Paul Monat’s Jailhouse 4+1 at Primavera Ristorante, July 23, 2015

Posted on July 27, 2015 by admin

Paul Monat’s Jailhouse 4+1

Gary Bohan cornet, Paul Monat cornet/tuba, Pete Collins clarinet, Dave James (Caponigro) Keys, Steve Taddeo drums

Paul Monat introduced us to some new faces with his Jailhouse 4+1 and lit up Primavera Ristorante on July 23rd. The Band is patterned after the Firehouse 5 + 2, but because of the late notice, Paul wasn’t able to line up more than five free musicians. Disney has ‘Firehouse’ patented, hence the Jailhouse 4+1. The Quintet lit Primavera on fire!

Paul Monat brought his monstrous brass bass along with his Wild Bill Davison influence on cornet. Cornetist Gary Bohan easily plays a range of styles including klezmer, jazz, mainstream, big band and Dixieland. Clarinetist Pete Collins was still streaming, fresh from his own Jazz Band Ball’s performance at Lobsterman’s Wharf in East Boothbay, Maine. Steve Taddeo was turbulent on his brand-new Slingerland Drums.

Last but not least, on the keyboard Dave (Caponigro) James is a band by himself. He is performing somewhere in the greater Boston area almost every night. His keyboard subs for trombone, banjo, vibraphone, you name it, and he is also a great vocalist. He played a memorable solo on keyboard, providing his own comp, and singing a soulful Rosetta.

Dave (Caponigro) James

Together the Jailhouse 4+1 sizzled! Jeannine in the audience exclaimed, “Who needs two more?”

Chinaboy.

Pete on clarinet with tuba in background

Pete Collins, leader of The Jazz Band Ball Band

Clarinet lead on Indiana, piano slipped in some Yankee Doodle Dandy, before they let Steve loose on drums.

Found a New Baby, Avalon; Pete went wild on Way Down Yonder in New Orleans.

Abbondanza – Paul on his remarkable 5-valve tuba, Steve backing with clutch cymbal. Dave’s keyboard feigning a trombone.

Steve Taddeo backs Paul’s tuba

Tuba was featured on Them There Eyes, Paul intense on that monster brass. Steve on solo tapping every drum, cymbal, block, bell.
Basin St. Blues. Keeping Out of Mischief Now, Dave singing with rhythmical cadence.

Shine

Gary Bohan and Paul Monat are amazing together

Memories of You with both cornets resurrected fond memories; Gary driving and adding distinctive shadings and tone, Paul emulating Wild Bill. Pete played low register clarinet; Dave played his own comp on keyboard solo.

The two cornets let loose on Swing That Music; keyboard playing banjo. WILD! They slowed for a sweet Honeysuckle Rose, Gary’s clear tone cornet, Pete sounding like Pete Fountain, Keyboard was playing vibraphone. Never got dull!

When You’re Smiling – Surprise – Pete Collins did the vocal! Pleasing voice. We’ve been following him for years, never heard him sing before.

Dinah – you know this was WILD! Ensemble intro, amazing duet between drums and Paul on cornet. It’s Taddeo’s theme song – he was ready with his Krupa walk around, heading for our table and tapping on everything in site, making melody out of several wine glasses.

It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing – The Jailhouse 5 had the Swing!

They brought the tempo down with a fine melody, Roseroom. Paul closed this hard driving performance with The Saints.

Paul Monat is determined to bring in new sounds with a Jailhouse 5+2. He’s here for the summer, so stay tuned for some more fireworks!

Swing Senders Dream Team at Bemis Hall June 10, 2015

Posted on June 21, 2015 by admin

Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders Dream Team

Paul Monat cornet, John Clark tenor sax/clarinet, Craig Ball clarinet, Gerry Gagnon tuba, Bill Doyle guitar, Ross Petot piano, Justin Meyer string bass, Steve Taddeo Drums, Caroline Griep vocals, and special guest Jack Soref, guitar.

Harold McAleer videos,
Marce photos

Steve Taddeo presented his Swing Senders at Bemis Hall on June 10th, with an amalgamation of New England’s finest musicians, and special guest, Jack Soref on guitar. With a great four-piece front line and two guitars, we were guaranteed an evening of outstanding Swing!

They began with Steve’s explosive drum intro into Savoy. Paul Monat said It was like being in a Gene Krupa concert!

Caroline Griep does it all with style.

Caroline Griep puts heart and soul into I Can’t Give You Anything but Love, with the Quintet of John Clark on tenor sax, Craig Ball clarinet, Soref playing Django style guitar, Justin Meyer string bass, Steve drums.

Paul Monat Wishing Upon a Star

Paul Monat was featured on When You Wish Upon a Star, citing his idol, Wild Bill Davison. The high ceiling of this large hall provided a beautiful echo enhancing Paul’s excellent cornet.

Caroline was back for Slow Boat to China. Her voice is rich, with a great range and many layers.

Justin was featured on Just You, Just Me, bowing the base in rich harmony, bolstered by intricate improvised solos.

On one tune, Taddeo joined him with their own version of “Big Noise From Winnetca”

Justin playing string bass while Steve taps on strings with drum sticks

Justin and Steve mimic Ray Bauduc and Bob Haggart

Harold filmed an impressive video of the Swing Sender’s Theme Song, Dinah.

There was an innovative interchange between the two guitars on Everybody Loves My Baby, backed by two clarinets. They all love making music!

Jack Soref, Bill Doyle

Dave Didriksen sits in.

Steve asked Dave Didriksen to sit in on Flat Foot Floogie. Dave is a fine drummer, and manager of the group Swing Times Five with Debby Larkin.

Dave took over the drums. He said it was worth it to give Steve Taddeo a rare chance to sing. Who knew Steve could sing?

Caroline returned with a soaring vocal on Jeeper Creepers.

The band broke into quartets; the first featuring Jack Soref on a tune we had been anticipating, Django’s Minor Swing, with Bill Doyle adding rhythm guitar, Justin on string bass, and Steve drums. Judge for yourself:

John Clark on tenor sax

Can’t We Be Friends was led by John Clark with a brilliant interchange between tenor sax and string bass.

Ross Petot makes sure there are no blank spaces.

Moonlight in Vermont captivated the audience with only Ross Petot backing Caroline Griep – just the two of them, letting the song shine through. Beautiful!

Djangology gave Soref another chance to feature his expertise on Django Rheinhardt. For half of 2011, Jack studied the music of Django Reinhardt at its source by moving to Paris, France. We hope to hear more from him in the future.

Finale, with a drum intro into Stomping at the Savoy. Wonderful solos… concluding with Steve Taddeo’s extended solo on his Antique 1939 Slingerland Drums, in high energetic and buoyant style, crossing cymbals, using press rolls and cymbal techniques. The room exploded!
.

This really was a Dream Team! The musicians and audience were high from this fantastic Swing music and didn’t want it to stop. John Clark continued with I Got Rhythm, fine trombone by Gerry Gagnon and classic interchange between Craig Ball clarinet and Jack Soref. They hadn’t discussed how to end this, so Taddeo made it a wrap!

Steve Taddeo always come through with the finest musicians and amazing Swing. Save the date: Wednesday, August 12th. Steve is bringing back the marvelous Midiri Brothers to Bemis Hall. Details to follow.

Marce

Bay State Syncopators reunion at Bemis Hall, May 27, 2015

Posted on May 31, 2015 by admin

Bay State Syncopators April 2015

Dave Whitney and Paul Monat cornet, Blair Bettencourt clarinet, Dan Gabel trombone, Robin Verdier piano, Eric Baldwin guitar, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Reid Jorgensen drums

picture and videos by Harold McAleer

The Bay State Syncopators were at Bemis Hall in Lincoln MA on May 27, 2015. It was a reunion band formed in the 80’s by Paul Monat to rekindle the two-cornet sound of Bob Connor’s Yankee Rhythm Kings of the 70’s which had Paul Monat and Dave Whitney on cornet and Blair Bettancourt on clarinet. Bill Doyle subbed today on guitar.

The band carries on the New Orleans sounds of Louis, King Oliver and Jelly Roll, reborn in the 50’s by Lou Watters, Turk Murphy and Bob Helm in San Francisco.

Dave Whitney tells about how it felt to have the band back:

“Musically the Band sounded great! Despite lack of Rehearsal Time we surprised ourselves on most of the tunes. After 40 years, Blair, Paul and myself still remember most of the routines.

Highlights were Big bear Stomp—Too Late (from King Oliver 1930). Snake Rag, Cake Walkin’ Babies, Mabel’s Dream and Canal St. Blues.

Big Bear Stomp

Blair sang his specialty “Red Hot Mama” and I did Mississipi Mud, Cake Walkers and Memphis Blues.

Robin Verdier

Robin did a great Piano feature on Froggie Moore and Dan Gabel fit right in like he had been there in ’75.

Bill Doyle (file photo)

Also kudos to Bill Doyle who came in on short notice on guitar and banjo..

Us YRK veterans had a great time and it brought back happy memories of the Sticky Wicket and Sacramento Jazz Fest. Also a nice turnout of 60 or so people.”

Paul Monat is Blue and Broken Hearted – Wait for the high note at the end of this tour-de-force by cornetist Paul Monat!

The Bay-State Syncopators ended their concert in Lincoln with a rousing version of Lou Watter’s San Francisco favorite – Emperor Norton’s Hunch.

Dave Whitney
Harold McAleer

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at the Sherborn Inn August 19, 2014

Posted on August 22, 2014 by admin

John Kafalas trombone, Paul Monat cornet, Stan McDonald clarinet and soprano sax, Ross Petot piano, Gerry Gagnon tuba, Steve Taddeo drums

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band presented another fine evening of Traditional Jazz at the Sherborn Inn on August 19^th, with some changes in personnel. Gerry Gagnon moved to tuba, John Kafalas filled in for him on trombone. Paul Monat was back. He’ll be playing all around New England until September.

They kicked it off with congenial ensemble on All By Myself and Sugar, Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me. Gagnon plays a swinging tuba, 1955 Conn 20J recording bell-front, with a deep sonorous sound boosting the rhythm section. Monat said “It felt like playing on a magic carpet”. Gerry was tubist with the Boilermaker Jazz Band of Pittsburgh until 1994, when he moved to New England and joined The Blue Horizon Jazz Band. Seven or eight years later, Stan moved the band to string bass, and Gerry changed to trombone. Stan took the vocal on Darktown Strutters Ball, backed by this rock solid rhythm section with Ross Petot on piano, and Steve Taddeo drums. The evening was dedicated to John and Elizabeth, who chose to celebrate their 67^th wedding anniversary at the Sherborn Inn with the Blue Horizon Jazz Band. Congratulations!!

Stan played elegant clarinet solo on Bechet’s lovely Blues in the Air. Clarinet and cornet collaborated on Memphis Blues, rich voices interweaving in New Orleans polyphony.

The front line played a captivating Tijuana with John Kafalas on fierce trombone. Listeners couldn’t sit still, dancing in their seats.

Stans’ soprano sax took the intro to a spirited Save It Pretty Mama. Paul Monat surprised us, putting heart and soul in the vocal. Not bad!

There was solid melody and harmony on Roses of Picardi, with McDonald back on soprano sax. His Blue Horizon Jazz Band has complete command of the Trad Jazz language! Stan asked that the next tune be played slow as possible. Taddeo set the beat, very, very, slow on Lotus Blossom; different, and very effective.

Paul’s cornet went wild on a tune recorded many times by Wilbur and Sidney DeParis, Yama Yama Man

Ross Petot introduced the closing tune with a four bar vamp on Dardanella; fine ensemble, closing with Stan’s soprano sax.

Traditional Jazz enjoyed a revival here in the mid-1970’s, but there are very few bands in New England still playing authentic Traditional Jazz; Stan McDonald only hires musicians that are comfortable with the genre. They’ll be back, as always, on the 3^rd Tuesday of the month at the Sherborn Inn, September 16th. See you there?

Blue Horizon Jazz Band with Paul Monat at the Sherborn Inn July 22

Posted on July 15, 2014 by admin

Blue Horizon Jazz Band with Paul Monat and Al Ehrenfried

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band presented a romping New Orleans take on Sidney Bechet’s jazz and blues, with the five-piece group working together in a true spirit of cooperation. We were surprised to find cornetist Paul Monat substituting for trumpeter Jeff Stout, who has had a death in the family. Al Ehrenfried, string bass, came out of retirement for this evening.

It was a five-piece band, with Stan McDonald and Paul Monat cornet, holding the front line with the superb backing of the rhythm section, pianist Ross Petot, Al Ehrenfried bass, and Steve Taddeo drums.

They kicked it off with the New Orleans sound with Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland, and continued with Ross Petot’s robust piano intro to What Is This Thing Called Love.

Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll, Bechet’s I Remember When, Everybody Loves My Baby. The two were in sync, twining around each other. Stan started Lastic on clarinet, with Paul playing a long, sustained, note. The two make some powerful music together, drums and string bass maintaining the Traditional Jazz Beat.

When You and I Were Young Maggie. Bechet’s Blues In The Air, nice blues lead by Stan McDonald.

Ross was featured on Lucky Day, backed by string bass and drums.

Ross Petot Featured

It was Steve Taddeo’s birthday. Monida surprised him with a cake while the band played the Birthday Song.

Happy Birthday, Steve!

Stan and Paul in unison on Bechet’s Marchand de Poisson. Bechet’s Fantasy, Paul slipped in some of his mentor, Wild Bill Davison.

When I Leave The World Behind, had Stan on vocal, great soprano sax; continuing on Lonesome Road. Getting into overtime now with Bechet’s Dans Les Rues D’Antibes, with Al playing a superb bass solo, backed by Steve’s adept drumming.

It was an unforgettable evening. The Blue Horizon Jazz Band will return as usual on the 3^rd Tuesday of month, August 19^th with more surprises.

Paul Monat will be in New England until September, when he returns to Florida. Stay tuned.

Jeff & Joel’s House Party October 13-14, 2012

Posted on October 24, 2012 by admin

JAZZ LIVES – Michael Steinman, said it all: VERTIGO!

Photos by Eric and Sherral Devine

Next party: April 20-21, 2013Top: Noel Kaletsky, Sal Raniello, Genevieve Rose, Freddy Vigorito, Ross Petot, John Clark, Paul Monat
Stairs: Pam Pameijer, Craig Grant, Jim Fryer, Vince Giordano, Bob Barta, Jeff Barnhart, Joel Schiavone

Because of the decline in Traditional Jazz Festivals, Joel and Donna Schiavone again opened their 1804 home to eager Jazz aficionados.

At the last House Party, Jeff Barnhart picked the band, gave it a leader, and let them improvise JAZZ. This time, he picked the band (but anyone could opt in or opt out), picked a leader, gave them a theme “Play some Louis”, Play some Eddy Condon” Play some Blues”, “Play something HOT”. But only for two tunes.

Then the musicians moved out to the right, next band moved in from the left. It was absolute insanity! There were musicians and instruments constantly moving through the audience. But what else would you expect at Jeff and Joel’s House Party?

Paul Monat had the first band, with Jim Fryer trombone, Noel Kaletsky clarinet, Jeff Barnhart piano, Bob Barta banjo/vocal, Genevieve Rose string bass, Sal Raniello drums

I lost track of how many bands, or how many tunes (over 100).

I’m sorry I made you cry
Someday You’ll be sorry
Jazz Me Blues

two cornets

two clarinets

Two trombones- turbulent duet!
Shimme she-wobble

Only ONE –

Vince Giordano, whose music for Boardwalk Empire won a Grammy award this year.
Back Home Again in Indiana

Breeze

Paul Monat traded 4’s with himself on cornet and tuba.My Gal Sal

On the more serious side – Believe it or not, Jeff Barnhart does have a serious side.
He chose classical music for himself, Frederic Chopin – Nocturne In E Flat Major, Op.9 No.2

Ross Petot, New England’s best kept secret, pianist, teacher, composer, arranger. In his own signature stride piano, Gone With The Wind. He made the melody come alive.

Noel on clarinet, with Pam and Ross: Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans.
Dinah – I love Pam’s Trad beat!
Craig Grant on trombone: Milenberg Joys

Paul & Freddy, two cornets, Vince on bass sax, Storyville Blues

Dinners and breakfast were First Class, thanks to Carol and Glenn Ott.

photos by Marilyn Snow

Dippermouth Blues:

Genevieve Rose’s set had Jeff on piano, Barta banjo, Pam drums for Shanty in Old Shanty Town. She was unfamiliar with these tunes and has never played most of them.
A resourceful pro, she listened to the others, played rich tones, and maintained a powerful, full beat. Amazing!

Joel recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of “Your Father’s Mustache”
at Carnegie Hall.

Of course we had sing-alongs – with a four-piece banjo band, Joel, Bob Barta, Noel, and even Vince Giordano. Everyone got into the act. (I wish the camera had been on Michael Steinman!) Marce

Pam on washboard

Vince on drums

Jim Fryer on euphonium, with Sal Raniello and Jeff on piano: The Gypsy

This music spans all ages. Special surprise guest, ‘Red’ Balaban singing Porter’s Love Song To a Chamber Maid. Balaban played at Your Father’s Mustache in New York. He worked extensively as a sideman, for musicians such as Wild Bill Davison, Eddie Condon, Gene Krupa, Dick Wellstood, and Kenny Davern. He co-led Eddie Condon’s house band with Ed Polcer from 1975; other noted musicians in this outfit included Vic Dickenson, Warren Vache, and Connie Kay. The club closed in the mid-1980s. Balaban continues playing today in Connecticut. (Wikipedia)

Jeff introduced Fourteen-year-old Andrew Ferno, who covered the music spectrum with fine piano renditions of Do The Hucklebuck and Thelonius’s Blue Monkk.
Neighborhood Music School in New Haven, CT

New England Traditional Jazz Plus

Swing, Traditional Jazz, Dixieland Jazz, Big Bands

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