Wolverine Jazz Band at the Sherborn Inn, November 4, 2014

Posted on November 5, 2014 by admin

John Clark’s Wolverine Jazz Band

Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark reeds, Tom Boates trombone, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums

The Wolves were in rare form, back from a six-hour recording the previous day on their latest CD, #13. They’re on their way to the Arizona Jazz Classic Festival this weekend. They practiced on us, playing early New Orleans music with fiery enthusiasm – How LUCKY are WE???? They were asked to play King Oliver tunes at the Arizona Jazz Classic Festival, and we heard many of them, plus other tunes from the 20’s and 30’s, with original arrangements by John Clark.

They started Hot and Heavy with Michigander Blues, and a joyous New Orleans Stomp. A tune Bix Beiderbecke did with Frankie Trumbauer, There’ll Come a Time.

Tom Boates was featured on Snake Rag, a King Oliver tune that is always a big request. We only get to hear Tom once a month – the lucky folks at Bill’s Seafood in Westbrook Connecticut hear him every Friday with the Bill’s Seafood All-Stars. Boates sang the vocal on St. James Infirmary Blues, alternating choruses with each of the musicians. Nice touch. He closed with a growling trombone and drawn-out flourish.

Front line, featuring Tom Boates, with Jeff Hughes trumpet and John Clark clarinet

Jimmy Mazzy doesn’t use arrangements.

Jimmy had many vocals (We never get enough of them!) All from memory. Just Pretending, which is seldom played by any other band. The Halfway House Orchestra did some self-loathing tunes, I Hate Myself for Loving You and I Hate Myself For Being So Mean To You. John took out the baritone for that one.

Rita Brochu and Kathleen Howland

Another King Oliver tune, Olga, nice dance tune, then a romping New Orleans tune Buddy’s Habit. Another K.O. tune that Louis played with his Hot Five, Sunset Café Stomp, got Kathleen Howland up and dancing with her Mom, Rita Brochu. It was Kathleen’s birthday. Dr. Howland is a teacher of Music Therapy, both in private practice and at several schools, and plays one heck of a baritone sax! Special request for Kathleen, one of Jimmy’s favorite depression songs, Dip Your Brush in the Sunshine had everybody up dancing.

Betty Weaver requested a song from John Clark, and he obliged with The Oceana Roll, a popular RagTime tune written in 1911 about the U.S. Navy and the USS Alabama:
“Billy Mccoy was a musical boy
On the Cruiser Alabama he was there at the piana
Like a fish down in the sea, he would rattle off some harmony.” Never gets dull!!

Clark singing with trumpet and piano in backgrund

John Clark sings The Oceana Roll

Jimmy was asked to lead on a K.O. tune, I’m Lonesome Sweetheart, powerful trombone pushing the band. Someday Sweetheart, another Jimmy vocal, gave Rick MacWilliams a chance to shine on tuba. We haven’t heard Chimes Blues in ten years, it was fabulous, with Ross Petot playing the chimes on piano.

Rick MacWilliams and Ross Petot, fabulous rhythm section

Excellent drummer Dave Didriksen completes the rhythm section, keeping time with rim tapping on snare drum and cymbals.

Dave Didriksen

Their final tune, a sizzling Panama, was recorded by Kid Ory’s Creole Jazz Band. The Sherborn Inn furnished some Pyrotechnics:

We’ve been so fortunate to listen to this dynamic Wolverine Jazz Band from its inception, They celebrate their 19th anniversary next month.

We don’t mind sharing them with the folks in Arizona! Enjoy!

Bourbon St Paraders Trio on Cape Cod Canal Jazz Boat, August 24,2014

Posted on August 24, 2014 by admin

Rick MacWilliams, Michel Lavigniac, Paul Nossiter

Bright sunshine and clear skies greeted folks at the sold-out Jazz Boat on Sunday, August 24^th. As we left Onset Harbor, The Bourbon Street Paraders Trio played their theme song, Bourbon St. Parade. “Lets fly down, or drive down, to New Orleans.” Great idea, but for those of us who can’t make it to New Orleans, the Jazz Boat is a good substitute on summer Sundays.

A soft breeze made it a pleasant trip up and down the Cape Cod Canal with the Trio playing some tunes that originated in New Orleans, others from the 20’s to the 50’s: Hoagie Carmichael’s Up a Lazy River, 1920’s Whispering, 1948 Frank Loesser’s Slow Boat to China, Louis Armstrong’s Someday You’ll Be Sorry.

Paul Nossiter is singing Clarence Williams’ Baby Won’t You Please Come Home as we cruise by the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and its training ship, the Kennedy.

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Paul has an extensive background in music in this country and in Europe. He’s played with many of the great Jazz Players. I Want a Little Girl was his wife’s favorite song. (George Wein gave him the gift of Jimmy Rushing singing it at his wedding in Newport RI! ) Paul gave us his resounding version here on the Cape Cod Canal.

In 1974, Nossiter played with Dick Sudhalter’s New Paul Whiteman Orchestra in London. Michael Steinman wrote about it on Jazz Lives. Eventually Nossiter settled in Cape Cod. For the last 60 years he’s been breathing new life into melodies that will never get old.

We slowly progressed up the canal with New Orleans Shuffle – WOW – grab a railing and hang on! In the past, The Viking turned around in Cape Cod Bay; if we kept going, we could go whale-watching near Provincetown. But we turned around after the Sagamore bridge. People bicycling and jogging on the trail along the canal waved as they shared the Muskat Ramble with us.

The band took a short break. Folks moved to the lower deck where there’s a full bar and snacks. But you are allowed to bring your own lunch and beverage if you wish, anything except liquor.

We passed the Herring Run – quiet in June. Active in April when the herring come in off the ocean to fight their way against the current up the steps to spawn in Herring Pond. It’s active again in early fall, with many blue herons watching, as the tiny fry swim down the steps and back out to sea. They instinctively know to return where they were hatched in the spring.

a hole in the rock wall that leads to the steps

The Herring Run

stone steps with water running down them

The steps – only the strongest herring make it.

Tuba Player Rick MacWilliams is leader of the Commonwealth Jazz Band that plays before and after Celtic Games at the TD Garden, and lunchtime in the summer at Norman B. Leventhal Park, Post Office Square, Boston, and he’s also with the famous Wolverine Jazz Band. Rick maintains the chords – sometimes pushing the band, sometimes playing melody as in I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter.

Rick sitting with tuba between his knees

Rick MacWilliams

This is Parisian Michel Lavigniac’s 36th year with the Bourbon St. Paraders. We’ve been listening to him for over 25. His solo of The World Is Waiting For the Sunrise was a resonating approach to the end of this cruise.

Our journey always ends with the Viking easing back into Onset Harbor with everyone clapping and singing to The Saints.

August 31^st was the Bourbon Street Paraders’ last cruise on the Viking for this year. They’ll be back next summer, from the last week of June to Labor Day 2015. See you there?

Wolverine Jazz Band at the Sherborn Inn, April 29, 2014

Posted on May 9, 2014 by admin

Wolverine Jazz Band

Jeff Hughes cornet, John Clark clarinet/bari sax, Tom Boates trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Ross Petot piano, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums

The Wolverines are busy – new CD out anytime soon, and preparing for their trips to Festivals and their regular summer venues. They’ve been invited to the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival in Essex, CT, America’s Dixieland Jazz Festival in Olympia, WA, Arizona Classic Jazz Fest.

They will be busy locally this summer: June 1, Melrose (noon-4); July 9 – Willows at Westboro; July 29 – Southgate at Shrewsbury; July 30 – Sherborn Center; August 20 – Norwood; August 21 – Natick Senior Center

All stellar Jazzmen who invoke the spirit of New Orleans Jazz, we are fortunate that they rehearse with us at the Sherborn Inn! They began with a new song that will be on the CD coming out the end of this month – Dear Old Girl – for the sentimental Irish.

Jeff Hughes

Savoy Blues, Jeff raucous on 1954 Long Model, “K-Modified” Selmer cornet, and being Bix Beiderbecke on There’ll Come a Time. He’s an expert on many famous cornetist and trumpeters, and is known for always wearing a hat.

Jimmy Mazzy

We have many Jimmy Mazzy vocals, Al Jolson’s California Hear I Come, T’Ain’t So, Jelly Roll Morton’s Sweet Substitute, with Jeff comping, more below.

Dave Didriksen

This was the 115th anniversary of Duke Ellington’s birthday, so naturally there were some Duke’s: Sweet Mama (they haven’t played before).

1929 Cotton Club, Duke’s, Digga Digga Do let Dave Didriksen go on drums.

Jimmy volcal on Al Jolson’s California Here I Come, backed by bari sax, drum rim-tapping behind him. Pre-Cotton Club Creole Love Call – Jimmy whistling the Adelaide Hall riff. A tune Paramount Jazz Band did, and always messed up the beginning: Who Wouldn’t Love You? The Wolverines don’t mess up.

Ory’s Creole Trombone

Tom was featured on Ory’s Creole Trombone. Magnificent!

Rick MacWilliams hidden behind tuba

King Oliver recorded Olga in 1930 on Victor, Rick recreating the tuba solo, great New Orleans polyphony by front line. This is a song that nobody ever plays.

Panama is one of our favorite Ragtime Marches, Jimmy Scatting, John Clark on that monster baritone saxophone.

Ross was featured with the Trio on a more modern tune, In a MellowTone, stride piano giving it a Ragtime feel, joined by Jeff on cornet at close.

A no-holds-barred rendition of Sunset Café Stomp had all the feet tapping. The first tune John Clark ever heard that captivated him and moved him toward Traditional Jazz was Mugsy Spanier^‘s I’m Sorry I Made You Cry. Mood Indigo, Clark on low register clarinet, Jim vocal, soft muted trombone and cornet. They hit all our favorites! They closed with a Spanish beat on Oriental Man.

Look above for all the places this marvelous Traditional Jazz Band will be playing this year. Also check our calendars, and get on John Clark’s email list: jazzbnd@aol.com He sends out email updates once a month to everyone on his list.

Wolverine Jazz Band at the Sherborn Inn March 11, 2014

Posted on March 11, 2014 by admin

Wolverine Jazz Band

Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark leader/clarinet/bari sax/vocal, Tom Boates trombone/vocal, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Ross Petot piano, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums

The Wolverines are busy preparing for their trips to Festivals and their regular summer venues. They’ve been invited to the Hot Steamed in Essex, CT, America’s Dixieland Jazz Festival in Olympia, WA, Arizona Classic Jazz Fest. They rehearse with us at the Sherborn Inn – how fortunate is that??

However, St. Patrick’s Day was approaching, so instead of their theme song, they kicked it off with an popular tune – Wearing of the Green, a song about the Irish rebellion of 1798.

We had special guests up from Connecticut – their first time here – Jean Hadley, Joan Boutelle , and friend/driver Angie. Thanks for coming folks!!

Inspired by one another, the Wolverines play incredible Dixieland, Satanic Blues, John Clark already on baritone sax, Tom Boates growling trombone. Smokin’!

They tried out new tunes, preparing for their next CD, creating arrangements as they played them. “Some mighty fine guesses going on here.” Chimes Blues will be on their new album, Ross Petot playing chimes on piano.

Jeff Hughes watches Ross Petot play fantastic piano

Jeff Hughes watches Ross Petot play amazing stride piano

We’re always ready for a Jimmy Mazzy vocal, and there were many: T’aint So. (Yes, ‘tis!) Come Rain or Come Shine. Lonny Johnson’s Tomorrow Night, a 1920’s tune that changed over the years from the 40’s to 50’s Rock & Roll; even Elvis recorded it. Jimmy’s special ballad, After You’ve Gone with Jeff soft trumpet behind him; Rick MacWilliams majestic tuba solo. Sound of the Wanderer, a 1920’s tune that featured Helen Hughes, incredible interplay between trumpet and trombone.

Sunset Cafe Stomp was a Charleston. It was named after the Sunset Cafe, also known as The Grand Terrace Cafe, a jazz club in Chicago in the 20’s to 40’s.
Recorded by Louis Armstrong:
“Gentlemen, ladies too
Push ’em round n round
They loose their head
They’ll drop dead …. doing the Sunset Stomp.”

Tom Boates and Jim Mazzy

Eubie Blakes Memories of You sweet Clark clarinet feature, Tom on muted trombone.

Tom Boates set sparks flying on Snake Rag!

Zero by Santo Pecora, New Orleans trombonist was HOT!

John Clark finds his voice

From their latest CD, a fun tune, Egyptian Ella, with John Clark vocal.

Jeff Hughes, trumpet

This band never disappoints! They showed what a good band can do. There were many more great tunes.

They closed with a big hit at all the festivals, Dinah, Jeff Hughes’ sharp trumpet intro with banjo riffs, gave Dave Didriksen a chance to let go on drums; it was so hot it triggered the famous Jimmy Mazzy shout!

Hot Band!

They’re more than ready for the upcoming festivals. We don’t mind sharing them. You can even Hire them. They’ll be back here again on April 29^th and June 14^th (for those of you keeping track.) Folks come from all over; Marilyn will probably be driving from down Maine.

Hope to see you here! Sherborn Inn, 33 N. Main Street, (inters. of Rts. 16 & 27) Sherborn, MA Reservations: (508) 655-9521 or info@sherborninn.com. Please make a reservation – the Wolverines tend to fill up the room.

Marce

Bourbon Street Paraders on Hy-Line’s Cape Cod Canal Jazz Boat

Posted on September 1, 2013 by admin

Tuba, banjo, and clarinet players under the Bourne Bridge

Bourbon Street Paraders on the Cape Cod Jazz Boat. Rick MacWilliams, Michel Lavigniac, Paul Nossiter.

by Marce

September 1, 2013, Final Bourbon Street Paraders Jazz Cruise for this year

It was a cloudy day – Hy-Line’s Jazz Boat was docked at Onset Harbor waiting for the Jazz Fans. Last week they were sold out. This was Labor Day Weekend, there should have been more of a crowd – but the weathermen put a damper on it threatening thunder showers and lightening,

The Viking left late – 1:45pm, waiting for stragglers. Jazz can’t begin until the boat has left the harbor – neighbors don’t appreciate our music. Finally the Viking pulled away from the dock, and The Bourbon Street Paraders started their final cruise of the 33rd season with Bourbon Street Parade, of course.

The Trio took a joyous romp through Hello Central, Give Me Dr. Jazz. If I Had You, tuba playing sweet melody – Rick plays the melody on the tuba on almost every song. The sounds he gets out of that monstrous instrument, with only 4 keys, are amazing.

Michel’s 4-string Gold Star Banjo

The Flying Frenchman, Michel Lavigniac leads the Trio and keeps impeccable time on 4-string banjo. It was a 5-string Gold Star banjo, but he removed one of the strings.

Paul Nossiter has taken over reeds from the late Lee Childs. Paul took the intro to My Gal Sal, upbeat, lilting clarinet, folks up front dancing. Fats Waller’s Ain’t Misbehaving. Passing the Military Academy they played a Fats Waller-Louis Armstrong 1929 big hit, Black & Blue, banjo playing the verse – Michel makes every note count, no hysterics up and down the strings.

Railroad Bridge over the Cape Cod Canal

Passing under the Cape Cod Canal’s Railroad bridge, Found a New Baby, clarinet trading 4s with banjo.

Nossiter was singing Baby Won’t You Please Come Home as the boat sailed under the Bourne Bridge, and went wild on clarinet with Running Wild.

The Viking turned around at the Herring Run, with Michel featured on Avalon, and then they played a barn-burning Indiana. Ernie and his son Joey have been sitting in the front seat every week for 6 years. Ernie plays piano and has a nice voice, so Paul gave him the mic for I’m Going To Sit right down and Write Myself a Letter, fabulous banjo, backed by soft tuba.

They played a medley of Blues My Sweetie Gives to Me, and Everybody Loves My Baby. Reminiscent of New Orleans funerals they featured Closer Walk and Didn’t He Ramble, then moved to When I Grow Too Old To Dream. (Never happen!) At my request – Lime House Blues, complete with verse.

In honor of the last cruise of the season, Bye Bye Blues, and Bye Bye Blackbird. Passing the Maritime Academy we could see their ship, The Kennedy, docked at pier and the tug boat Independence.

passing the Maritime Militry Adademy

Maritime Academy’s Ship, The Kennedy

Another nostalgic blues, Basin St. Blues, clarinet playing warm, melodic lines, ending in a clarinet coda. They took off on Pee Wee’s Blues, written by clarinetist Pee Wee Russell. (He was called Pee Wee because he was so tall!)

Closing in on the dock, When You’re Smiling Paul in low register clarinet for first chorus, slipped in a bit of Swanee River. Farewell Blues. Banjo intro to When The Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day. Only two people knew who Bing Crosby was.

They always finish with When The Saints Go Marching In, as the Viking pulls into the Harbor. Everyone on the boat joins in. That’s Joey’s cue to get up and dance for the last few minutes left of the Sunday Cape Cod Jazz Cruise. A lady in the front row joined him.

No thunderstorms, no rain, great Jazz! We’ll all be back next year, on the last week of June, 2014, for another cruise up and down the Cape Cod Canal with the Bourbon Street Paraders. Hope to see you there!!

New England Traditional Jazz Plus

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