Tag Archives: Riverboat Stompers

Riverboat Stompers at Primavera May 30, 2019

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Neil Flewelling/cornet, Phil Hower piano, Dave MacMillan banjo, Blair Bettencourt clarinet/mini sax, Frank Batchelor trombone, Gerry Gagnon tuba, Rich Malcolm drums

by Marce

Riverboat Stompers blew the roof off  Primavera Ristorante, playing Our Kind Of Music – Traditional Jazz!  They don’t waste any time –  play one tune after another, many, many great tunes! (See list below.)    Neil Flewelling, cornet,   Gerry Gagnon on tuba,  Dave MacMillan filling in for Jimmy Mazzy, singing and strumming a fine banjo.

They hit the ground running with Darktown Strutters Ball.  Neil sang When You’re Smiling, Rich Malcolm keeping time – drumming with his hands.  Avalon was even Hotter, ensemble parts twining around each other.  Dave took the vocal on From Monday On.

Blair is a very large man, fine musician, here playing a mini-sax. He featured on clarinet.

Blair Bettencourt

 

Blair Bettencourt has a wonderfully relaxed style on clarinet and mini sax, playing warm and vibrant tones on both instruments.  He’s never been in this band before, but he’s been around for over 30 years and knows the music. He listened and focused on the tunes, playing amazing solos.  It was a pleasure to hear him again.

 

Frank using hand for mute on trombone

Frank Batchelor

 

 

There Are Smiles that Make Us Happy, tuba playing 4/4 time, Blair Bettencourt on mini-sax.
Frank Batchelor playing  trombone with flawless, earthy, intonation, used his hand as a mute.

 

 

 

Pretty Baby is on their new CD – see below.

Neil playing cornet with Malcolm on drums behind him

Neil Flewelling and Rich Malcolm

 

Neil Flewelling, leader pro-temp in the absence of Steve Straus, directed the musicians, played melody on cornet and sang his heart  out with  All of Me, the band segueing into Five Foot Two.

 

 

 

 

 

Gerry Gagnon on tuba

Gerry Gagnon

 

 

 

Marvelous ensemble on My Blue Heaven, with Gerry showing his stuff on tuba, playing straight four / four beat without taking a breath, giving the band energy and drive.

 

 

 

 

Phil Hower at keyboard, smiling as he turns pages

Phil Hower

 

 

Phil is constantly playing keyboard  in the background; keeping everyone on their toes.

 

 

 

 Exactly Like You, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Neil vocal.

 

Valentina Cass in Blue sweater.

Tina Cass

This turned  into a Happy Birthday tune for Tina Cass, whose birthday was Sunday.  She and Ralph are heading for Canada and will return in five weeks.  We’ll miss them.  They are always sitting front and center, inspiring the band.

 

 

 

The Riverboat Stompers  continued with New Orleans tunes that we all love, Down To  New Orleans segueing to Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans.   Then showing us what it was like in N. O.  with Struttin’ With Some Barbecue. 

playing banjo and singing

Dave MacMillan

 

Way Down Yonder in New Orleans – Dave MacMillan playing around in falsetto voice.  Fun!

He knows innumerable old tunes and sang many, including Sunny Side of the Street, From Monday On, There are Smiles. 

 

 

 

Rosetta:

 

Bourbon St. Parade  was a Barn Raiser! Blair letting himself go on clarinet, pushed by Rich Malcolm’s drums.

Rich on drums almost blotted out by music stand

Richard Malcolm

 

 

 

Rich is a rare treasure.  No slam-banging, showing off.   He kept it simple, keeping them in proper time, with subtle tapping on snare drum, rims, hi hat.

 

 

We couldn’t believe it was almost over.  Where did the time go??  Neil said they would close with a Rap song.   We waited apprehensively –

until he came up with Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams.
We will – until they return on  September 12th.   Come join us – guarantee you will be exhilarated!!

Tunes:
Darktown Strutters Ball
Found a New Baby
When You’re Smiling
Sunny Side of the Street
Avalon
Ain’t Misbehaving
From Monday On
Pretty Baby
Smiles
Rosetta
All of Me
My Blue Heaven
Exactly Like You
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
Happy Birthday to Tina Cass
Down To New Orleans
Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
Strutting With Some Barbecue
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans (cut short)
Bourbon St. Parade
Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams.

*          *          *
CD
Get their new Audio CD – just out – and It’s About Time.
— That’s the Name of the CD!
from:   Steve Straus – stephen.straus@comcast.net

Riverboat Stompers at Primavera Ristorante November 27, 2018

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Riverboat Stompers

Frank Batchelor trombone, Neil Flewelling cornet, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals,  Phil Hower piano, Gerry Gagnon tuba, Rich Malcolm drums.  We heard fantastic, Toe Tapping Traditional Jazz, with just a short break from beginning to end!

Frank and Neil shared leadership because Steve Strauss was unable to be here.  We missed his clarinet and jovial repartee.
There were no announcements.  Before each tune, Neil and Frank spent about a minute discussing keys and tempos with the rest of the band, and then, except for one short break, played solid, Classic Jazz from 7 to 9:30pm.

The hot sounds of the jazz age came alive as soon as they hit the first note in Original Dixieland One Step.

singing and playing banjo

Jimmy Mazzy

 

The inimitable Jimmy Mazzy singing and scatting many songs, Somebody Stole My Gal, introducing Sweet Lorraine, It’s a Sin To Tell a Lie,  Blue Turning Grey Over You, and more.

Jimmy will be honored as the 2019 American Banjo Museum’s Hall of Fame inductee in the category of Performance, 4 string Banjo. Hall of Fame ceremonies are held the weekend following Labor Day each year, as part of the ABM’s Banjofest weekend. He is definitely an asset in many bands!!

 

Neil singing

Neil Flewelling

 

 

Cornetist Neil Flewelling took over vocal for I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.

Neil drove two hours to get here, stopping on the way to pick up Marce.  A dedicated musician, he shared the lead with Frank. Neil plays cornet with  passion and emotion coming through his horn, inspiring others to play better.

 

 

The band played livewire ensemble. Rose of Washington Square.  Someday Sweetheart. One of Neil’s favorites – Sleepy Time Down South.  Bei Mir Bis Du Schoen.  Floating Down to Cottontown.  Muskrat Ramble was a barn burner!!

playing enormous tuba

Gerry Gagnon

 

 

Pierre Lemieux was unable to be here.  His enormous footprint was filled by Gerry Gagnon, who transforms the ungainly horn into a viable solo instrument.  He plays in the Boilermaker Jazz Band, Blue Horizon Jazz Band, and more.  He let loose on that monstrous tuba starting with Coney Island Washboard Roundolay.

 

 

playing very sparse drumset

Rich Malcolm

 

Rich Malcolm, staff member at Berklee College of Music, knows Trad Jazz drums, a rare treasure.  He kept it simple, maintaining that beat, keeping them in proper time, with subtle tapping on snare drum, rims, hi hat.  Backing vocals and solos, he only used a soft, discreet hi hat.   He let loose on Coney Island Washboard, Somebody Stole My Gal.

 

looking intently at keyboard

Phil Hower

 

 

Phil Hower offers suggestions on keys and more, relentlessly listening to the other members of the band.  He shrewdly enhances or complements each one, and plays inspiring solos of his own.  it was all great Jazz.

 

 

 

Frank Batchelor stood guard in the band, discussing the next tune, listening to suggestions..  Generally they started with a duet,  Neil on cornet, with Frank playing riffs and  embellishment behind him.  Then each took a solo, and nodded at whoever would play next.  Each musician is a Jazz Titan in his own right, so there was no hesitating.  They generously supported each other without interrupting and stirred up some Fantastic Traditional Jazz!!

Frank Batchellor and Neil Flewelling lead the band,

 

Louisiana Fairytale was on their list.  But they chose If I Had You, eerily similar, which was far down on the list.   There just wasn’t enough time to do all the tunes.   Jimmy took the vocal.  Worked out fine.

The Band backs Jimmy on Somebody Stole My Gal. full 6-pc band playing great Jazz

 

The evening was coming to a close; we wished there was more time!!
Neil closed out this evening of great Jazz, singing Ain’t She Sweet.

They will be back!!  Join us next year on January 31 and March 14.  You’ll hear some fantastic Traditional Jazz!  The Riverboat Stompers never disappoint.

Riverboat Stompers at Primavera September 14, 2017

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Steve Straus leader/clarinet, Neil Flewellen cornet, Frank Batchelor trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Phil Hower piano, Pierre Lemieux tuba, Rich MacMillan drums.

7 piece Trad Jazz Band

Riverboat Stompers

The Riverboat Stompers are a seven-piece ensemble specializing in Traditional and Dixieland Jazz of the 20’s to 40’s. Members of this band come from towns all over Eastern New England.  They mix old New Orleans music from the 20’s with tunes from the ‘recent’ 60’s.  They obviously love this music – they’ve dedicated their lives to it.

They kicked it off with livewire ensemble on Struttin’ With Some Barbecue.  This is fine New Orleans jazz, with cornet, trombone and clarinet against a four-piece rhythm section.

Jimmy Mazzy sat in on banjo singing many of his inimitable vocals, starting with From Monday On.

siting, passionately playing clarinet

Steve Straus

 

Steve Straus leads this rambunctious band on clarinet with amiable, good-natured humor.  There is great passion and intensity in his clarinet playing.  He sang several songs, especially adding drama to Ace In The Hole.

 

 

 

sitting, playing cornet

Neil Flewellen

 

 

Neil Lewelling was featured on Sleepy Time Down South. He plays a 60’s Getsen cornet, beautiful rich tone, playing spontaneous improvisations, with admirable technique and solos that move lightly from phrase to phrase.

 

 

 

 

Frank standing, playing trombone

Frank Batchelor

 

 

Frank’s trombone sound is deep and lush, and melodic and mellow when using several mutes.  One of his favorites is a Fats Waller tune played by The Paris Washboard – Our Love Was Meant To Be.  They played it with only four players – trombone, tuba, piano and drum.

 

 

 

Phil on keyboard

Phil Hower

 

Phil’s playing offers just the right chords behind all the soloists.  Phil Hower’s heroes are the great stride pianists of the 1920’s and ’30’s, and he does his utmost to emulate their technique and style.  When the band took its first break – after playing for an hour and a half, he sat by himself playing I Love a Piano!

 

 

 

Jimmy Mazzy

 

 

Jimmy Mazzy’s soul-warming vocals are encouraged; he really gets his head around the lyrics.  The band kept him busy – check out the list of tunes below to see how many he sang.

 

 

 

Pierre playing large tuba

Pierre Lemieux

 

 

 

Pierre LeMieux was back after a lengthy absence.  He plays bass lines on tuba and extends that by turning the monstrous horn into a viable solo instrument.  He videotaped the whole evening, and we hope to get some of them later.

 

 

on minimal drums, bass and snare, 3 cymbals

Rich MacMillan

 

You feel the rhythm rather than hear the drum beats by Rich Malcom.  He is a knowledgeable Dixieland Jazz drummer and maintains that essential Trad beat.  His unique moves highlight the structure of the music by changing color, density, and dynamics on a minimal drum set.  He sometimes softens reverberation by drumming with his hands!

 

 

The Riverboat Stompers closed with a rowdy Wang Wang Blues, then softly segued into ¾ time with  ‘Till We Meet Again.  They are wonderful and dynamic musicians, fun to watch and great to listen to.  They inspire one another; you can easily tell this is the music they cherish.  So do we, and sincerely hope to hear them again!
http://www.riverboatstompers.com

TUNES:

Struttin’ With Some Barbecue
From Monday On, Jimmy
Putting on The Ritz, Steve
Sweet Sue, Jimmy
My Blue Heaven, Neil
Downtown Strutters Ball, Jimmy
Rosetta, Jimmy
Do What Ory Say, Jimmy
Beale St. Blues,  Jimmy
Lady Be Good, Jimmy
Exactly Like You, Jimmy
Ace in The Hole, Steve
Sunny Side of the Street
Our Love Was Meant To Be
Wang Wang Blues
‘Till We Meet Again