Eli & The Hot Six with Rebecca Sullivan at Primavera Ristorante February 26, 2015

Posted on March 2, 2015 by admin

Eli & The Hot Six

Bo Winiker trumpet/flugelhorn, Rebecca Sullivan vocals, Ted Casher cllarinet/tenor sax, Herb Gardner trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Bob Winter keyboard, Eli Newberger leader/tuba, Jeff Guthery drums.

by Marce

Eli & The Hot Six is a powerhouse group of accomplished musicians playing music to warm the heart and melt the snows! They are spontaneous, inspiring one another, weaving around each other, with gentle sparkplug Bob Winter of the Boston Pops on keyboard, Jim Mazzy banjo and Jeff Guthery’s masterful drumming.

This was a celebration of the release of their first CD. It is extraordinary in that it contained sketches of each musician by Carolyn Newberger. Fans bought them quickly to obtain autographs of the musicians, at a special discounted price of $10.
Purchase here.
Oh, and the Contemporary Classic Jazz was incredible!

Muscat Ramble kicked off this evening, with Jeff Guthery playing a solo on graduated temple blocks.

Rebecca Sullivan

Rebecca Sullivan warmed the crowd with Gershwin’s Summertime, an upbeat I’ve Got Rhythm. Embraceable You, a tune from the new CD, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.
She drove from New York to get here, and returned afterwards to get to work in the morning at the NY Metropolitan Opera Guild!

Duke Ellington’s Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me, played very slowly, Bo leading with Ted’s clarinet and Herb’s trombone in the background.

Eli Newberger, the roaring tiger

The growl of the rip-roaring tuba-tiger on Tiger Rag. Eli’s dedication and devotion to this music are apparent on his face!

He jumps up and leads the front line parading through the enthusiastic audience; they love this music and enjoyed becoming part of it.

Eli and front line parading through the audience

Parade of the Tigers

Carolyn Newberger is usually sitting quietly, drawing sketches of the musicians. They are works of art, and available with the CD. Tonight she let loose and joined the band on washboard for an energetic Miami Beach Rhumba – fun tune, and they all had fun playing it.

Carolyn standing, playing washboard hanging from her neck

Carolyn plays washboard

Jimmy Mazzy feels the pain

Jimmy agonizes with the blues, almost reading the words of a man who searched for his loved one and found her body at St. James Infirmary. The instrumental solos build powerfully, with Jimmy ending in heartbreaking a capella, sadly, mournfully.

Perdido: Eli says it all in his Notes on the CD: Eli & The Hot Six LIVE, Contemporary Classic JAZZ.
“Ted Casher’ eloquent solo tenor sax builds a rhythmic foundation for this splendid song written by Juan Tizol, a trombonist in the Ellington band. Rebecca jumps in almost as an instrumental voice, extending chorus after chorus of melodic variations, counter rhythms, and little conversations with clarinet, trumpet, and trombone. One can hear why Bob and the horn players, steeped in this music and, indeed, knowing the passing harmonies and final ensemble riffs like the backs of their hands, love her so much. “

Ted Casher, Bo Winiker, Herb Gardner

They closed with Bye Bye Blackbird, first recorded by Gene Austin in 1926. It’s not bye-bye for this band, just the beginning. They will return often, we hope, before their official CD release at Sculler’s Jazz Club on May 21^st. Hope to see you there??

Scullers Jazz Club at the Doubletree Suites by Hilton Boston-Cambridge,
400 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
May 21st – Show: $30, Show & Dinner: $70, Show Time: 8pm 617-562-4111

Wolverine Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante, February 19, 2015

Posted on February 22, 2015 by admin

The Wolverine Jazz Band

Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark clarinet and bari sax, Tom Boates trombone, Ross Petot keyboard, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums

An energetic, rambunctious Wolverine Jazz Band raised the temperature on this very cold February evening with uplifting, toe-tapping Traditional Jazz at Primavera Ristorante. This was the band’s first time here. They checked out the sound with Ain’t Misbehaving and were very pleased.

Just a few days after Mardi Gras, this was an evening of tunes from the essential spirit of early New Orleans up to the 1950’s. They played a mix of Armstrong, Oliver, Ellington, Bix and Whiteman, many tunes from their last CD ( 12^th ), Moonlight, and some from their next one, yet to be named.

Jeff on trumpet, wearing black shirt and paper-boy's cap

Jeff Hughes plays Michigander Blues

New Orleans Mardi Gras,
Clarence Williams’ Cake Walking Babies, Shake it And Break It; from their next CD, a ‘baker’s dozen’, Michigander Blues.

The Chant, a Mel Stitzel tune arranged by Jelly Roll Morton, resurrected fond memories of the early Sticky Wicket Days, as did Panama.

The front line, Tom Boates, Jeff Hughes, leader John Clark

Jimmy is world renowned on banjo and vocals. He chose the next tune, Mill’s Brothers’ ‘Till Then.

#1 Fan, Betty Weaver, persuaded John to sing, he chose Oceana Roll, a tune depicting the arrival of the US Navy in Japan in 1911. They ended it with a line of Anchors Aweigh.

John Clark played Rose Room on low register clarinet, backed by a playful trombone and trumpet playing an entirely different tune.

John on baritone sax

Clark took out the baritone sax, with Jeff on flugelhorn, for a “good ol’ good one” done by Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton in 1951, That’s My Desire.

Tom Boates sings Honky Tonk Town

Tom Boates, who drove 125 miles from Connecticut to get here, was featured on trombone and vocal, putting heart and soul in a New Orleans tune recorded in 1940 by Sidney Bechet and Louis Armstrong – Down in Honky Tonk Town,

The Wolverine Jazz Band is backed by the dynamic duo of Rick MacWilliams pushing on tuba, keeping the music lively, and Dave Didriksen on drums, keeping it on time.

Rick MacWilliams

Dave Didriksen

Tom Boates plays tribute to Harry Arnold

Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans, was Tom Boates’ tribute to Connecticut trombonist Harry Arnold, who died a year ago January. They both played in the Hartford Jazz Orchestra that is now featured at the Arch Street Tavern in Hartford every Monday night.

Jimmy in red shirt, singing and playing banjo

Jimmy Mazzy, the one and only!

Tight ensemble on Frankie Trumbauer’s There’ll Come a Time; a Lil Hardin tune, Do What Ory Say, with Jimmy scatting. The band sat out as he began the verse to Stealing Away Blues, singing and playing banjo as only he can.

Jeff Hughes sings

It’s always a pleasure to listen to Jeff Hughes sing. He introduced a cute ditty, Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia, that was recorded by the Boswell sisters with the Dorsey Brothers Band in 1932.

Pianist extraordinaire, Ross Petot teaches on Thursday evenings. He is pianist for many bands, so we’ve really missed him at Primavera. Fortunately, this was School Vacation Week – we were very happy to have him back!

Ross on keyboard. Primavera has no piano.

Ross Petot on keyboard

Down to the wire, the band had a romping New Orleans take on the Original Jelly Roll Blues, 100 years old this year, and a wild wind up with another hot tune, Panama.

Hot Traditional and Dixieland Jazz will continue at Primavera for the rest of the year – you can bet The Wolverine Jazz Band will be a significant part of it, when they aren’t playing at a festival someplace. So far, they are invited to The 25th Annual America’s Jazz Classic in Washington State in June, and The Bar Harbor Jazz Festival Maine in July. There will be more.
You can purchase any of their fine CD’s at www.wolverinejazzband.com.

Dan Gabel and The High Society Jazz Orchestra at Primavera Ristorante, January 29, 2015

Posted on January 29, 2015 by admin

Dan Gabel and The High Society Jazz Orchestra

The High Society Jazz Orchestra played to a small but appreciative audience at Primavera Ristorante on Thursday. Sounding way beyond their numbers, the 11-piece band reached deep down and created beautiful music that enlivened our spirits.

Dan under High Society banner playing trombone

Leader, Dan Gabel

They led with their theme song Whispering, and continued with arrangements by Dan Gabel and John Clark, revoicing tunes from the 20’s and 30’s. They kept this memorable music flowing, giving the musicians a chance to show off their fine solos as well as ensemble.

The weathermen scared people away, but with a smaller crowd the atmosphere was more intimate, with the members of the band exchanging banter with the audience and taking requests.

Trumpets: Mike Peipman, lead: Adam Mejaour
Saxes Tyler Burchfield on tenor, John Clark on bari, Richard Garcia on alto,

The energetic instrumentals made the band feel twice its size, rekindling this enduring music associated with a bygone era. This is as good as it gets! They practiced new arrangements swinging so hard you’d never know it was the first time they saw the chart.

Elise Roth sings refrains for the first time.

Elise Roth sings Irving Berlin’s refrains for the first time.

Vocalist Elise Roth’s warm sweet voice seemed effortless. She even sang three refrains using Irving Berlin’s original 1927 lyrics of Am I Blue, made famous in the 20’s by vocalist Annette Henshaw.

Mike Peipman

Mike Peipman was on trumpet for their inventive reimagining of the Artie Shaw theme Nightmare.

Herb on keyboard. We don't have a piano - yet.

Herb Gardner plays Earl ‘Fatha’ Hynes’ Cavernism

We had our own ‘Fatha’ Hines in Herb Gardner, playing his1933 Cavernism.
(He and daughters Abbie and Sarah are performing at the Bickford Theatre in Morristown New Jersey on Groundhog Day, February 2nd.)

There was a new arrangement of Stormy Weather, appropriate for the Nor’Easter that just left us with three feet of snow. One of our favorites was John Clark’s arrangement of Chicago Rhythm.

The Rhythm Boys, Herb Gardner, Bill Reynolds, Bill Doyl, Rick MacWilliams

Dan had an arrangement of Rogers and Hart’s Thou Swell, with Clark playing solo on baritone sax and Elise singing Lorenz Hart’s beautiful lyrics.

Bill Doyle moves to 1928 banjo

Bill took out a 1928 banjo for Fats Waller’s St. Louis Shuffle, with the ensemble playing a rarely heard verse, and drummer Reynolds playing the breaks on choke cymbal. Bill regularly plays Benedetto guitar.

Tubist Rick MacWilliams had a chance to show his stuff on a solo on You Belong To Me – a request from Tom James in the audience, with Dan taking the vocal.

There were two altos and a tenor sax on King Oliver’s Mule Face Blues. We heard Duke’s Cotton Club Stomp, Who’s Sorry Now vocal by Dan Gabel. One tune we never heard before, Maori, (A Samoan dance) was arranged by John Clark, composed in 1919 by William H. Tyres and Henry S. Creamer.

They closed with Elise singing Dan’s arrangement of There’ll Be Some Changes Made, with new strains we’ve never heard before. It was an exhilarating evening of melliflous music. We were glad that we ignored the weathermen!

Members of the band were:
Trumpets: Mike Peipman, Adam Mejaour
Saxes: Tyler Burchfield on tenor, John Clark on bari, Richard Garcia on alto, and all played clarinet.
Trombone and leader: Dan Gabel.
Keyboard: Herb Gardner
Guitar and banjo: Bill Doyle, band manager
Tuba: Rick MacWilliams
Drums: Bill Reynolds
Vocals: Elise Roth

The High Society Jazz Orchestra will be at the Feast of Music After Party at the Oval Room of the Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston February 21 for NEC’s scholarship fundraiser. March 7 they will be at the WGBH studio for An Evening Inspired by Downtown Abbey, and at Sculler’s March 26 for the HOT release of their CD, Business in “F”, recorded at PBS Studios by Peter Kontrimas with cover and drawings by Elise Ross. Elise’s recital of classical vocals at NEC is March 29th 4:00pm at Williams Hall, and is free and open to the public.

Eli and the Hot Six at Primavera Ristorante in Millis January 22nd

Posted on January 28, 2015 by admin

Good times were had by all when Eli and the Hot Six enjoyed their debut at Primavera Ristorante. Their passion for this music is obvious. It was infectious; the audience became totally engaged.

piano, tuba, drum, reeds, trumpet, trombone

Eli and The Hot Six

Bo Winiker trumpet and flugelhorn, Ted Casher on clarinet, tenor and soprano sax, Herb Gardner trombone and vocals, Bob Winter on keyboard, Eli Newberger tuba, Jeff Guthery on drums, Frank John intermission tuba.

There was a popular band in New Haven in the 50’s and 60’s called Eli and the Chosen Six. Louis Armstrong had his Hot 5 and Hot 7. Eli Newberger paid homage to all of them by changing the name of the band from Eli and His All-Stars to Eli and the Hot Six.

Struttin’ With Some Barbecue, usually a fast, upbeat tune, was played slowly and swinging, inviting everyone to enjoy this evening.

Bob Winter on keyboard – You’ve never heard Oh By Jingo played like this, with blazing runs up and down the keyboard! Kathy Wittman did a video of it back at the Sherborn Inn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvWIIwCU-jg This alone is more than worth the $10 admission at the Primavera!!

As this was their first time playing here, they tested the acoustics with Basin St. Blues. No mics of any kind. Glorious horn solos, Ted’s tenor sax, Bo on smoky flugelhorn, low low tuba, closing with Herb’s trombone.

Bob sitting Eli standing behind him as they laugh playing keyboard.

Is this fun or what?

Eli joined Bob for Night Train.
They do have fun!

Eubie Blake was remembered with Bo Winiker sweet trumpet on Memories of You.

Jeff Guthery plays lyrical drums

Jeff Guthery played melody tapping on woodblock and bell and snare drum on Tiger Rag, before they all took off marching through the audience!

trombone, tuba, trumpet (clarinet not visible)

The band played New Orleans Jazz marching around the tables. The fans loved it!

Ted Casher clarinet, tenor sax, alto sax.

Ted Casher said, “Great gig! Great food! Great atmosphere! Always enjoy myself playing with the Six!”

Frank John, Freshman at NEC

Eli’s latest ‘Mentee’ is NEC Freshman Frank John, who took over Eli’s tuba at intermission, playing around with scales.

Eli’s tuba is older than he is, and it was missing some notes that Frank is accustomed to on his own tuba. Nevertheless he managed to reach a Pedal F tone, lower than the lowest F on the keyboard! We’ll be hearing more from him in the future.

Rambunctious front line played Muscat Ramble in a Bossa Nova beat.

Hot Six Front Line

Bob Winter honored us with the World Premiere of his composition of a Trad tune that had all the band site-reading! Paul’s Phonic Dream. New to everybody – first time we ever see Eli reading from a chart!

Eli solo

Eli gets a lively solo on Ain’t Misbehaving, backed only by the rhythm section; eloquent, touching.

Bo is sitting, left foot kicking the air as he blows wild trumpet

Bo Winiker lets it all out

Great ensemble on Sweet Sue, Ted playing marvelous clarinet. Bo got carried away on trumpet, putting his whole body into it.

George Gershwin’s Fascinating Rhythm calmed him down on smoky flugelhorn, with all the instruments taking turns trading 4’s.

Herb Gardner sang

Multi-instrumentalist Herb Gardner also graced us with a trombone solo on Ain’t Misbehavin‘ and vocals.

He’ll be celebrating Groundhog Day with his talented daughters Abby and Sarah at the Bickford Theatre in New Jersey on February 2nd.

Bob returned for solo on Ida, playing unceasing rhythm, finishing with a Count Basie ending. Michael Steinman says,” He doesn’t rush; he doesn’t attempt to impress us with pianisms. His playing verges on the formal, but it is based on a serene respect for the melody rather than a tied-to-the-notes stiffness.”

They closed with a controversial tune that turned out to be Louis Armstrong’s last greatest hit. It was a request that Louis had never heard before. He listened to a recording of Hello Dolly, and you know the rest. Trumpet and trombone played masterful duet..

Bo one handed trumpet, Herb muted trombone

Bo Winiker and Herb Gardner duet on finale

The Hot Six were on fire on this splendid evening of Jazz at Primavera Ritorante. They will return on February 26th for more of the same, with Rebecca Sullivan on vocals, and they’ll have their new CD for sale: “Contemporary Classic Jazz: Eli and The Hot Six LIVE” Join us??

Primavera will also feature Dan Gabel’s fabulous High Society Orchestra on January 29th. We’ll be between snow storms. Don’t let the weathermen scare you away – this is worth the trip.

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante, January 15, 2015

Posted on January 20, 2015 by admin

Band at far end of room, tables and fans in foreground

Jazz Room, Primavera Ristorante

A new era began as the Blue Horizon Jazz Band launched Thursday Jazz at the Primavera Ristorante in Millis, Massachusetts. Primavera is an excellent new venue for Traditional and Dixieland Jazz. It is a quality restaurant with a lovely atmosphere. It offers great service at an affordable price and makes you feel like you are dining in Italy.

The band plays in a separate function room with good sound and balance, but it doesn’t have a piano – yet. Stan McDonald had to rearrange some personnel. Dave MacMillan substituted for pianist Ross Petot, with banjo, vocals, and smiles.

Stan McDonald soprano sax, Jeff Stout trumpet, John Kafalas trombone, Dave MacMillan banjo/vocals, Gerry Gagnon tuba, George Darrah drums

George Darrah filled in for Steve Taddeo. He is a bright young drummer from Beverly. At age 16, he was rehearsing with the Dave Whitney Big Band. He’s become a fine musician and will be one of the keepers of the Classic Jazz flame.

Along with Gerry’s tuba, George provided sure-footed rhythm with his creative drumming.

Dave MacMillan kicked off the evening with banjo intro and vocals on I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me.

Trombonist John Kafalas interjected the blues feeling in Wabash Blues. He has a Bach 42 trombone with a large bell that is generally used in a symphony, but works very well in this room.

Gerry Gagnon is a virtuoso bassist on tuba, and showed it on his solo on Rose of The Rio Grande.

Stan said he believes All By Myself is one of the greatest melodies of all time, an “organic whole”.

Old Fashioned Love featured Stan on soprano sax. They alternated with a Latin beat on St. Louis Blues, fortified by Jeff Stout’s powerful trumpet.

Trumpet and saxophone took a stirring, synchronized intro into When I Leave The World Behind, backed only by tuba. The ensemble worked together, playing for each other as well as the listening audience, on Sugar, Swing That Music, .

Some Of These Days was a barn-buster that had fans tapping their toes. Stout’s trumpet took a slow intro into Sunny Side of The Street with just the rhythm section behind him. Nice.

Since these musicians have never played together as a band, Back Home Again in Indiana was preceded by a big discussion. The result was inspired solos and ensemble, ending with Dave MacMillan, with a big smile, embellishing the vocals.

Jeff took the lead on Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me with Stan playing counterpoint.

Black and Blue was fresh and different, played with alternating tempos.

Darrah took a drum-pummeling four-bar break on the closure, After You’ve Gone.

Primavera will be a perfect venue for Traditional and Dixieland Jazz, with warm staff, hospitality and fine food. (Chicken Limoncello was delicious!) We look forward to returning next week for Eli and His Hot Six (formerly Eli’s All Stars) with pianist Bob Winter of the Boston Pops on keyboard. POSTER Join us!

Primavera Ristorante, 20 Pleasant St. Millis MA 02054 (Just off Rt. 109) 508-376-2026
http://www.primav.com/

New England Traditional Jazz Plus

Swing, Traditional Jazz, Dixieland Jazz, Big Bands

Tag Archives: Primavera

Eli & The Hot Six with Rebecca Sullivan at Primavera Ristorante February 26, 2015

Wolverine Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante, February 19, 2015

Dan Gabel and The High Society Jazz Orchestra at Primavera Ristorante, January 29, 2015

Eli and the Hot Six at Primavera Ristorante in Millis January 22nd

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante, January 15, 2015