Tag Archives: Piano

Neville Dickie at the Sherborn Inn May 20, 2014

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Neville Dickie piano with Jeff Hughes trumpet, Stan McDonald soprano sax, Steve Taddeo drums

Neville Dickie piano with Jeff Hughes trumpet, Stan McDonald soprano sax, Steve Taddeo drums

Neville Dickie tours the U.S. every year around this time.  Neville is from Surrey, England and is known worldwide for his stride piano, boogie woogie, with a powerful left hand and flashy fingering on the right hand.   We all looked forward to his 13th appearance at the Sherborn Inn; thanks to Ellen and Stan McDonald.

He was joined by Steve Taddeo on drums, Stan McDonald on soprano sax, and Jeff Hughes trumpet.  He is a charming entertainer, and enjoyed having a few beers and renewing acquaintances with the fans that come out to hear him every year.  They come from all over New England – he fills the house.

Neville Dickie
Neville began his renowned “showing off for the Company”, backed by Steve Taddeo, with Jimmy McHugh’s Doing The New Lowdown, marvelous.
He said there’s nothing complete without Fats Waller, Keeping Out of Mischief Now.  He’s known for his rapid left stride, but we like his active right hand toying with the melody.

He once heard Stan and Ross Petot play the Harlem Hotcha, written by James P. Johnson.  It was originally done by the Omer Simeon Trio with Johnson on piano, Simeon clarinet and Pops Foster bass.  Neville’s lightening left hand was supported by Steve feeling his way on snare drum and hi hat, trying not to be intimidated by the famous Dickie.

Neville invited Stan McDonald and Jeff Hughes to join them, with a piano intro to Rose of The Rio Grande.   Neville played chugging, rocking chords, Stan on hot soprano sax also did the vocal, Jeff’s trumpet softly in the background.  Neville started with the verse on a  Darktown Strutters Ball,  fingers floating over the keys.  Stan on sax and singing.

Back to the duo of Neville and Steve with I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter, Neville playing in 6ths and left hand patterns like Jelly Roll Morton, giving his playing a “New Orleans” flavor.  (I was coached by Ross Petot.)

Neville had several DVD’s for sale, he included a free CD with each one sold.  He played ingenious stride on one of the tunes on his Back to Boogie DVD, Bells of St. Marys.  He explained how the composer,  Douglas Furber, was on a boat leaving South Hampton in England when he heard the Bells of St. Marys as the boat was leaving.  It inspired him to write the tune. Dickie ended the piece with dramatic bell sounds on piano.   Going back to boogie woogie, he turned to the jazz style of Albert Ammons with his 1940’s boogie, Shout for Joy.

Neville invited Stan and Jeff back.  Neville’s right hand played warm, soulful, cascading piano to Jeff’s glorious horn solo on Bunny Berigan’s I Can’t Get Started.  Sweet!

Jeff Hughes, wearing a straw fedora hat and Neville Dickie

Jeff Hughes and Neville Dickie play Bunny “Berigan’s I Can’t Get Started”

Neville said “You won’t hear anything better than that!”  We totally agree.

Neville enjoys sharing the stage, playing backup piano in the quartet for Maggie.  The Ensemble’s powerful performance, with Stan’s scorching soprano sax turned Tijuana into  a barn burner!

McDonald on sax, Hughes trumpet

Stan’s scorching sax

Our own dynamic pianist, Ross Petot, sat at the piano playing haunting and elegant melodies during intermission.  His hands crossed playing stride on I Hate Myself For Being So Mean To You by Isham Jones; Somebody Loves Me,  Who’s Sorry Now, But Not For Me, Love For Sale, King of Araby.

Ross on baby grand

New England pianist Ross Petot

In the middle of Araby, Neville returned and took over the treble end of the piano.  The two together are remarkable piano pyrotechnicians.  The baby grand vibrated with impeccable rhythm!  We look forward to this every year!

Neville Joins Ross at bass end of piano

Neville Joins Ross at piano

Ross at bass end, Neville treble

They trade places, playing 4-handed piano
drummer ecstatic at playing with both pianists

Taddeo joins the pianists

Neville back at the piano with the volatile Finger Breaker.  Jelly Roll Morton composed Finger Breaker; Willie ‘the Lion’ Smith called it Finger Buster.  Either way, it’s extremely fast and difficult.  Harlem Blues went from Blues to intense Boogie.  It was the first blues ever published – 1940 – by Blue Note founder, Albert Lion.

Quartet resumes with All By Myself, Jeff backing Neville with soft trumpet;  James P Johnson’s Old Fashioned Love, Stan on sax and vocals. Neville boogied with a hispanic tinge on Dardanella.

Steve back with Neville playing marvelous left-hand boogie woogie on Golden Earrings, from the movie with Marlene Dietrich.   Swanee River Boogie was ecstasy!  We never get enough boogie!

Closing time was approaching; Neville wanted to give Taddeo a chance to play.  He said he’d make it easy, started Honeysuckle Rose with a slow, rolling left hand.  Steve went along, adding a soft drum roll.  By now he was comfortable with Neville, and tore into his Gene Krupa walk-around routine, stepping away from the drums with sticks tapping the beat, tapping on anything within reach, table, glasses, dishes, never missing a note.  That caught Neville and the ladies at the nearest table by surprise!  He tapped on, back towards Neville and returned to the drums to audience applause.

Neville looks on in surprise as Steve taps on ladies' table. Taddeo walk 3
Smiling young drummer

George Hannah

 

 

 

Steve has been teaching drums to student George Hannah. George sat in on drums, playing just the right accents and sounds with Neville on Indian Summer.  We’ve been watching him grow up with drums – he’s come a long way!

 
The quartet returned with Wild Man Blues, with trumpet in glissando, staccato phrasing. They closed this evening with sax and trumpet intro to Lover Come Back To Me.

Myron Idleson called this the Mount Rushmore of Jazz Concerts.  He said their talent is a gift from God, and their playing is their gift to God.  I’ll add ‘to us too’.

Neville headed for New Jersey to play with the Midiri Brothers for the Tri State Jazz Society, then on to Maryland.  If you’re ever in England, Neville and wife Pat started the Sutton  Jazz Club where he plays monthly at The Thomas Wall Centre, Benhill Avenue, Sutton, Surrey.  http://www.jazzpiano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/advance_dates.htm

Neville doing Pine Top Boogie in 2008 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndAtEgHTiGo
2010 at the UK Festival https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QusM01B4miw

We look forward to having him back here again next year.

Steve will be in concert with the Midiri Brothers here on August 12th.  Dick Donovan’s Big Band directed by Steve Taddeo is at the American Legion, 140 River Rd. Middleton MA every Monday evening.

Jeff will be back at the Sherborn Inn with The Wolverine Jazz Band, Swing Times Five,  and Debby Larkin, Dave Whitney, Dan Gabel.  They all want him.  And  He’ll still be wearing a hat.

Stan’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band will be back at the Sherborn Inn June 17th.

We are so fortunate to have all this marvelous jazz!!  I count my blessings every day!

Marce

Seacoast Stompers Jazz Band last appearance at the Acton Jazz Café.

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7-piece Dixieland Band

Seacoast Stompers

By Marce, April 26, 2014
Videos by Harold McAleer

Frank Stadler – piano and leader, Scott Philbrick – trumpet, Craig Ball – clarinet, Steve  Piermarini – trombone, Jimmy Mazzy – banjo, Al Bernard – tuba,   Bobby Reardon – drums

This Saturday was unique in more ways than one.  This being the last Saturday of the month, Steve Piermarini filled in for Lee Prager on trombone.  He’s been with us before – fine player.  The Seacoast Stompers picked songs at random from their vast repertoire, and featured two new vocalists.  This would be their last gig here at Nagog Park.  The Acton Jazz Café was forced to close May 1st.

trombonist

Steve Piermarini

 

 

At The Jazz Band Ball, Everybody Loves My Baby, appropriate for this day – There’ll Be Some Changes Made, with Jimmy vocal, Craig on low register clarinet and Steve on growling trombone.

 

 

 

 

Frank introduced the first vocalist, Maureen Benson. Maureen sings with Jazzport, Frank is pianist, at the Cape Ann Brew Pub in Gloucester, MA.  She started with I Don’t Know Enough About You.

Maureen Benson  A Train  – video speaks for itself!

Scott Philbrick had the vocal on From Monday On, the whole band playing fantastic New Orleans polyphony.  Jimmy introduced Take Your Tomorrow and Give Me Today with banjo and a vocal, Scott backing him on silky cornet.   Craig resurrected Artie Shaw with his clarinet on Blue Lou.

I Would Do Most Anything For You was a barn burner! Fast and Hot clarinet, Scott followed with quick multiple notes on cornet, wild trombone, finally ended with bang-up drumming by Bobby Reardon.  WOW!  They continued up-tempo with Undecided, smearing gliss on clarinet, piano flying high, bass drum pushing the band.

Carrie and Jimmy Mazzy

Carrie and Jimmy Mazzy

Carrie Mazzy crooned to  husband Jimmy on Write Myself a Letter.

 

 

 

Pretty blond in pink sweater

Sandy Cash

 

 

Sandy Cash, charming vocalist from New Orleans, sang a lively Basin St. Blues, and won over every heart in the Café.

 

 

 

 

 

Brunette in red sweater and blue and white scarf

Emily Shamieh

 

 

Makin’ Whoopee was sung by another fine vocalist, Emily Shamieh, of Jamaica Plain, Boston

 

 

 

 

Struttin’ With Some Barbecue, Jazz Me Blues.  Maureen returned with As Long As I Live, making the song her own, and a lively  I Cried For You.  They closed with Bobby’s favorite, Limehouse Blues.

We were all feeling the Blues.  The Seacost Stompers were three months short of six years at the Acton Jazz Café, presenting the highest level of entertainment.  They gave us an extra tune with Swing That Music, before ending it for who knows how long.
view of full house from the back, band up frontFrank thanked Gwenn for her devotion to live jazz.  She spent unbelievable hours featuring Live Jazz close to seven days a week at the Acton Jazz Cafe, sometimes two and three bands in one day.  That’s pure devotion!!  Thank you Gwenn. Be well, we hope to hear from you soon!

Seacoast Stompers at the AJC, 26 April 2014

Set 1
1   At The Jazz Band Ball
2   Everybody Loves My Baby
3   There’ll Be Some Changes Made
4    I Don’t Know Enough About You   (maureen-vocal)
5   Take the A-train        (maureen-vocal)
6    From Monday On
7   Take Your Tomorrow
8   Blue Lou
9   I Would Do Anything For You

Set 2
1   What Can I Say After I Say I’m Sorry
2   Undecided
3    I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write    (Carrie-vocal)
4   Stealin Apples
5   Makin Whoopee     (Emily-vocal)
6   Struttin With Some Barbecue

Set 3
1   Basin Street Blues    (Sandy Cash-vocal)
2   Jazz Me Blues
3   As Long As I Live    (Maureen-vocal)
4   I Cried For You        (Maureen-vocal)
5   Limehouse Blues
6   Swing That Music

Dan Gabel and the Abeltones at the Imperial Ballroom, April 25, 2014

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Dan Gabel and The Abeltones on stage at the Imperial Ballroom in Mendon, MA

Dan Gabel and The Abeltones on stage at the Imperial Ballroom in Mendon, MA

by Marce
Photos by C. S. Imming

Dancing and Dining to a Big Band is back at the Imperial Ballroom, 6 Nipmuc Drive, Mendon, Massachusetts.  For the second month in a row, over 100 dancers from several generations delighted in dancing to the authentic Big Band of Dan Gabel and the Abletones.  This is an 18-piece Big Band specializing in an the Big Band sound thanks to a high level of musicianship and a library of over 4,000 arrangements.

Dan Gabel in Blue Jacket with white shirt, Blue bow tie and buttonniere

Leader Dan Gabel

Many of the musicians are from the New England Conservatory of Music, and have never heard the original big bands, but thanks to the enthusiasm of their leader, Dan Gabel, they succeed in recreating the authentic sounds of the Big Bands from the 30’s to the 50’s like Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Les Brown, Benny Goodman,  Count Basie, and the Latin sounds of Tito Puente.

 

Swing has become the dance for many of the youth of today, who have been taking lessons and filling dance halls with their Swing and Lindy Hop.  They had a whole weekend March 20-23 at the Newton Marriott Hotel in Boston recently.   But Dan Gabel and the Abletones introduced dancers to much more – the Fox Trot, Waltz, Cha Cha, Tango, Mambo, Samba, Boogie Woogie.

 

couple swinging

Georgina and David Woodycheck knew every dance!

 

 

Marvelous dancers Georgina and Dan Woodyshek knew ALL of them, and could have given us all lessons!!

 

 

 

 

 

The Band played some of the songs of the era, Whispering, Song of India (Tommy Dorsey version), Abletone Jive (Gabel’s arrangement where he introduces the members of the band);  East Side West Side, The Angels Sing, There’ll  Be a Change in the Weather, April in Paris, Alice Blue Gown, Take it Jackson (with the whole band singing), Dipsy Doodle

Dark haired vocalist in red dress

Elise Roth has natural, clear delivery

 

 

Vocalist Elise Roth has natu­ral, clear delivery and beautiful smile.  She could be Anita O’Day without the hat, singing Bei Mir Bis Du Schoen, Moon River, Sentimental Journey, I Don’t Know Why I Love You Like I Do, and more.

 

 

 

Taddeo slamming the cymbal

Steve Taddeo, devotée of Gene Krupa

 

 

With the help of Steve Taddeo, his Slingerland drums and 1939 cymbal given to him by Jimmy Dorsey’s drummer, Buddy Schutz, they played a Gene Krupa feature of the song Massachusetts.

 

 

 

Young Greek pianist

Greek pianist Nikolas Anadolis graduates this year

 

 

Nikolas Anadolis was on keyboard.  He’ll be graduating from NEC this spring and is hoping to join the faculty at the University of Lausanne on Lake Geneva, Switzerland.   We’ll miss him.  He and Dan Gabel have been performing all over New England.

 

 

 

 

The dancers thoroughly enjoyed the Abletones Big Band.

Dancers on floor, band on stage

Dancers enjoy Dan Gabel and the Abeltones

More C. S. Imming’s Photos…..

We came away with the happy feeling of an earlier, care-free time.  At the end of May the Imperial Ballroom will feature the Tom Nutile Big Band on the last Friday of the month.  The following week, Dan Gabel and the Abeltones will have everyone taking lessons and dancing at SAC Park in Shrewsbury.  Check the calendars.

Jimmy Mazzy & The Last Minute Men in movie Tumbledown!

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7 piece Dixieland Band

Jimmy Mazzy and The Last Minutemen

New Movie, Tumbledown, was being filmed in Massachusetts – March/April 2014
Watch for it!!   Independent Movie Database

Some of the cast of the Independent Movie, Tumbledown, stopped in at the Colonial Inn in Concord, MA on a Wednesday night and discovered the marvelous pianist Moishe Feldman performing in the Forge Tavern.  They were amazed at what they heard.  Moishe said “If you think this is good, come back next week and hear Jimmy Mazzy”.

The following week, 40 members of the cast filled the Forge Tavern at the Colonial Inn and heard Jimmy Mazzy and The Last Minute Men.  They were asked if they would like to be in the movie.  Were they ever!!  Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Craig Ball clarinet, Gid Loring cornet, Al Bernard tuba, Ron L’Herault trombone, Nick Ribush banjo,  Derek Lane-Smith Britich concertina, were given a small part in the film.

TUMBLEDOWN: A young woman struggles to move on with her life after the death of her husband, an acclaimed folk singer, when a brash New York writer forces her to confront her loss and the ambiguous circumstances of his death.

Director: Sean Mewshaw
Writer: Desiree Van Til
Stars: Dianna Agron, , | »

Ron and Ms. Danner

Ron L’Herault and Ms. Danner

Complete cast:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2338424/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm

Colonial Inn, 48 Monument Sq. (Rt. 62) Concord MA 978-369-2373 http://www.concordscolonialinn.com/

Dave Whitney Big Band at the Sherborn Inn April 8, 2014

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14-piece big band seen from the side

Dave Whitney Big Band                                                                           Videos by Harold McAleer

An extension of Dave’s small bands, this fourteen piece orchestra was formed in 1989.  The focus of this band is playing and preserving the classic sounds of the big band era.  The orchestra is comfortable playing for the listener and is equally at ease playing for dancers.  Besides saluting the big name bands such as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, and Harry James, the Whitney Orchestra also plays the music of other fine bands such as Tony Pastor, Vaughn Monroe, Frankie Carle, Scat Davis and Red Nichols.  Dave was with the Chris Powers band, and some of his musicians have stayed on with him.  Dave LeBleu bass is a charter member of the band.   Some members of the band came from Lucinda Ellert’s Happy Feet Orchestra.  Blair Bettencourt played with Dave in the Yankee Rhythm Kings. Mike Strauss has filled in with the band since Angelica’s.  An invaluable addition to the band has been vocalist and trumpeter Christine Fawson.

Reeds
Ted Casher
Bob Drunkman
Blair Bettencourt
Art Bakopolus
Trumpets
Dave Whitney
Joe Musumeci
Mel Deveau
Jeff Hughes
Christine Fawson
Trombones
Mike Strauss
Scott Hills
   Rhythm
Steve Dale piano, arrangements
Reid Jorgensen drums
Dave LeBleu string Bass

Dave Whitney is a beacon of swing.  He opened with Harry James’ Music Makers, What a fabulous Big Band sound!  Charlie Spivacks Star Dreams got John and Gisela Brunecini  up dancing quickly.  Dave’s theme song, a Roy D’Innocenzo arrangement, When Somebody Thinks Your Wonderful – Dave vocal with whole band in harmony behind him.  This moves right along very quickly!

One O’Clock Jump came from Count Basie’s Kansas City Swing Band;  Dave played with the Chris Powers band and has many of his arrangements that had Ted on tenor sax, Mike Strauss trombone, with Dave LeBleu  really Jumping!

Christine in bright blue dress singing

Christine Fawson has it all, congenial and fun, fantastic trumpeter and vocalist

 

Special guest Christine Fawson has  played with Whitney’s smaller bands, but this was her first time with the Big Band, wishing she could do this every night!   She picked a tune by Lerner and Lowe-arranged by Lenny Niehaus, Almost Like Being in Love.  Her favorite composers were the Gershwins – Our Love Is Here To Stay.  She turned to scatting on a Cole Porter arrangement, of Let’s Do It.

 

 

 

Bakopolus on alto sax

Art Bakopolus has been with the band almost since its inception

 

 

Art Bakopolis on alto sax for a tune Johnny Hodges did, I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A 1945 Eddy Howard tune – the ‘Boy Singer’ Dave Whitney took the vocal on My Adobe Hacienda.  Kay Kyser’s  College of Musical Knowledge, Swing Era, 1942 Pushin’ Sand was recorded in 1942 but wasn’t released until a year after because of the AFM recording ban.  Dave does an imitation of Lawrence Welk calling out Guy Lombardo’s Everywhere You Go.

 

Mike Strauss on trombone

Mike Strauss,  featured  trombonist.

 

 

Mike Strauss featured on trombone with Night Train, made famous by Buddy Morrow, and also Rose of The Rio Grande.

 

 

 

 

Jeff Hughes featured on trumpet for Bunny Berigan’s classic 1937 I Can’t Get Started – the dancers’ version.   Christine returned to the party for Bobby Troup’s Daddy.

Ted on tenor sax

Ted Casher, a New England Treasurer!

 

 

 

Our other treasure, Ted Casher on tenor sax with Billy Strayhorn’s B.P. was Awe inspiring!

 

 

 

 

Duke’s swing classic, Stomping At The Savoy  and Neal Hallett’s  Boston Tea Party were the set closers.

For the Dixielanders in the audience, Dave began set two with a “little band within a big band”, using Bob Crosby’s March of the Bob Cats with “Dave Cats”, Blair tenor sax, Jeff and Dave trumpets, Ted clarinet, Mike Strauss trombone, Steve Dale piano, Dave LeBleu bass.  Check the interaction between Jeff and Dave trumpets, plus swinging sax, clarinet and trombone.

Louis’ 1925 Struttin’ With Some Barbecue is always a favorite.  In 1938 Louis did it with his Big Band.  Tiny Hill’s  Skirts was a tune they often did at Angelica’s, Dave loves to sing this one.

Christine sang All of Me – a Lenny Niehaus arrangement, for our dearly departed Lynn Sickle.

Christine praised the rhythm section, the backbone of this band.

LeBleu on string bass

Dave LeBleu

Reid Jorgensen drums

Reid Jorgensen

Steve Dale at piano

Steve Dale
Musemici on cornet

Joe Musemeci

 

 

Trumpeter Joe Musemici, Chris vocal Ted on clarinet for a tune Duke did with the Be Bop trumpets  Nearness of You, a Steve Dale arrangement. Ted was featured on clarinet on Honeysuckle Rose with the Bebop trumpets.

Another Duke – there’s always room for him – Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me.  Duke did this as a Concerto  for Cootie (Williams)

 

 

From The Gene Krupa Band, Christine sang a favorite tune of the swing era with Anita O’Day,  Boogie Blues –  Karpopolis making use of the complete alto sax register, Strauss trombone, rhythm backup, Christine scatting on a 240° Hot One!

Bettencourt followed it with a fine baritone vocal on Ray Eberly’s Blue Champagne.  We never knew Blair could sing!!  He’s great!

In 1985 Dave recorded Pie Face with the Chris Powers Band. They made room for Christine in the trumpet section for a fun 3-piece trumpet tuning, Christine, Jeff,  and Dave.

Christine in back with Jeff Hughes , Dave back to the audience, all playing trumpet

Three-Trumpet Tuning

Dick Cathcart was the jazz trumpeter behind actor Jack Webb’s portrayal of the legendary Pete Kelly in the 1955 film Pete Kelly’s Blues.  Dave and Christine on trumpet, closed this marvelous evening.

It was a pleasure to see Ruth Schwab back.  She always opens her home for this band’s rehearsals.

Ruth Schwab, her driver, and friend

Ruth Schwab, Joe Grassi, and Elke

We’ve been listening to Dave Whitney’s Big Band playing and preserving the classic sounds of the big band era. ever since it’s inception.  This was an outstanding performance.  Dave said “This is the best edition of my Big Band since I started it in 1989”.  We have no argument with that!!

Watch for them at Canobie Lake Park. June 8th, 1pm in the Ballroom. Free admission for age 60 plus.

 

 

 

Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Café, April 5, 2014

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7-piece Trad Jazz Band

Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Cafe

Frank Stadler, piano and leader, Craig Ball – clarinet, Jimmy Mazzy – banjo and vocals, Scott Philbrick – trumpet, Lee Prager – trombone, Al Bernard – sousaphone, Bobby Reardon – drums.

by Marce
Videos by Harold McAleer

This was the Seacoast Stompers’ 6th year at the Acton Jazz Café; they play the 1st Saturday of every month.  Their music warmed our hearts and melted the snow! They started with their theme At The Jazz Band Ball without reed-man Craig Ball, who had been delayed.

Frank at microphone

Leader, Frank Stadler

 

Leader Frank Stadler announced there would be a different format this month – three 50-minute sets with 15-minute breaks.  He also wanted to involve the audience.

He sorted through their past 285 tunes and distributed a list of the most popular ones to the audience so they could pick what they wanted to hear.  (Live music is a social experience, it makes people happier.)   When all the lists were returned, all the tunes had been picked!  So Frank turned the lists over to Scott Philbrick.

 

Scott is their “music leader” – he let the musicians choose from the lists.   Jimmy began with Oh Baby, banjo and vocal – good choice.  Someone hollered “Better than New Orleans!”   We have no argument with that.

Lady Be Good, Prager grinning ear to ear – he enjoys being with this group, keeping up with  Scotty’s multiple notes.  There’ll Be Some Changes Made was Frank’s call.

I’ve Got The World On a String, Jimmy vocal, with Lee’s muted trombone in rippling vibrato.  Albie’s choice of tunes – ‘Deed I Do. Jimmy’s interchange with Albie was fabulous.  Craig arrived; his clarinet does make a difference!  Found a New Baby, drum intro with Craig Ball reaching for the sky on clarinet. WILD!   The set closer was delectable hot jazz, Sweet Georgia Brown.

The audience insisted on Limehouse Blues starting the 2nd set.

Prager began the trombone intro to  I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plans.
Especially for Lynn Sickle – they played a sweet All of Me.

Jimmy playing banjo and singing.

Jimmy Mazzy is revered in Europe.

 

 

 

Dr. Jazz – Jim scatting, not quite into his infamous holler.   We are privileged to have him here with us, singing and scatting to many tunes.  Rosetta was sweet.  Albie requested Dinah.  Jimmy went wild – he can be a tiger too.

 

 

Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby – the interaction between cornet and trombone is unbelievable!

Tin Roof Blues, soft tuba intro to this New Orleans jazz standard – one of the most often played early New Orleans jazz pieces.  The Stompers did it justice in slow, N.O. tempo.

Jack Phelan,Trad Jazz afficionado, requested Ain’t She Sweet.  He was here with his family and the Charlie Hoar family.   Some history: Jack and Eleanor Phelan, Charlie and Margaret Hoar and the Enrights, traveled all over New England and Canada in the late 60’s and early 70’s, hearing all the best Traditional Jazz Bands of the day:  East Bay City, New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Kid Sheik, Barry Martyn (here from England.)  Their kids grew up with this music.

Jack Phelan with his adult kids, some his, some nephews and nieces.

Jack is in the back on the right, with the Red Rock sweatshirt.

 

Carrie singing

Carrie Mazzy

 

 

 

Carrie Mazzy sang her own poignant interpretation of Just Because.

 

 

 


Blue Lou was uptempo with inspired solo work. Three Little Worlds was also in blazing tempo, clarinet & trumpet leading, trombone playing counter melody.  Their performance is awe inspiring!

tuba and drums

The Rhythm Boys, Al Bernard and Bob Reardon

 

 

 

Al Bernard pushes the band playing chords on tuba; Bob Reardon keeps them in proper time.  They keep the rhythmic fires burning bright.

 

 

 

 

The finale was imaginative and swinging – Swing That Music.  It raised goose bumps!

Then Gwenn Vivian dropped a bombshell:  The AJC must move out by May 1st – a new  tenant with more $$ moving into their corner of the Nagog Park Mall.

But this is the Jazz Club you can’t crush!  She has a new partner Josely Nogueira which gives them more strength and chutzpa – they will reopen when they find the perfect spot, and this band WILL be there, and so will we.  “You’ve been a great audience – loved us and the band – don’t disappear.”  She hopes to reopen the Acton Jazz Café somewhere in June.

Meanwhile, The Seacoast Stompers Jazz Band have been given an extra day on April 26th to play here in Acton before they close the doors.  See you there? Guaranteed, this music will make you happy!

 

 

Seacoast Stompers
Tunes played on April 5, 2014
Set 1
1  At The Jazz Band Ball
2  Oh Baby
3  Lady Be Good
4  There’ll Be Some Changes Made
5  I’ve Got the World on a String
6  Deed I Do
7  I Found A New Baby
8  Sweet Georgia Brown
Set 2
1  Limehouse Blues
2  I guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan
3  All of Me
4  Doctor Jazz
5  Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby
6  Tin Roof Blues
7  Dinah
Set 3
1  Ain’t She Sweet
2  Blue Lou
3  Just Because
4  Rosetta
5  Three Little Words
6  Swing That Music

Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band Jazzin’ with the Stars 2014

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Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band Bill on drums

Jazzin’ with the Stars,  Saturday, April 12, 2014 at Winthrop Middle School,
Deep River CT,   Benefit for Autism Services & Resources in Connecticut

By Sue Finn
Videos by Cinedevine
Pictures by Ray Ross

Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band with special guests:
Dave Somerville – lead singer of The Diamonds
Jimmy Jay – DJ to the Stars
Jason Senn		 Fred Vigorito – Trumpet
John Clark – Clarinet, saxophone
Noel Kaletsky – Clarinet, saxophone
Skip Hughes- Trombone, vocals
Shari Lucas – Piano
Steve Keeler – Guitar
David Uhl – Bass
Bill Logozzo – Drums

This was the 3rd annual ‘Jazzin’ with the Stars’ concert, the first at this venue, and was just as much fun as the first two.  The first half of the show was Heartbeat at its best with a new twist.

Fred Vigorito talking, and Shari Lewis, keyboard in background

Fred Vigorito, Shari Lewis

 

 

Fred Vigorito gave a history of jazz from its birth in the 19th century to the present; blues, ragtime, spirituals, swing and everything in between, all the way up to rock & roll.  He also gave us information on the origin of each of the instruments in the band.  And of course, there were examples of most of the genres he discussed:

 

 

Tin Roof Blues – Skip, vocal               Just a Closer Walk with Thee – Skip, vocal

Tiger Rag

The Entertainer

Original Dixieland One Step

Heartbeat ended with a very energetic medley that summed up the entire history of jazz, starting with ‘Royal Garden Blues’ and ending with Skip singing choruses of ‘Jump, Jive & Wail’, ‘Shake, Rattle & Roll’ and ‘Flip, Flop & Fly’.

After the break, Sara Reed of Autism Services in Connecticut, gave us a brief description of the programs her organization provides and thanked everyone for their support.  Then Jimmy Jay gave out the prizes to the raffle winners.

Dave Somerville & Jimmy Jay

Dave Somerville & Jimmy Jay

Dave Somerville

Dave Somerville

Then it was time for Jimmy Jay to introduce Dave Somerville.  Dave took us all down memory lane with stories about the rock stars he traveled with and their chart-topping songs and, of course, all the big hits of his own group, the Diamonds.  He sang many of the songs, some as medleys.  Too many to list them all but here are some highlights:

Why Do Fools Fall in Love

Goody Goody

The Stroll

Love Love Love, Little Darlin’, The Stroll, Silhouettes on the Shade, Sweet Little Sixteen, Johnny Be Good, Maybelline, One Summer Night, I’m Walking, Blueberry Hill.

Oh Boy

Through this part, Heartbeat accompanied Dave, all seated and reading his music.  Then they went back to their usual band formation and Dave sang ‘Route 66’ and ‘Goody Goody’ with them.   He stayed on the stage until the end of the show.

two clarinets

Noel and John did “Running Wild”

Skip Hughes singing

Skip sang “Hello, Mary Lou”

Young boy sings his heart out. He has autism, but loves this music.

Jason sang “What a Wonderful World

Jason watching Freddy adoringly

Freddy and the Band help Jason with his song

And the finale was ‘The Saints’ of course.  We all had a great afternoon’s entertainment and there was lots of audience-participation throughout the show.

Somerville and Jay with 2 ladies one gentleman

photo by Sue Finn

After the show there was a ‘meet & greet’ for fans to get autographs, buy CD’s and T-shirts and obtain information on the Autism Programs.

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Cinedevine will be providing more videos – come back, often!

 

 

 

Eli’s All-Stars at the Sherborn Inn, April 3, 2014

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7 traditional jazz guys posing in front of piano with big grins

Eli’s All Stars at the Sherborn Inn, April 3, 2014 – Kick-off for regular 1st Thursday of the month

Eli’s All Stars with Bob Winter, the pianist with the Boston Pops; giant of the Boston jazz scene, Bo Winniker trumpet, Herb Gardner trombone, Ted Casher clarinet/tenor sax, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger leader/tuba, Jeff Guthery drums and Rebecca Sullivan vocals.

Eli has gathered seasoned professionals who have made jazz music their life’s work for over 50 years – it’s their first love.  They came from everywhere, Herb Gardner from the New Jersey Jazz Society gig the day before, Jimmy Mazzy from a week in Florida with the Williams Reunion Jazz Band, Ted Casher from the Crosby Whistle Stop in Charlestown.  Bob Winter – who knows?  Bo Winniker is younger, but he was raised listening to his parent’s Winniker Orchestra.  With friendly competition and improvisational skills they sound more dynamic with each new appearance at the Sherborn Inn
Front LineThey connected with each other, and they connected with the audience, right from the start – with Ted on clarinet for 1917 Rose Room, and a fiery At The Jazz Band Ball, first played by the Original Dixieland Jass Band in 1917.

Rebecca in simple white dress with black belt

Rebecca Sullivan, vocalist with Eli’s All Stars

Rebecca Sullivan is already a jazz vocalist, songwriter and educator.  She’ll receive her degree this year from the New England Conservatory of Music, and head for Scotland in August.  You can hear Billie Holiday inflections in a lovely Stardust, but her voice is attractive wholly on its own.  She continued with Bo Winniker’s trumpet and Ted Casher’s tenor sax at breakneck speed on ‘Deed I Do.

 

Cheek to Cheek:

Summertime provided marvelous solos:

Somewhere Over The Rainbow with fresh and different solos by piano, trumpet and muted trombone.

Eli Newberger on circa 1909 Holton Del Negro CC tuba

Eli Newberger on circa 1909 Holton Del Negro CC tuba

 

 

Eli embraces his circa 1909 Holton Del Negro tuba as he offers just the right chords behind soloists.

It’s a gorgeous instrument, with an expressive quality unlike other tubas – and no one better to express it!

 

 

 

Squeeze Me

Jeff Guthery on New Orleans Traditional Jazz Drumset

Jeff Guthery on New Orleans Traditional Jazz Drumset

 

 

Jeff Guthery provides the propulsion so these All-Stars have the freedom to follow their fancies.   New Orleans bands of 20s couldn’t record bass and drums, so they played on wood block and bell.   Jeff’s drum set is very simple, just a snare drum, floor tom, wood block, cow bell, 6” cymbal.  Not even a high-hat.  He added a suspended ride cymbal, just arrived.  Fresh out of the box, he brought the 20” Turk Ride Cymbal in for its first trial.

 

 

 

He took an eight-bar intro to I Got Rhythm, Ted following on tenor, Bo’s amazing trumpet solo with band in stop-time, Rebecca vocal, followed by the whole ensemble making rhythm swing.  The listeners were sitting on the end of their seats.  This enthusiastic audience does listen!

Jimmy and banjo

The inimitable Jimmy Mazzy

At the request of the front line, Jimmy gave a demo of when D flat comes in on Fidgety Feet.  Jimmy instinctively played the whole thing.  They said:  “ We’ll keep going ‘till we get it right”.   Sure sounded right to us!  Jimmy and Eli had a duet on a song that has many names – we’ll stick to Chicago Breakdown, with Jim scatting.  They make a great team

 

Jimmy sings Till Then

Eli says, “Here is a tender interpretation by Jimmy Mazzy, the banjo virtuoso and singer, of a popular song written by Eddie Seiler, Sol Marcus, and Guy Wood to express a World War II soldiers plea to his sweetheart to await his coming home. Its sweetness and uncertainty — and Jimmy’s profound sense of the poetic and musical meaning — is complemented by Bo Winiker’s gorgeous flugelhorn solo and Bob Winter’s sensitive exploration of the melodic line.”

Ted Casher was featured on Body & Soul, using tenor sax subtones like Coleman Hawkins’ masterpiece that makes women swoon.  Sensational!

 

Bob smiling at piano

Bob Winter creates a concerto out of Oh By Jingo!

Eli asked Bob for a fast tune.  Oh By Jingo became a hit in the post-World War I era, 1919.  With prodigious technique, he made this novelty tune sound like a concerto!

Eventually these marvelous videos may end up as a DVD. We hope.

Time for one more tune, an old New Orleans favorite sung by Jimmy, who feels the pain in every word.  No pain in the music, it was so hot and heavy, Eli jumped up to join Bob at the piano for a rocketing chorus of St. James Infirmary Blues.  Amazing ending.

Bob sitting playing high notes, Eli standing playing low nores

Eli joins Bob Winter on swinging hot St. James Infirmary Blues

We are so fortunate to have these professional musicians playing here for us at the Sherborn Inn.  Anyone passing through wonders how come they haven’t heard this before?  Because it’s not played on radio or television; you can only hear this fantastic aggregation of musicians right here at the Sherborn Inn.  Join us On May 1st and the 1st Thursday of every month for more Great Jazz!

By Marce
Videos by Kathy Wittman, BallSquare films,
Sound by Frank Cunningham