn Inn, 33 N. Main Street, (inters. of Rts. 16 & 27) Sherborn, MA Reservations:  508-655-9521 or info@sherborninn.com.  Hope to see you there!!

Videos by Kathy Wittman, recorded by WGBH’s Frank Cunningham

Tunes:

1. At the Jazz Band Ball
2.  You Can’t Take That Away from Me
3.  Blue Skies
4.  Georgia on My Mind
5.  Satin Doll
6.  Stardust
7.  Cheek to Cheek
8.  Tomorrow (Jimmy’s banjo and vocal)
9.  Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll
10.  Them There Eyes
11.  Our Love is Here to Stay
12.  Lady be Good
13.  Over the Rainbow (piano solo)
14.  Lullaby of Birdland
15.  What a Difference a Day Makes
16.  Some Day You’ll Be Sorry (cornet feature)
17.  Tiger Rag

Seacoast Stompers start a New Year at the Acton Jazz Cafe, January 4, 2014

picture of crowd and bandSeacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Café, on a bitter cold January 4th  2014, with Scott Philbrick cornet, Craig Ball clarinet, Lee Prager trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Al Bernard souzaphone, Bobby Reardon drums, Frank Stadler leader/piano.   Videos by Harold McAleer.

In spite of the bitterly cold weather, The Acton Jazz Café had few empty seats when The Seacoast Stompers began another year of 1st Saturdays of the month. Many of us were suffering from Trad Jazz withdrawal over the holidays, with the musicians busy playing at private gigs.

Leader Frank Stadler was back with a long list of tunes, offering two at a time, and letting the musicians choose.  They are almost all Band Leaders and have minds of their own; sometimes they picked one, sometimes picked totally different tunes.  There is much discussion, but it’s all in great fun.   Frank is to be commended for patiently managing the divergent personalities that are the Seacoast Stompers.

They started hot and heavy with the Bix version of their theme song, At The Jazz Band Ball, hot solos!

Frank took the intro with bass notes on  I Would Do Most Anything For You.  Bobby went wild on drums!

Frank at baby grand

Frank Stadler, piano – leader

Take Your Tomorrows and Give Me Today, Swing That Music.  Nice tuba solo.  The rhythm boys set the dynamic background that gets toes tapping.

Banjo, souzaphone and drums

Jimmy Mazzy, Al Bernard, Bobby Reardon

Jimmy has his own unique style of playing banjo, and singing.  We especially liked his ballad, Sugar,  with ecstatic interchange between Philbrick and Prager.  They challenge each other.  Rose Room got dancers up, with Scott sneaking in Always Chasing Rainbows on cornet.

We all helped celebrate Jack Phelan’s 90th birthday, who was here with his family.  Jack is the pianist for the New Liberty Jazz Band and formerly led the Scollay Square Stompers.

Jack with his arm around JimmyJimmy Mazzy and Jack Phelan

Jack says “The Seacoast Stompers are a great group, and anytime Jimmy Mazzy is with a group it’s even better!”

He said “Frank Stadler is a top notch piano player, with a steady rhythm and steady beat.”  “The front line, Craig, Scotty and Lee, are just great!  They sound like they rehearsed for weeks, but we know they were improvising, making it up.”

Frank Stadler filled in for Jack with the New Liberty Jazz Band on their 1941 Fire Truck last November 23rd at the Methuen Parade, when it was again cold weather.  Jack recommended him.

Jack Phelan has been around Jazz and Jazz Joints for a long time.  He was sitting up front and center, where he could hear them discussing what they were going to play next.   He said to Scotty, “Since they moved the spittoon from the corner of the saloon, you just can’t spit anymore!”  That broke them up!

The band wanted to play the Birthday song for him, instead he requested Ain’t She Sweet  and they were happy to oblige.

Frank asked for Fidgety Feet.  All agreed, no discussion!

We especially like Jimmy’s ballads, I’ve Got The World on a String.

Bill Flynn and the Missus from New Hampshire found themselves a corner for dancing.  He’s a retired Raytheon engineer who writes books for sale on Kindle as a hobby.

Trobone player bending backwards to squeeze out notes

Lee Prager

 

 

Trombone intro I’ll Take Manhattan, Lee bends over backwards to get those perfect notes.  Sweet tune, followed by something peppy – Sunday.

 

 

 

 

St. Louis Blues is one of the oldest tunes known to the cognoscenti. Tuba intro, imaginative ensemble.  They listen to each other and to the music, play mesmerizing blues.

clarinet, cornet, trombone

Fantastic ensemble by the front line, Craig Ball, Scott Philbrick, and Lee Prager

Bobby Reardon has two sets of drums with him, he has another job in Stoneham when he leaves the Acton Jazz Cafe.  The musicians really appreciate his tasteful, shrewd, drumming.

Swing set of drums

Bobby Reardon

They closed this set with a romp roaring Sweet Georgia Brown.

 

Harold McAleer with his video camera.

Harold McAleer with his video camera.

 

 

 

We are all grateful that Harold McAleer is back. He is dedicated to recording this music for posterity, and spends hours videotaping and editing many videos, especially of the Seacoast Stompers.  You can find hundreds of them on You Tube.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was much more great jazz in store.  (see below).  We’ll be back with  the usual Trad Jazz Crowd, thirsting for this kind of music, on February 1st.  We hope to see Jack Phelan back too!!

 

Seacoast Stompers  January 4,  2014 Tunes:

Set 1

1  At The Jazz Band Ball
2  Sugar
3  I Would Do Anything For You
4  Take Your Tomorrow
5  Swing That Music
6  Rose Room
7  Fidgety Feet
8  I’ve Got the World on a String
9  Sunday
10 St Louis Blues
11 Sweet Georgia Brown

Set 2
1  It Don’t Mean a Thing If it Ain’t Got That Swing
2  Tin Roof Blues
3  Ain’t She Sweet
4  Curse of an Aching Heart
5  New Orleans
6  Undecided

Set 3
1  Jelly Roll (Ain’t Gonna Give You None)
2  Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down
3  If I had You
4  Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me

 

23rd International Bohém Ragtime & Jazz Festival in Hungary

Bohém Newsletter
Dear Jazz Friend,

Some important and urgent news/notifications, please read what interests you:

1. Visit Hungary’s best classical jazz festival! (Even if you don’t intend to come, check out the GREAT videos below!)
2. Our new CD is out.
3. Tour in the USA.

1. GREAT line up, great offers: visit the 23rd International Bohém Ragtime & Jazz Festival in Hungary (March 28-30, 2014)!
We have been putting up our small but great festival every year since 1992. Even circumstances have been worse and worse, we are still alive and proud to announce that we’ll have our 23rd Bohém Festival as one of the strongest regarding the line up. The festival is entitled “New York, New York!” and it is really worth to visit. Line up includes:
The EarRegulars (featuring Jon-Erik Kellso on trumpet and Scott Robinson on reeds)
Aaron Weinstein on violin (all from New York)
Ondrej Havelka and the Melody Makers from Prague, the best orchestra playing the music of the 20’s and 30’s (the other equally very best such orchestra is the Bratislava Hot Serenaders, they have played at our festival twice already)
Bohém Ragtime Jazz Band (us, this time with a surprise guest and novelty approach)
and other Hungarian musicians

If you haven’t signed up yet, please, read: We are offering 7-day tour packages as well, so you have the chance to see some of our beatiful country besides hearing many great musicians. If you sign up and complete your payment this year, you’ll be getting a complimentary package (Festival T-shirt, DVD and wine for the 7-day package attendees / Festival T-shirt if you come only for the weekend). See details at the festival’s website: http://www.bohemragtime.com/en/act.html

Download the flyer for Festival packages here (you might have received it by regular mail, too): http://www.bohemragtime.com/upload/fest/14-touristinfo.pdf

Payment for packages or tickets is possible through our Bohém Webshop, too: http://www.bohemragtime.com/en/tickets.html

And here are two videos of our 2014 festival performers:

The EarRegulars (Chinatown, my Chinatown): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTkPYlBRLqM
Melody Makers (at the beginning there is a little chat in Czech which I don’t undersatnd a word of but it is worth to watch the whole video! Havelka sings and tap dances, he is a genius): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSOD3SMwSd0

(you can search YouTube for Havelka and the Melody Makers, all videos are great)

2. Bohém Originals: our new CD is out!
We have released our newest album in November. It contains only self-composed tunes, 21 tunes by our 3 band members. Great music, great recording, really 🙂 We had a concert introducing the album and I was surprised to see and hear how very well the music was received. Sounds like good old American ragtime and jazz tunes with a bit Hungarian flavour 🙂 You can listen to “Our Lovely Beer” from the CD by visiting our Soundcloud channel: https://soundcloud.com/bohemragtime

The Bohém Originals CD can be ordered from the Bohém Webshop at: http://www.bohemragtime.com/en/cds.html

3. Tour in the USA in January:
I will be touring the US for 2 weeks in January, playing 8 concerts in St. George (Utah), Green Valley (Arizona) and San Francisco, Sutter Creek and Rio Vista in California. Please, drop me an email if you are interested to know the exact venues and times. (European friends would not be interested, anyway, so I am not wasting their time with details here…)

I hope to see you at the Bohém Festival in Hungary, if not earlier! 🙂

And on behalf of the whole band I wish you a very successful, jazzy Happy New Year!

With Bohém regards,

Tamás Ittzés

Heartbeat Jazz Band at Smarty’s, by Sue Finn

only visible are Shari piano, Skip trombone, Freddy cornet, Noel clarinet

Heartbeat Jazz Band at Smarty’s Restaurant and Pub, 215 Main St. Niantic CT (860) 739-8818

Heartbeat’s Christmas Show at Smarty’s, Thursday December 19, 2014

Here are a few pictures and the playlist for Heartbeat’s Christmas show at Smarty’s.   www.smartysniantic.com.  It was a mixture of seasonal favorites and traditional jazz standards along with a few other surprises.

Bill Logozzo – drums, leader                            Fred Vigorito – cornet
Skip Hughes – trombone, vocals                      Noel Kaletsky – reeds
Bob Card – saxophone                                      Art Hovey – tuba, bass
Steve Keillor – banjo, guitar                            Shari Lucas-keyboard
Andrew Walker – guest vocalist

Playlist:
Maryland My Maryland (Oh Tannenbaum)                   ~~~Break~~~
Lulu’s Back in Town                                                        Mack the Knife
Oh Baby!                                                                          Apex Blues
China Boy                                                                  You are always on my mind
I’ll be Home for Christmas                                        How come you do me like you do?
Let it Snow                                                  (with Walk Right In & Alice’s Restaurant)
Shine                                                                      Sunny Side of the Street
Blue Christmas                                            Medley – Jingle Bells, Saints, Silent Night
South Rampart Street Parade

They started with ‘Oh Christmas Tree’ and one of Fred’s audience quizzes – I believe we ended up with at least 5 titles for this number!

Skip sang several songs, including ‘Lulu’s Back in Town’,  ‘Blue Christmas’, ‘Mack the Knife’ and ‘How Come you do me like you do’.

Guest vocalist Andrew Walker sang ‘You are Always on my Mind’.

Andrew standing while band plays

Andrew Walker listens to band after his vocal on “You Are Always on My Mind”

Noel and Steve played ‘China Boy’ and Bob Card did ‘Sunny Side of the Street’.

Banjo and soprano sax, Art Hovey in background with tub

Steve Keillor and Noel Kaletsky

banjo playing, Noel holding clarinet

Steve and Noel

Heartbeat always puts on a great show and this holiday performance was no exception.   By the final number – a medley  of the usual ‘Saints’ with ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Silent Night’, everyone was singing along and definitely in the Christmas spirit.

Hear Heartbeat every 2nd Thursday at Oliver’s in Essex, CT and every 4th Thursday at Smarty’s.

 

 

CD: L’amour, Brigitte Zarie

CD picture of dark-haired girl with head thrown back

Review, by Peter DeVeber

To paraphrase Peter Bonventre of Newsweek magazine on his leaving the Boston Garden and a Hagler fight in November 1978, “Marvelous Marvin is a beautiful fighter!” – well, “Brigitte Zarie is a beautiful singer.”

Oh, that bass!  And Randy Brecker featured on 2 tunes.  Oh, that horn!  First class production.  Big orchestra sound.  Nice instrumentation.  Now, Brigitte, it’s Good to Be Home listening to this on Quiet Nights with Nobody Else – 12 tunes impeccably swinging – crisp and beat.

My favorite female vocalist Anita O’Day.  Brigitte is a new favorite – not the edge of a Miss O’Day, but as full voiced and vibrant and lyrical.  And sincere.  I see myself at Charlie’s Gone By listening to both.  Whoa!  Wow!  Outstanding!  And elegant!

Brigitte is an extraordinary songwriter too – except for Walk the Line and Quiet Nights (Corcovado), she wrote all of the songs on L’amour – music by Brigitte Zarie and Neil Jason; lyrics by Brigitte Zarie.  I’m hearing standards all over the place.

To paraphrase Bonventre again, “Brigitte is a beautiful songwriter.”  L’amour highly highly recommended.  It is a story.  And it is jazz.  L’amour is available at iTunes and Amazon and Brigitte’s website http://brigittezarie.com/

Brigitte Zarie, by Peter DeVeber

Brigitte Zarie, by Peter DeVeber

– Peter DeVeber

Rebecca Sullivan, Bob Winter, and Eli’s All-Stars – Part II

Rebecca in Red Sweater over pink and white dress

Rebecca Sullivan

On December 3, 2013, the marvelous Rebecca Sullivan, a graduate student from Chicago in Contemporary Improvisation (Voice) at New England Conservatory of Music, joined her Conservatory Board mentor, Eli Newberger, tuba, and a group of stellar Boston-area players at a live performance at the Sherborn Inn in Sherborn, MA.
The musicians, from left to right:
Bob Winter (pianist with the Boston Pops)
Jimmy Mazzy, banjo
Eli Newberger, tuba
Rebecca Sullivan, vocals
Jeff Guthery, drums (Berklee College of Music)
Ted Casher, clarinet and tenor sax
Bo Winiker, trumpet
Herb Gardner, trombone.

This is the first release from that session.
Video by Kathy Wittman, recorded by WGBH’s Frank Cunningham

Two additional dates for recording have been set at the Sherborn Inn: January 14, and February 4, 2014, from 7:30 to 9:30. Reserve early! (see below)

Note how these fabulous musicians listen to and engage with one another! At the end of Bob’s 3 solo piano choruses, in which he descends backward in jazz history from single-note bebop-inflected cool to a lovely tip of the hat to Erroll Garner and back to Fats Waller, where the song began.

At the end of the chorus, he turns a phrase that Rebecca picks up for 4 measures of the next and throws to Bo, who turns it around and throws it back to begin a stunning exchange of 4-measure intervals before Rebecca takes it out over the entire ensemble.
Two additional dates for recording have been set: January 14, and February 4, 2014.
Audio by Frank Cunningham
recording.wgbh.org/Staff.cfm
Video by Kathy Wittman
http://www.ballsquarefilms.comhttp://…
http://www.rebeccasullivanjazz.com
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