The Ramblers at Primavera Ristorante October 29, 2015

Posted on October 31, 2015 by admin

4-pc Trad Band, banjo, keyboard keeping beat, clarinet, cornet/flugelhorn front line

The Ramblers – Bob MacInnis, Craig Ball, Scott Philbrick, Robin Verdier, leader.

The Ramblers made their first appearance at Primavera Ristorante, and we’re hoping they will return in 2016. This rambunctious quartet doesn’t play slow tunes – they played the music that had the Tin Pan Alley kids dancing in the 20’s and 30’s. (The Charleston started a new dance craze in 1923.) This quartet played a plethora of early Jazz from 1917 to 1929; their Traditional and Dixieland Jazz connected and inspired the audience.

Craig Ball, clarinet

Craig ball was able to shine with his expertise on clarinet, standing front and center. He usually keeps to the right or left of the band, backing the soloists.

Limehouse (1922)

When My Baby Smiles at Me was played by Benny Goodman at his 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert, a tribute to the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

Robin Verdier, leader

Leader/Arranger Robin Verdier, a Jelly Roll Morton devotee, is our own erudite Rag Time pianist, well versed in this music. He is better known for his Monte Carlo Jazz Ensemble that was here in August. He played some wild stride piano on Tiger Rag! Let Me Call You Sweetheart was definitely not a waltz!

Robin’s piano and Scott’s banjo were in sync, keeping the beat for the front line of clarinet and cornet/flugelhorn.

Scott Philbrick usually plays cornet.

This is the first time we’ve ever heard cornetist Scott Philbrick play banjo all evening, and he was fabulous singing the 1920 Broadway Rose. Who knew he could sing??
Scott will be on cornet with Jane Campedelli’s Jubilee Jazz Band at the 25^th Anniversary of the Suncoast Jazz Jubilee coming up November 20 to 22 in Clearwater.

Running Wild (Miserable video – just shut your eyes and listen!)

Bob MacInnis ensures we hear the melody!

Bob MacInnis always maintains the melody on cornet. He’s been playing with bands all over New England all summer, and we’re lucky to have him for another couple of weeks before he heads to Florida for the winter.

He took out the flugelhorn for several numbers, Al Jolson’s 1921 California Here I Come, Con Conrad’s Moonlight.

San Francisco Bay Blues (first recorded in 1954) was really modern for this band!

Their music touches the heart and spirit; the audience loved every minute of it! We’re all hoping to hear more from The Ramblers next year!

(Any resemblance to a band that plays all summer at a New Hampshire amusement park is purely coincidental.)

Tunes:
Set 1
When My Baby Smiles At Me, Munro, Sterling & Lewis, 1920
The Curse Of An Aching Heart, Piantadosi & Fink, 1913
My Honey’s Lovin’ Arms, Meyer, 1922
Down Where The Sun Goes Down, I. Jones & Buck, 1928
Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Whitson, 1910
Limehouse Blues, Braham, 1922
Broadway Rose, Fried, Otis, & West, 1920
California, Here I Come, Meyer & DeSylva, 1921
Moonlight, Conrad, 1921

Set 2
Charleston, Johnson, 1923
Smiles, Roberts & Callahan, 1917
Varsity Drag, Brown, DeSylva, & Henderson, 1927
San Francisco Bay Blues, Jesse Fuller 1954
Sweet Sue, Young & Harris, 1928
My Gal Sal, Dresser, 1905
Some Of These Days, Brooks, 1910
You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me, Fain, Kahal, & Norman, 1930
Runnin’ Wild, (Bb) Gibbs, Gray, & Wood, 1922

Set 3
Tiger Rag, 19th century quadrille
When You’re Smiling, Goodwin, Fisher & Shay, 1928

Jeff and Joel’s House Party 2015 – Saturday Evening

Posted on October 10, 2015 by admin

Completed videos have been sent to musicians for approval and will appear here as they are received. Some of these pictures will disappear. Enjoy for now.

——–> Friday Saturday Afternoon Sunday

After a delicious Dinner Buffet the first Saturday Evening band was led by Gordon Au, with Jim Fryer, Jim Lawlor, Dan Levinson on clarinet, Genevieve Rose on string bass, and Jeff Barnhart on piano. They began with a HOT Buddy’s Habits.

Band One led by Gordon Au, Saturday Evening at Jeff & Joel’s House Party, 2015

Same crew, Dan Levinson in charge, a 1922 tune played by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, Nobody’s Sweetheart Now. This is a Banjorama tune – Joel couldn’t help but come up to sing the melody.

Don Trenner traded places with Jeff, but before he could start, Dan Levinson pointed his clarinet at Donn and singlehandedly played Thanks For The Memories, in commemoration of all the years Donn played with Bob Hope.

Honeysuckle Rose – Fryer gets to sing

Scott and Noel played together in John Sheehan's

Scott and Noel played together for years in John Sheehan’s Heritage Jazz Band.

Change of crew – Noel Kalesky, Kevin Dorn, Scott Philbrick, Brian Nalepka and Jeff, The Things We Did Last Summer. Masterful duet between Scott and Noel. They’ve been friends for a long time.

Donn Trenner back, with Noel Kaletsky and Scott Philbrick with a rousing Lady be Good,

Dan Levinson on his fabulous tenor sax, Gordon Au, Tom Boates, Donn Trenner, Brian Nalepks, and Molly Ryan were up with Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams

Molly Ryan captures the crowd with Wrap Your Trouble in Dreams

Gordon continued with Molly singing Ain’t She Sweet, with Dan, Gen, Brian, and Donn. Gen on string bass marvelously trading 4’s with Donn Trenner.

Pianists kept switching with Jeff replacing Donn for Molly’s sweet Sugar.

Molly and Jeff were left alone for Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered.

Jim Fryer dedicates Easy Living to Connecticut

Jim Fryer has a Connecticut background, living in Wallingford for 12 years. He came up with Gen, Kevin, and Donn for Billie Holidays’ Easy Living. Jim dedicated it to the State of Connecticut.

Mood Indigo – Tom Boates and Jim Fryer

Scott and Noel, a tune they often played in Maine with Muriel Havenstein, Jeff and Brian joining them, for Swing That Music – Barnhart going WILD on keyboard!!

They do Swing That Music!!

Brian Nalepka is also an excellent vocalist.

Brian’s turn to lead, with his vocal, on Linger Awhile, with Tom Boates added on trombone.

Gotta give the boss his due – Joel on vocal with Scott, Noel, Tom, Jeff, Jim Lawlor – with a Father’s Mustache Honky Tonk Town..

Boss gets his chance to shine.

Gordon Au on trumpet, Scott, Molly and Tom Boates on guitar, for 3-guitar session on I’ve Got The World On a String.

Donn returned at piano for Exactly Like You with Fryer, Gordon, Dan, Molly on guitar, and Lawlor drums. Dorothy Fields did this with Jimmy McHugh in 1935, Lawlor vocal. Gordon played powerful trumpet, Gen couldn’t help bouncing with the rhythm. She and Dan had marvelous exchange on clarinet and string bass.

Lawlor plays drums and sings Exactly Like You

Lawlor sings too!

Molly

Kevin, Gordon, Fryer, Dan, Gen, Donn with Molly vocal on Meet Me Tonight Dreamland – 1909. The song came from Coney Island which was then only attended by the wealthy, hence “Dreamland”. It had very many lights. One night they caught fire and the place burned down.

Everyone left except Molly, Gen, and Donn for You Took Advantage of Me.

You Took Advantage of Me with Donn Trenner backing Molly

Molly took a break. Leaving the Trio, with Gen shining on string bass, Kevin drums, and Donn piano on Sunny Side of The Street.

Bogalusa Strut, with Gordon, Scotty, Noel, Dan on tenor sax, Boates, Fryer on euphonium, Barnhart and Lawler, with Joel sitting in, Nalepka tuba – euphonium and tuba duet! Superb drumming by Lawlor! The whole band joined in singing New Orleans.

Barnhart standing with arms folded looking at brass musicians.

Barnhart stunned by all that brass!

Clarinet duet, Dan and Noel, with Lawlor, Scott on guitar, Joel, Brian on string bass, Jeff on Avalon

Amazing clarinet duet on Avalon with Dan Levinson and Noel Kaletsky

Noel, Jeff, and Jim Lawlor continued with a wild fast tempo tune done by Wild Bill misguidedly named Sleep.

Time for Jeff’s Banjorama, with Joel, Kevin, Brian on tuba, Jeff, When Day is Done, Sweet Adeline, and many, many more, with all the fans and volunteers singing along. Your Fathers Mustache banjo players came from North Carolina and Christ Fennimore (left) came from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to join Joel. Fans and Volunteers joined heartily in the sing-along.

band members laughing as Joel leads fans in song

Everyone gets in on the act for the Banjorama

Donn Trenner back for Molly Ryan vocal on Jeepers Creepers, with Gen, Kevin, Gordon, Tom Boates, Scott on guitar. Dan on tenor sax. Fantastic.

Molly, Jeff, Gen, Tom, Kevin, Scotty still on guitar, I Ain’t Got Nobody. Growling trombone, Hot Stuff. Molly doing vocal duet with Jeff piano.
Time for a slow waltz. This was not on the list. Molly vocal, Dan, Gen, Jeff, Kevin, Hushaby Mountain. Nice piano and Molly vocal, Gen bowing the bass, Dan on tenor sax. Ended the way it started, with piano and vocal.

Lawlor back, Noel on clarinet, Nalepka tuba, Scott on cornet, Gordon trumpet, Jim Fryer, Jeff. I Ain’t Got Nobody.

Gordon and Scott battling on I Ain’t Got Nobody

Scotty cornet and Noel clarinet absolutely fantastic, Gordon and Fryer, trumpet and trombone trading, 4’s for Lu Waters’ Come Back Sweet Poppa.

The Au Brothers were raised on Lu Waters by their uncle, Howard Miatta, who plays with the High Sierra Jazz Band. Our guys continued with a stormy version of Struttin’ With Some Barbecue.

There was time for one more ‘classy’ tune with a small ensemble, before the final fiasco. Donn Trenner called for Duke’s A Train, Donn in constant, fluid, rhythmic motion. Absolutely beautiful! This man loves to play piano.

Gordon ended it as he had begun, leading the Finale, a rip roaring Panama!

Everyone up for Panama

Breathless. That’s how we were left this Saturday Evening of Jeff and Joel’s House Party! Yet there was more coming on Sunday……

The Ramblers at Primavera Ristorante, October 29th

Posted on August 23, 2015 by admin

The Ramblers play Dixieland and Hot Dance music from the Roaring Twenties, including tunes composed by Tin Pan Alley giants like Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, and Isham Jones. They will be playing on October 29 at Primavera, 20 Pleasant Street, Millis, MA. For this performance, the musicians are Craig Ball, reeds; Bob MacInnis, trumpet and flugelhorn; Scott Philbrick, banjo and trumpet; and Robin Verdier, keyboard.

Craig Ball clarinet, tenor sax

Bob MacInnis

Robin Verdier, keyboard

Scott Philbrick on banjo/trumpet

Go to https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2btM6-mr-udMENvMmFyNzRwbWs to hear their unique sound on Al Jolson’s big hit,California, Here I Come.

Bill Reynolds’ Back Bay Ramblers at Primavera Ristorante, April 9, 2015

Posted on April 15, 2015 by admin

7 pc trad jazz band, with guitar and 2 reeds

Bill Reynolds’ Back Back Ramblers

Mike Peipman trumpet, John Clark clarinet/alto, tenor, and baritone sax, Billy Novick clarinet/alto sax, Dan Gabel Trombone, Scott Philbrick guitar, Herb Gardner keyboard, Stu Gunn tuba/string bass, Nancy McGhee vocals, Bill Reynolds leader/drums.

Back Bay Ramblers are the result of the late Ed Reynolds dream. He created a great Traditional Jazz Band in the 1980’s that would record the rarely heard tunes of the 1920’s. Ed passed in 2014 at age 90. (More about Ed and his band below.)

His son, drummer Bill Reynolds, promised him he would continue the Back Bay Ramblers. Ed would be proud of the band that Bill has meticulously created; it is absolutely outstanding!! (He added tuxedos for class par excellence.) Most of these talented musicians lead bands of their own. This band uses structured arrangements, as did the larger earlier bands.

In New Orleans Traditional Jazz Bands were all improvisation, with emphasis on musicians’ solos. But as the music spread northward in the 20’s and 30’s, the bands grew larger to play in bigger rooms around the country, in restaurants and hotels in Chicago, Detroit. Their music became Hot Tunes, they played to larger dancing crowds. This obviously made written arrangements necessary, with tight sections playing in syncopation. The music was written and arranged so they could play together, sometimes on the same note, sometimes in harmony. It’s a balance of simplicity and complexity.

Tonight’s Back Bay Ramblers began with a tom-tom drum beat intro to Dream Sweetheart, words and music by Bud Green, 1932. Bill Reynolds has made this their theme song.

Nancy McGhee

They continued with Daddy, Won’t You Please Come Home, introducing the lovely and talented Nancy McGhee (who happens to be Bill’s cousin).
She is a classically trained vocalist. She graduated from Berklee and then went to the New England Conservaory. She is currently choral director at Lawrence High School

She continued with a tune written by Walter Donaldson and sung by The Boswell Sisters in 1931, An Evening in Caroline. It starts slowly with two clarinets, backed by guitar, then the brass comes in and it jumps up into two-beat barn burner!

Dan Gabel trombone, Mike Peipman trumpet, Bill Reynolds drums

Structured arrangements mean many rehearsals. Billy Novick and John Clark were familiar with the Back Bay Ramblers Book, but Dan and Mike were not. This was especially difficult for Mike, who was home in Australia at the time they were rehearsing and missed all but the last full band rehearsal. Mike and Dan played spectacular solos, and representing the brass section of a big band, they nailed it!

1929 Little by Little, four piece front line, nice exchange between Billy on clarinet and Scott’s guitar. A great Tiny Parham tune, Congo Love Song, played by two mellow alto saxes, and a vivid Congo drum beat.

Nancy was back with Top of The Town a 1937 Jimmy McHugh tune made for the movie of the same name. McHugh was a Boston native. His songs had an infectiously swinging quality that instantly endeared them to the listener. Perfect for Nancy.

The Ramblers used arrangements from various people. Cho King, a tune by Sonny Clay was arranged by Robin Verdier.

Scott Philbrick

The 1919 Alcoholic Blues was written by Edward Laska with music by Albert Von Tilzer. (Tilzer also wrote Take Me Out To The Ball Game in 1908.)

Some of these tunes the Ramblers played were written for guitar, others for banjo. Scott and Stu stayed in sync. Scott switched between guitar and banjo. When Stu Gunn played string bass, Scott played guitar. When he played tuba, Scott played banjo.

Scott is like vanilla extract in a cake; you can’t taste it when it’s there, but you know when it’s left out.

Marvelous bass man, Stu Gunn

Stalwart Stu Gunn instinctively moves from string bass to tuba, playing chords that maintain that very essential Traditional Jazz beat.

When he isn’t playing in a Jazz Band, you’ll find him playing classical music in several local symphonies.

Nancy returned with I Have to Have You, backed by soft trumpet; and one of Bill’s favorites, a Bob Connors arrangement, That Wonderful Something (is Love).

For those who don’t know Bob Connors, he led a marvelous band in the 1970’s, The Yankee Rhythm Kings; they excelled at Lu Watters two-beat California jazz. Bob was the original leader of The Back Bay Ramblers. Their book has 121 arrangements; Connors wrote 91 of them.

He and his wife now live in Florida. He’s retired from music, but keeps busy restoring archived movies and silent films. If you’re interested in movie history, he has a vast collection of rare films that you won’t find anywhere else.

A Bennie Moten tune, That Too, Do had audience participation and everyone in the band responding “Yeah” and “Right”; another Bob Connors arrangement.

Herb Gardner

Herb Gardner was invaluable, transitioning the musicians from one section to another and offering just the right chords behind soloists.

He’s been the pianist-in-residence here at Primavera, playing with numerous bands on piano, trombone and vocals.

Mike Peipman is originally from Australia

Bill did the tom tom drum intro to their newest tune – 1951 – the Australian Nullabor. Robin Verdier’s Monte Carlo Jazz Ensemble plays this all the time.

Mike says it means ‘flat plain with no trees’ – “null arbor”? It may have come from the Australian aborigines, with heavy drum accents.

Bill Reynolds, leader

Bill’s drum continued the beat into ‘Leven Thirty Saturday Night. This was a Frank Powers arrangement – he was a reed player from Chicago who did many arrangements for Ed’s band.

It is also the name of one of the albums that Ed Reynold’s original Back Bay Ramblers recorded for Bob Erdo’s Stomp Off Records. Some are still available. (See below) All of the tunes played today came from these CDs.

Vocalist singing and pointing at the audience

Nancy is crazy about her man.

Nancy was back for Dreaming About My Man. She really feels the words and puts heart and soul into her singing.

Fat’s Waller’s Concentrating on You was recorded by Hunter’s Serenaders, a territory band from Omaha, Nebraska.

Ed Reynolds liked territory bands and often used some of their tunes.

Ridin’ but Walkin’, a 1929 Fats Waller tune was played at The Cotton Club. The Ramblers did it justice. It brought out Clark’s tenor sax – nice, Billy on clarinet with drum beat tapping on the choke cymbal, Mike on muted trumpet. Short but in the groove!

The River and Me was recorded by the Absolut Duke Ellington, who played it every night at the Cotton Club. It’s a fabulous swinging tune. The Ramblers used the Frank Powers arrangement. Trombone, trumpet, clarinet and tenor sax, Stu Gunn pushing them on string bass, all the musicians pushed the boundaries with some profound, imaginative swinging! They raised goose bumps!

Right Kind of Man was sung by Ruth Etting in 1929. Nancy’s fine vocal was followed by two alto saxes taking 32 bars in multi-dimensional harmony. Billy Novick and John Clark are always pushing music forward, expanding on it.

Back to instrumentals, Vipers’ Drag is a 1930 Fats Waller tune made popular by Cab Calloway.

Jungle Blues was arranged by Billy Novick. He and Bill Reynolds have been ‘partners in crime’ for over 30 years. Two clarinets harmonizing backed by steady drum beat.

Dynamite! Billy Novick and John Clark on various reeds

Nancy feels so blue!

Nancy was back with Nobody Cares, backed only by Herb Gardner on piano. She’s so blue, you can absolutely feel it!

Ed would definitely be proud of this band; it is absolutely outstanding! Their passion for this music is obvious. Hot Dance Music at its best!! We hope to hear more from them really soon.

Meantime, you can still get the fine music. Bill still has several CDs from Ed’s band.

Red Hot Band
Cuttin’ Up
‘Leven Thirty Saturday Night (4 left)
My Mom is in Town (1 left)
… also LPs and Cassettes of Boston Shuffle

Get in touch with Bill Reynolds at drumkits@verizon.net for any of these.

* * * * * * *

Ed Reynolds

Ed Reynolds, New England’s premier Jazz Historian and collector of Traditional Jazz records, deftly drew rarely heard traditional jazz ditties from 1925 to 1931 for his outstanding jazz musicians from our area and New York City.
Karen Cameron is originally from North Dakota. She was with Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians, and has sung with the Artie Shaw Band and other commemorative big bands around the country.

These are Ed Reynold’s Back Bay Ramblers 2001 at the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival. This band played some of the finest 1920’s period music at the festival. This is not swing – this is Traditional Jazz-Hot Dance Music at its best!

Seacoast Stompers at Bemis Hall January 11, 2015

Posted on January 17, 2015 by admin

Dave Whitney cornet, Craig Ball clarinet, Steve Piermarini trombone, Frank Stadler piano/leader, Scott Philbrick banjo/cornet, Al Bernard sousaphone, Bob Reardon drums

by Marce
videos by Harold McAleer

The Seacoast Stompers brought their vitality and spark into a New Year at Bemis Hall in Lincoln, Massachusetts. There were changes made. Any substitution makes a difference in the sound of a band – and tonight we had three: Dave Whitney filling in for Scott, who moved to banjo, and Steve Piermarini subbing for Lee Prager.

They were marvelous! You can’t go wrong with Whitney’s wit, knowledge of classic Jazz, and on – surprise – cornet! Leader Frank Stadler put him in charge of the microphone. Piermarini excels on smooth, smoky trombone. He’s had the bell since 1980, but had the slide replaced by Shires.

They were raring to go with their theme song, At The Jazz Band Ball, then Little Girl
I Want Some Lovin’.

Jelly Roll Morton’s Buddy Bolden’s Blues. Buddy was famous for his powerful horn: “his trumpet could be heard all over New Orleans, and even across the river in Algiers”. We had two powerful cornets, Whitney played his new Getzen Cornet that he’s been using on various gigs including his Whitney Big Band. Trumpet wasn’t missed at all. Scott played both cornet and 6-string banjo, much like a guitar, but using tremolo for emphasis.

Al Bernard wrapped in sousaphone

Who’s Sorry Now? Gave Al a chance to solo on sousaphone.

Louisiana featured both cornets –

Hindustan is a spicy tune, one of Craig Ball favorites. They slowed down for Sugar, playing it in the vein that Peggy Lee sang in Pete Kelly’s Blues.

Bob drumming so fast his hands are a blur

Bob Reardon

Love is Just Around The Corner, Bob playing drumsticks on snare drum. His drumming is discreet, he drives the rhythm, yet he never gets in the way of the soloists.

Swing That Music, a Louis Armstrong composition, all had hot solos with Albie setting the pace.

Someday Sweetheart – is one of Jelly Roll Morton’s tunes that became a jazz standard. Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me is definitely not a blues!

There’ll Be Some Changes Made – Frank enjoying every minute of playing on this Steinway piano. He said this is the finest piano he’s ever played.

Frank Stadler, Band Leader

Two cornets

Scott joined Dave on cornet for a Bix Beiderbecke tune (when Bix was playing with Frankie Trumbauer). They inspired the audience with Take Your Tomorrow and Give Me Today.

Curse Of An Aching Heart was in fast time, with Craig’s feisty clarinet, and Al driving on turbo-charged sousaphone, hardly taking a breath.

Ain’t Gonna Give You None of My Jelly Roll, Dave vocal, squeezed in a snippet of Stumbling on cornet; he always slips it in somewhere! Stealing Apples is one of Dave Whitney’s favorite, a Fats Waller tune made famous by the Benny Goodman Orchestra.

There were three guest vocalists this afternoon. Steve Smith vocal on Pennies From Heaven and I Can’t Give You Anything But Love. Joe Brandisi usually plays vibes, but let it all out with a fine vocal on Bye Bye Blackbird. Mollie Malone was in fine voice for Exactly Like You. (We caught the trombone slipping in a bit of Stumbling.)

A Craig Ball favorite, Three Little Words was upbeat. Bob let loose on drums.

Bix Beiderbecke was resurrected with two cornets for the finale, with I’ll Be a Friend With Pleasure.

It was a thrill having the Seacoast Stompers back! We look forward to hearing them more often. They will return to Bemis Hall on Saturday, February 14th at 1-4pm and March 14th at their usual time 2-5pm. It’s a great way to spend a cold winter afternoon. Join us!

Marce

Tune List
Set 1
1 At The Jazz Band Ball
2 I Want A Little Girl
3 San
4 Buddy Bolden’s Blues
5 Who’s Sorry Now
6 Louisiana
7 Hindustan
8 Sugar
9 Love Is Just Around The Corner

Set 2
1 Swing That Music
2 Pennies From Heaven
3 Someday You’ll Be Sorry
4 Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me
5 There’ll Be Some Changes Made
6 Take Your Tomorrow
7 Curse of an Aching Heart
8 Blues in G
9 Jelly Roll (Ain’t Gonna Give You None)

Set 3
1 Stealin’ Apples
2 I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
3 Bye Bye Blackbird
4 Rosetta
5 Exactly Like You
6 Three Little Words
7 I’ll Be a Friend with Pleasure

Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Café, November 2, 2013

Posted on November 2, 2013 by admin

videos by Harold McAleer

taken from back of cafe, band up front, crowded tables

Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Cafe

Scott Philbrick Cornet, Dave Whitney trumpet, Craig Ball reeds, Lee Prager trombone, Frank Stadler leader/piano, Al Bernard tuba, Bobby Reardon drums

At The Jazz Band Ball, the Seacoast Stompers warned us in advance that this was going to be delectable hot Jazz, with another full house at the Acton Jazz Café. They added some new songs, Why Do I Like To Myself About You? and included some old Dixieland Chestnuts, Royal Garden Blues, After You’ve Gone, Baby Brown.

Stadler makes full use of the Café’s beautiful Yamaha Baby Grand. He plots a loose course, giving the musicians room to make suggestions, and they do – most of them are accustomed to leading their own bands.

Frank bent over keyboard of Yamaha Baby Grand

Frank Stadler leads band from the Yamaha Baby Grand

Bobby playing drums - bass drum has picture of his NH plate - KRUPA

Bobby Reardon keeps the band in time. Photo by Harold McAleer

Albie pushes with his powerful tuba, Jimmy’s single string banjo at high velocity, Bobby Reardon steering them discreetly.

Al Bernard in back wrapped in sousaphone, Jimmy Mazzy up front singing

Albie and Jimmy

With that fabulous rhythm behind them, the front line is free to explore with great solos and ensemble, mixing harmonies. This Joint is Jumpin’!

Jimmy’s vocals come from the heart; as if he’s crying for his lost love.
If I Had You,

Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone, Old Fashioned Love, A Hundred Years From Today, Song of the Wanderer.

He’s scatting on Japanese Sandman.

Whitney interweaves innumerable snippets of tunes with his trumpet, and also does some vocals: the 1930’s tune Fats wrote on a restaurant bill, I’m Confessing, Mobile, Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby. He’s scatting on Baby Brown.

Craig playing clarinet, Lee quiet in background

Craig Ball, leader of White Heat Swing Orchestra

The ensemble connects on Sheik of Araby. Craig Ball’s clarinet is almost kissing the mic on Stevedore Stomp. He’s in soft tone on I’m Beginning to See The Light.

Dave and Scott duelling on trumpet and cornet

Dave and Scott go at it!

Trumpet and cornet are teasing and testing each other on Devil and The Deep Blue Sea. As Time Goes By Dave’s sweet trumpet is backing Scott’s cornet. They take turns leading and comping on all the tunes.

Lee Prager fills in the short gaps

LEE Lee Prager is constantly listening, filling in any gap. That takes talent!

We look forward to the amazing exchanges between the trombone and cornet. There’s a friendly duel between Lee and Scott at least once in every session – trombone keeping up with the cornet’s myriad notes up and down the register. It’s all in great fun!

By now the tension is so hot Jimmy loses it on It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing. Trading fours scatting with the band, he bursts out with his infamous scream, signifying another winning session!

They will repeat it on the first Saturday of next month, December 8^th. Don’t miss it!

Seacoast Stompers tune list – Nov 2, 2013 – Acton Jazz Cafe

Set 1
1 At The Jazz Band Ball
2 As Time Goes By / Sleepy Time Down South
3 Royal Garden Blues
4 After You’ve Gone
5 Why Do I Lie To Myself About You
6 If I had You
7 Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
8 I’m Confessing
9 Song of the Wanderer

Set 2
1 Sheik of Araby
2 Mobile
3 Please Don’t Talk About Me
4 Old Fashioned Love
5 Baby Brown
6 All Of Me

Set 3
1 Joint is Jumpin, the
2 Hundred Years From Today, A
3 Stevedore Stomp
4 Japanese Sandman
5 Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby
6 I’m Beginning to see the Light
7 It Don’t Mean a Thing If it Ain’t Got That Swing

Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Cafe, October 5, 2013

Posted on October 5, 2013 by admin

All but the piano, with Hal McAleer video-taping by the piano

Seacoast Stompers (with videographer Harold McAleer)

These musicians love making music, playing Jazz, and this audience loves listening to them. It’s a symbiotic relationship – and never gets dull. You never know what will happen next. The Seacoast Stompers do not repeat songs – Frank Stadler has kept a list of every song they’ve played at the AJC in the last five years, so the tunes are seldom repeated.

Surprise! Frank announced that this afternoon they would be doing EXACTLY the same set list as their first gig, 5 years 3 months ago at The Acton Jazz Café. Then it was at night at 452 Great Road, a six-piece band, with Frank Stadler piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Jeff Hughes cornet, Ben Goldstein clarinet, Steve Taddeo drums and Bob McHenry string bass (whose idea it was to getStadler on piano

Now on October 5, 2013, there was Frank leader/piano and Jimmy banjo/vocals, Scott Philbrick cornet, Dave Whitney trumpet, Craig Ball clarinet, Lee Prager trombone, Albie Bernard sousaphone, and Bobby Reardon drums at the new Acton Jazz Café, 103 Nagog Park. It doesn’t get any better than this – as demonstrated by the full house. Bob McHenry was sitting front and center, enjoying the band.

They started with their theme song, a blistering At The Jazz Band Ball, then Mama’s Gone, Goodbye – Jimmy vocal, the four-piece front line melding seamlessly.

Front line
Scott, Dave, Craig, and Lee

Scott and Dave are always a combustible combination, Trumpet and cornet duet on From Monday On. Baby Won’t You Please Come Home. Combination playing vibrato on There’ll Be Some Changes Made.

They slowed down for Memories of You, Scotty doing cornet intro, Jim on vocal with almost imperceptible tuba and trumpet backup.

Mandy Make Up Your Mind – we never get enough of Jimmy Mazzy’s singing. (For the few who are not aware, he’s like olives – an acquired taste; people all over the world love Jimmy, especially in Europe) New Orleans, Hoagie’s favorite tune, heartfelt vocal by Dave Whitney.

Jimmy Mazzy

Dave Whitney

Bobby concentrated on tom toms for Stealing Apples. He has a different drum set for every genre of music, The Dixieland set has three toms, bass, snare drum, cow bell, top hat and a couple of cymbals. He strives for simplicity, purity in his playing, and the energy and precision he lays down is undeniable.

Bobby Reardon and his Dixieland Drum Set

Keeping Out of Mischief Now, Jim on vocal. Craig Ball is in complete command of the upper register on Ain’t Gonna Give You None of My Jelly Roll.

I’m Coming Virginia.

Bobby plays Saturday nights at the Kowloon in Saugus, so he’s ready, always dressed in white shirt and black bow tie (untied) but not tonight; black shirt – no tie. He said he was in mourning because he couldn’t play his favorite tune. So they deviated from the 2008 set list – and substituted Bobby’s favorite (and mine!) Limehouse Blues.

Rhythm Section, Al Bernard sousaphone, Jim Mazzy banjo, Bobby Reardon drums

Jim Mazzy, Al Bernard, Bobby Reardon, Rhythm Section

Al Bernard provides the drive and “punch’ behind the band, and plays solos with the dexterity, control, and articulation of the much smaller instruments. Take Your Tomorrows, and Give Me Today. Joe Darensbourg’s Louisian-I-A, dynamic clarinet backed by rhythm in stop-time. Jimmy had the vocal on a HOT Kansas City. I Would Do Most Anything For You, Whitney vocal, and sneaking in snippets of songs with his trumpet.

Look out for Jimmy’s specials – back in 2008, he substituted his own lyrics for the Banking Crisis with The Whiffenpoof’s Song (The Lambs Song). This time he did a parody of the Tea Party, that we won’t go into here because we’ve already lost too much $upport.

Craig Ball on soprano sax

Craig moved to a sweet soprano sax, authentic Bechet sound, for Singing The Blues.

Verne often gets to pick the last tune, a fine choice to end this evening of remembering 2008, with a barnstorming Swing That Music.
Seacoast Stompers will return with the same personnel playing amazing Dixieland Jazz at the Acton Jazz Café, 103 Nagog Park, Acton MA, on November 2^nd, the first Saturday of the month as usual. See you there!

* * *

Tunes on 2013-10-05 at AJC by Seacoast Stompers
set 1
At The Jazz Band Ball
Mama’s Gone Goodbye
From Monday On
Baby Won’t You Please Come Home
There’ll Be Some Changes Made
Memories Of You
Mandy Make Up Your Mind
New Orleans
Stealin Apples
set 2
Keepin Out Of Mischief Now
Jelly Roll (Ain’t Gonna Give You None)
I’m Coming Virginia (W/Verse)
Limehouse Blues
Take Your Tomorrow
Louisi-An-I-A
set 3
Kansas City request
I Would Do Anything For You
The Lamb’s Song (political diatribe) jimmy special
Singin the Blues
Swing that Music

Seacoast Stompers celebrate 6th Anniversary at the Acton Jazz Cafe

Posted on August 3, 2013 by admin

Full Band with Maureen in bright red jacket

Seacost Stompers with Maureen Benson

Videos by Hal McAleer

August 3, 2013, The Seacoast Stompers were back at the Acton Jazz Café with Dave Whitney trumpet, Craig Ball clarinet, Lee Prager trombone, Scott Philbrick guitar/cornet, Frank Stadler piano/leader, Al Ehrenfried string bass, Bobby Reardon drums, and Maureen Benson vocals.

The Seacoast Stompers are celebrating their 6^th year of appearing on the first Saturday of the month at the Acton Jazz Café. This was an exceptionally enjoyable afternoon, with Scott on guitar (which he prefers) and charismatic vocalist Maureen Benson. The venue sound system was shut down, with musicians controlling their own amplification, much better Traditional sound.

Whitney’s solo horn was free to interweave all kinds of tunes because Scott Philbrick was tied up on guitar, subbing for Jimmy Mazzy – most of the time.

Al on string bass, Scott guitar, and Bobby drums

The Rhythm Boys

Al Ehrenfried, was all smiles, picking at the string bass. Lee Prager happy to be back on trombone, bouncing with the music. Bobby was pulsating and alive. They all treasure his timing. It was infectious.

Craig Ball’s hot clarinet set the opening with All That Jazz, their theme song, and after that it was all improvised, with quick discussions over what and how they would play next.

Maureen Benson

A natural charmer on stage, Maureen came up for Slow Boat to China, If I Had You, Dave backing on muted trumpet.

Lee Prager

Lee Prager was featured on
I guess I’ll Have To Change My Plans.
We were happy to have him back.

Maureen returned for I Cried For you – usually done in a slow tempo, but there was nothing slow about this afternoon! There was no holding them back!

Bix time, Scott Philbrick moved to cornet with Dave Whitney trumpet duet for Singing The Blues. Fabulous!

Scott Philbrick and Dave Whitney

Piano took the intro to Claude Hopkins I Would Do Most Anything For You. Scott was back on flaming hot guitar for this barn-burner!

Dave’s version of Back O’ Town Blues is one of Frank Stadler’s favorites. Dave invited Maureen to join him. But she’s never heard the song before, didn’t even know the words. “I can handle Blues.”
This video shows her incredible spunk as she makes up her own words:

Frank and Al got together for an abbreviated Jitterbug Waltz, just piano and acoustic bass. Lovely – but too short, left us wanting more!

Whitney remembered Laurel & Hardy. Most people don’t realize that Oliver Hardy was also a good singer. He sang Lazy Moon in the 1932 Pardon Us, sensitively reprised here by Scott on guitar and Dave on trumpet and vocal.

Neil Moret wrote many beautiful tunes, including Chloe, and Song of the Wanderer, Ray Smith liked him so much he did a whole program on him.

(FYI, Ray Smith’s Jazz Decades is still playing Sundays 8-9pm on www.wgbh.org – even though we lost him a few years ago. Listen and learn about Our Kind of Music.)

Scott on guitar, Whitney on crystal clear trumpet on Song of the Wanderer.

The Saints prompted Alice Brunton to lead the a Parade, sans parasol. We’ll have one next month!

Alice Brunton leads the ‘Saints’ parade – no parasols!

Gray haired lady in bright red flower jacket, nice singer

Betty Countie

Surprise vocalist – Maureen introduced her Mom, Betty Countie, to sing a tantalizing Blue Moon. It’s obvious where Maureen gets her voice and charm!
The mood changed back to Bix and the normal four-piece front line. Their passion for this music is evident, they were really having fun with Since My Best Friend Turned Me Down.

Maureen with Scotty on guitar and Al on string bass

Maureen Benson and the Rhythm Boys

It Had To Be You, Maureen singing Bob Sickles’ favorite song made him happy; An explosive Swing That Music was dedicated to Vern, with Whitney on vocal.

Al Ehrenfried

Buddy Bolden’s Blues was the best Trad tune of the evening with Al’s tender bass solo.

Found a New Baby, found Al all smiles, bass in constant dialogue on this up-tempo tune. Lee bouncing up and down, slipping in some tunes of his own, Scott slipped in a bit of the Russian Ochi Chernye on guitar.

Frank Stadler softly touching keys

Approaching the finale, Maureen was called up for S’Wonderful, backed by Stadler, hands barely skimming over the piano.

They wrapped up this month’s session with Limehouse Blues. Piano rules – with energy and syncopation, setting the pace. Dave finally managed to sneak in Stumbling – he always gets that in somewhere.
This old music has so much energy and vitality, especially played by these accomplished musicians – it’s enlivening, . We’ll all be back, enjoying more of the Seacoast Stompers 6^th Anniversary at the Acton Jazz Café. See you there!

Maureen Benson lists Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Carmen McRae as her major musical influences. She is a mainstay on the North Shore jazz scene, and appears monthly with Jazzport at the Seaport Restaurant in Salem.

Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Cafe, June 1, 2013

Posted on June 1, 2013 by admin

Seacoast Stompers

videos by Harold McAleer

Piano and Leader – Frank Stadler, Reeds – John Clark, Banjo and Vocals – Jimmy Mazzy, Cornet – Scott Philbrick, Trumpet and Vocals – Dave Whitney, Trombone – Lee Prager, Sousaphone – Al Bernard, Drums – Bobby Reardon

Seacoast Stompers are a Traditional Jazz and Swing band led by pianist Frank Stadler. Frank has a list of everything they’ve played in the nearly five years the Band as been at the Acton Jazz Café; he tries to avoid repeating tunes played recently. Last month, they broke tradition by playing all their old favorite and most requested tunes. This month it was back to normal, with no repeats of anything played for many months.

But they always begin with their theme song, At The Jazz Band Ball, with Albie giving this one extra emphasis on sousaphone. A medium swing tune followed, Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.

John Clark

You never know what will happen with Jazz musicians, that’s why this never gets dull. John Clark took out a smokin’ Coleman Hawkins tenor sax – new instrument for John, making use of the rich lower register, keeping this listener enthralled all afternoon, Beale St. Blues, Undecided.

Dave Whitney

Dave gave New Orleans the respect it deserves with fine trumpet and a Whitney vocal.

Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Al Bernard sousaphone

Jimmy’s unpretentious sincerity comes through with Porter’s Love Song to a Chamber Maid along with many quips that we can’t print here. Never give Jimmy a microphone!
Fidgety Feet had feet tapping, check out Lee having fun trading trombone with Albie’s tuba.

Frank Stadler on new Yamaha piano

Frank was swinging from start to finish on the new Yamaha piano; Rosetta, a tune that Earl Fatha Hines’ recorded in Chicago in 1939.

Eva Belazs sitting on tall stool with legs hanging down

Eva Balazs

Eva Balazs, tiny as she is, found a really high stool to perch on so she could clearly see his impressive piano fingers. Her feet were dangling 2 feet from the ground, but she was enthralled.

There are four Sports’ TVs in the Café. Our Sport is Jazz – no one was watching the Red Sox or Bruins.

John Clark choose the next one, a scorching San, dazzling polyphony by the front line. Bei Mir Bis Du Schoen, Sundown.

Carrie’s Mazzy’s choice was a lyrical I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling:

Fran D’Agostino, Tuesday night JazzJam host, took charge of the sound system. He had his guitar with him, and sat in playing catchy riffs on Things Ain’t What They Used To Be.

Fran D’Agostino joins the band

Break time. Sax and cornet soon returned with a trio on a hot Tuxedo Junction, with Dave Whitney on drums! You never know!

There’ll Be Some Changes Made, nice interchange between drum and tuba. Albie was featured with Jimmy’s vocal on Louisiana Fairytale, the theme song for This Old House and a Paramount Jazz Band favorite.

John took out his clarinet for a Slow Boat to China, which was anything but! It sizzled! He’s the youngest in this crowd. He was drawn to jazz in the Library at Connecticut College when he became immersed in its vast collection of Traditional/Dixieland Jazz, and absorbed every recording. (Thank you, Jeff Barnhart!)

You never know what’s coming. They tried S’Wonderful with NO sound system, which is generally the norm for our Trad Jazz Bands, and sounded just fine to me. But they couldn’t hear the piano and banjo from the back of the Café.

Scott Philbrick

Sound on. Something between Dixie and Swing – Scotty began I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate, fun tune. Whitney took the vocal on The Preacher.

They closed with a fiery, wild Somebody Stole My Gal.

The Seacoast Stompers are an imaginative and versatile Traditional Jazz and Swing Band. You never know what they will do next. The Band is here at the Acton Jazz Cafe on the first Saturday of the month for the rest of this year – next one is July 6th. Join us for some fun Jazz and Swing!

Swing Senders with the Midiri Brothers in Lincoln MA

Posted on May 22, 2013 by admin

Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders were enriched by the presence of The Midiri Brothers at this year’s final performance of Classic Jazz at Lincoln Library in Lincoln, Massachusetts, on May 22, 2013.

Personnel: Midiri Brothers, Joe reeds, Paul vibes, trombone and drums; John Clark reeds, Jeff Hughes trumpet, Scott Philbrick cornet/guitar, Bill Doyle guitar, Dan Gabel trombone, Ross Petot piano, Justin Meyer string bass, Steve Taddeo drums, Caroline Griep vocals. They looked and sounded like a Big Band – ten pieces of the finest Swing you would ever want to hear!

Caroline Griep

Joe Midiri

Charismatic vocalist Caroline Griep flashed a gleaming smile and regaled us with Just You, Just Me, Jeepers Creepers, All of Me, improvising and scatting with Bill Doyle on guitar on Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.

She enjoys singing, and her pleasure comes through.

Paul Midiri

Consummate entertainers, the Midiri Brothers drove from New Jersey to Massachusetts to be here with the SteveTaddeo’s Swing Senders. Joe is a monster on reeds, whether on alto or soprano sax, or clarinet, had us on the edge of our seats when he hit D above high C and held it for a long note.

Lionel Hampton’s Flying Home, 1939-41, Paul flying on vibes. Steve closed it with the drum walk-around that is his specialty. “Got that Harold?”

Ross was featured on Crazy Rhythm, with Bill Doyle on guitar and Scott cornet and Paul Midiri playing drums.

A trio, band within a band, had Clark on clarinet, Steve drums, Ross’s marvelous stride piano, You Do Something To Me.

Stomping at the Savoy piano did the intro with the two fabulous guitars of Bill Doyle and Scott Philbrick, John on bari sax, Dan trombone, Jeff on trumpet, Joe clarinet, Paul vibes, Steve drums. A scorcher!

Joe was on alto sax for his infamous version of Sunny Side of the Street, singing in the Louis voice he does so well.

Midiri Brothers were featured on Avalon. ’nuff said!!

Dan Gabel and Jeff Hughes

Dan Gabel and Jeff were featured in a mellow Day Dream, a beautiful instrumental written by Billy Strayhorn and Duke.

Fred Waring’s Sleep is usually a Midiri’s full band feature, and it was marvelous with all the instruments, with drum intro, hot clarinet at each end.

They closed with the Swing Senders theme song, Dinah – video below in two parts, with hard driving tempo, Midiri on clarinet, Gabel trombone, ending with Paul and Steve battling it out on the drums. Videos by Harold McAleer.

Dinah Part 1, Dan Gabel takes off on trombone.

The sticks vie for dominance on this closing number of the Swing Senders at Bemis Hall — Harold McAleer videos.

Dinah Part 2

WOW!

Bob and Dan MacInnis

Can’t tell you how great it was to see another set of brothers here – Bob and Dan MacInnis. Welcome back!!

Charlie and Evelyn find a space to dance no matter how crowded it is!

This was an impressive evening of solid, hard driving Swing, with the Midiri Brothers joining the Swing Senders. Steve Taddeo assures us there will be more to come this summer.

Meantime, the Midiri Brothers left at midnight for that long ride home. They are seasoned musicians and inveterate entertainers!

New England Traditional Jazz Plus

Swing, Traditional Jazz, Dixieland Jazz, Big Bands

Tag Archives: Scott Philbrick