Dave Whitney trumpet, Craig Ball reeds, Lee Prager trombone, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Frank Stadler leader/piano, Al Bernard sousaphone, Bob Reardon drums, Maureen Benson vocals
The Seacoast Stompers had a rip-roaring afternoon with a Full House at Bemis Hall in Lincoln, MA. For six years, they played monthly at the Acton Jazz Café, with a repertoire of tunes from the 20’s and 30’s. Arrangements were spontaneous and ad lib with a variety of styles and tempos from smooth swing to groovy blues and hot driving Dixie.
Dave Whitney
Frank Stadler is leader of the band, but graciously let Dave Whitney rule the roost with his rousing trumpet. Dave is well known for his amazing Louis-type trumpet.
They began with a joyous romp on the Seacoast Stomper’s theme song, At The Jazz Band Ball,
Dave Whitney has some favorite tunes. Maureen Benson joined him on Back o’ Town Blues.
Maureen Benson was comfortable with the band, personalizing some of the lyrics, picking on Craig. She gave us As Long As I Live, I Don’t Know Enough About You, It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing.
Jimmy Mazzy
Jimmy Mazzy was featured on Porter’s Love Song to a Chamber Maid; took the vocal on Clarence William’s Cake Walking Babies, scatted on How Can You Do That Thing To Me, Old Fashioned Love – he has a treasure trove of tunes.
Al Bernard on sousaphone
Al Bernard is a master of the tuba, listening to the soloists and backing them with many different chord phrasings wrapped in that monstrous sousaphone, as if it were easy!
Frank Stadler, Band Leader
The Seacoast Stompers played many favorites, Royal Garden Blues, Canal St. Blues, San.
Lee Prager
Lee Prager’s deep, burnished, trombone was reminiscent of Tommy Dorsey.
Craig Ball
Craig Ball was featured on The World is Waiting For The Sunshine.
Bob Reardon
Bob Reardon plays drums with marvelous precision, He keeps the band in time by tapping on the snare drum and ride cymbal, only letting loose on a couple of tunes. He picked the closing tune – always requesting the same one – Limehouse Blues.
The Seacoast Stompers keep the music fresh with their amazing creativity! Check them out!
Scott Philbrick cornet, Lee Prager trombone, Craig Ball clarinet, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Frank Stadler keyboard, Al Bernard tuba, Bobby Reardon drums.
The Seacoast Stompers were back for the first time since October and obviously happy to be playing together again. The new venue is the renovated 1870 Town Hall at 12 Woodward Avenue in Berlin MA. Berlin is a scenic town with acres of orchards set in a low range of hills between the Nashua River and Assabet River Valleys, easily accessible on I-495.
Under the watchful gaze of the Rev. William A. Houghton, who dedicated the Town Hall in 1870 and Chandler Carter who paid off the municipal debt, the band entertained a full house of Berlin residents eager to hear good jazz and support their neighbor, trombonist Lee Prager. He said “This is the nearest venue I’ve played In 55 years.”
Berliners filled the 1870 Town Hall
Frank Stadler, leader
Frank Stadler is leader of the Band, and his playing is based on a masterful respect for the melody.
Scott is the conductor, delegating players for each tune, varying solos between them.
They began with a joyous romp on their theme song, At The Jazz Band Ball, and Mama’s Gone, Good Bye reverberating off the high steel ceiling.
Scott Philbrick and Lee Prager
Lee requested Strutting With Some Barbecue. Scott and Lee challenge and inspire each other on trombone and cornet. We’ve missed the riveting interaction between these two!
Jimmy Mazzy and Al Bernard
Jimmy Mazzy sang many songs, and was featured on After You’ve Gone with his inimitable vocals.
He scatted on Some Of These Days while trading 4’s with Albie’s tuba. They keep the music fresh with their amazing creativity!
Lee led on a melancholy Basin St. Blues and added to the sweetness of the song by ending it with a virtuosic flourish. He was featured on I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plans, on smooth open bell trombone, with Bobby softly backing with brushes across snare drum.
Bobby Reardon
Bobby Reardon plays drums with marvelous precision, He keeps the band in time by tapping on the snare drum and ride cymbal, only letting loose on a couple of tunes when Scotty directs him.
Frank took the intro when they moved up tempo on Ain’t Gonna Give You None of My Jelly Roll, the band in livewire ensemble.
Craig Ball
Craig’s clarinet was featured with his sky-writing stratospherics on Stealing Apples. Bobby backed him on hi hat, then let go on drums!
This was just the first set! There were only two sets, short evening, so the band kept the program moving along without needless delays. It’s been way too long since we’ve heard this powerhouse group of musicians playing together!
For six years, they played monthly at the Acton Jazz Café, with a repertoire of tunes from the 20’s and 30’s. Arrangements were spontaneous and ad lib with a variety of styles and tempos from smooth swing to groovy blues and hot driving Dixie. Check them out.
This event was sponsored by The Friends of the Berlin Library. We hope they will consider bringing the Seacoast Stompers back!
After many years of monthly performances at Gwenn Verdon’s restaurants: Acton Jazz Cafe, ACT II in Acton, and Act III in Littleton, – The Seacoast Stompers played their last gig for her on October 10,2015.
For this occasion the band included:
Frank Stadler – piano and leader, Dave Whitney – cornet, Craig Ball – clarinet, Steve Piermarini – trombone, Rick MacWilliams – tuba, Bobby Reardon – drums, Maureen Benson – vocals
…and they really went out swinging!
Sample some of their numbers by clicking on the photo links below:
The Seacoast Stompers had a rip-roaring afternoon with a Full House at ACTIII in Littleton, MA. Dave Whitney ruled the roost, amazing the audience with his new prowess on cornet.
Dave is well known for his amazing Louis-type trumpet for many years, but he was still in charge on this marvelous afternoon of great Traditional and Dixieland Jazz and Swing.
It was great to have Jimmy Mazzy back. He’s no longer at the Colonial Inn; after 35 years he’s now looking for a new venue. But all the local bands want Jimmy, and they have kept him busy all summer. But WE had him tonight, scatting on Canal St. Blues and Stealing Apples, How Come You Do Me Like You Do, singing on Write Myself a Letter, I Cover the Waterfront, Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (Dave slipping in snippets of multiple songs.)
The one and only, Jimmy Mazzy
But Dave Whitney has some favorite songs, and he did some singing too, besides leading the band with his fantastic cornet.
Dave sang some of the tunes
Curse of an Aching Heart, Back o’ Town Blues. His cornet sounds almost like a trumpet when he hits those high notes.
Al Bernard on tuba
Al Bernard is a master of the tuba, listening to the soloists and backing them with many different chord phrasings. He even becomes part of the front line, playing a full chorus of melodies on that monstrous tuba, as if it were easy!
Dave catches Frank by surprise
Frank Stadler is leader of the Seacoast Stompers, but he was happy to let Dave take over and call the tunes. Frank introduced many of the songs and had that piano singing.
But Dave was constantly catching him off guard with his many surprising antics on cornet and vocals.
Catch the Seacoast Stompers Quartet next month on September 12th, 2-5pm, and you’ll be surprised too!! POSTER
Be sure to make a reservation, because they will surely sell out! Act III, 529 King St. Littleton MA (978) 486-3600. They have music from Tuesday through Sunday. Check it out. Monthly music schedule
Playlist for Seacoast Stompers 2015-08-08
Set 1
1 At The Jazz Band Ball
2 Canal Street Blues
3 Don’t Be That Way
4 Keepin Out Of Mischief Now
5 World is Waiting for the Sunrise
6 I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write
7 I Would Do Anything For You
8 I Cover the Waterfront
9 It Don’t Mean a Thing If it Ain’t Got That Swing
10 Stealin Apples
Set 2
1 Soft Winds
2 Limehouse Blues
3 Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
4 Curse of an Aching Heart
5 Back o’ Town Blues
Set 3
1 Porter’s Love Song To A Chambermaid
2 Deed I Do
3 Take Your Tomorrow
4 Swing That Music
5 Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
6 Louisiana Fairy Tale
7 Jelly Roll (Ain’t Gonna Give You None)
This has been a busy Spring! I’ll be 80 years young next month; there’s no way I can keep up with all the wonderful Jazz we’ve had in this area since the last newsletter April 15th. But I do try.
Neville Dickie
Highlight of this month (so far) was the annual visit of Neville Dickie on May 12th at the Bella Costa Restaurant in Framingham, MA.
This year Neville was joined by Stan McDonald soprano sax, Jeff Hughes trumpet, and Steve Taddeo drums.
Neville Dickie Quartet,
The Quartet rotated with a duet of Neville and Steve, with the irrepressible Dickie pushing Taddeo to the max!
Neville challenges Steve to keep up with him – he did!
They ended the evening as always with four-handed piano when Neville is joined by our own stride master, Ross Petot. They obviously enjoy this duet!
Neville pauses as Ross goes into full stride.
Neville Dickie will return next year, for his 15th Annual sojourn to New England. He always begins here with Stan McDonald, before performing all over the country. Then he’ll return to Surrey, England.
April 16th Wolverine Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante, 20 Pleasant St. Millis MA
Wolverine Jazz Band
Dave Didriksen drums, Dan Gabel trombone,Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Jeff Hughes trumpet, Rick MacWilliams tuba, John Clark leader/clarinet/bari sax, Herb Gardner keyboard.
With their intricate New Orleans Polyphony and glorious horn solos, the Wolves are one of the most popular Dixieland Jazz Bands in this area and at Festivals. They are now celebrating their 20th Anniversary, and played many tunes from their upcoming CD, their 13th, that should be issued sometime next month. Don’t miss them!!
Dan Gabel subbed for regular trombonist Tom Boates. Tom is the Music Department Chair at Guilford CT High School, and accompanied the Guilford High School Chorus at Disney World. (He’s forgiven for not being here!)
Tuesday, MAY 19, 7-9:30pm, The Wolves will be at the Sheraton/Needham. $10 cover – They will hopefully have their new CD ready to go for that day! They aren’t taking reservations, so just show up anyway! Sheraton Needham, 100 Cabot St, Needham, MA 02494 Phone:(781) 444-1110 .
April 24th High Society Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante
High Society Jazz Orchestra with Elise Roth
Elise Roth
Personnel:
Dan Gabel: trombone, Elise Roth: vocals
Clarinets/Saxes: Tyler Burchfield, John Clark,
Richard Garcia
Trumpets: Pat Stout and Jeff Hughes
Piano: Ross Petot
Guitar/Banjo: Bill Doyle
Tuba: Rick MacWilliams
Drums: Steve Taddeo
Jazz, Big Band, and swing are American musical art forms that are being perpetuated by a young musician, and we are extremely grateful!! Dan Gabel brought his High Society Jazz Orchestra to Primavera Ristorante on April 24th, with Vocalist Elise Roth lending her expert talents on vocal numbers of the era, bringing back rarely heard verses and a classic vintage singing style. Dan Gabel and John Clark are experts at adapting original arrangements that were created in the early 20’s and 30’s. They played Ellington’s The Mooche, made famous at the Cotton Club, Irving Berlin’s Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Pat Stout trumpet was heard on St. Louis Shuffle by Fats Waller. Bill Doyle, manager and guitar, was featured on Glad Rag Doll by Milton Ager. Reeds played a stomping arrangement of Putting on the Ritz; Hughes trumpet was featured on Stardust that just went right through you! It was a fantastic evening of Jazz, Big Band, and Swing – and we’re looking forward to hearing much more from this band. Check them out at www.facebook.com/highsocietyorchestra.
April 30th Eli and The Hot Six celebrated International Jazz Day at Primavera Ristorante. Click on photos to enlarge.
Eli and The Hot Six
Bob Winter keyboard, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba, Jeff Guthery drums, Herb Gardner trombone, Bo Winiker trumpet/flugelhorn, Ted Casher clarinet and tenor sax
April 30th was International Jazz Day, spectacularly celebrated by Eli and The Hot Six at Primavera Ristorante. They began with The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise, featuring tunes form many countries. Eartha Kitt’s C’est çi Bon, Irish Black Bottom, (which is really authentic American Jazz), Hindustan, Ted Casher sang Bei Mir Bis Du Schoen in Yiddish, playing authentic Klezmer clarinet.
Bo sings Louis’s Wonderful World
Bo put heart and soul into Louis’s Wonderful World.
Jeff Guthery recalled the 20’s and 30’s drumming, tapping on graduated temple blocks befitting that early jazz. You’ve never heard Oh By Jingo played like Bob Winter, with blazing runs up and down the keyboard! Thanks to Kathy Wittman, we have a video of it back at the Sherborn Inn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvWIIwCU-jg
Eli and The Hot Six will be joined by renowned pianist Butch Thompson at Sculler’s Jazz Club on May 21st for their CD release of Eli & The Hot Six LIVE, Contemporary Classic Jazz.
May 3rd Wolverine Jazz Band started a new monthly series at Ken’s Steak House, Rt. 9 Framingham, MA. We had Tom Boates back from Disney World! Please read the fine REVIEW by Myron Idelson! It was a great success!
Wolverine Jazz Band at Ken’s Steak House, on a Sunday afternoon
Tom Boates trombone (he’s back!) Dave Didriksen drums, Jeff Hughes trumpet, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Ross Petot piano, John Clark clarinet/bari sax.
May 7th Blue Horizon Jazz Band played the first Thursday of the month at Primavera Ristorante
Blue Horizon Jazz Band
Steve Taddeo drums, John Kefalas trombone, Gerry Gagnon tuba, Jeff Hughes trumpet, Dave MacMillan guitar, Stan McDonald soprano leader/sax/vocals.
This is fine Traditional Jazz! Jeff’s trumpet took the melodic lead, with Stan flitting around the melody with embellishments, and John’s trombone filling in the “holes” with extensive use of the slide. The solos were filled with exemplary improvisations, Gerry Gagnon is one of the finest tuba players in this area; he coordinated with Steve on his 1938 Slingerland Drums, tapping on a tiny Grecko cymbal attached to the bass drum, keeping perfect time. It was great to have Dave MacMillan back on rhythm guitar after a long recovery from an accident. Welcome back, Dave!!
May 9th Seacoast Stompers Quartet at ACT III in Littleton, MA
ACT IV in Lowell ran into another bureaucratic headache and could not open. Thank you Gwenn and Josely for your immeasurable patience!! Seacoast Stompers had to trim down to a Quartet to play in ACT III in Littleton.
Frank Stadler piano, Jeff Hughes trumpet, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Al Bernard tuba.
Seacoast Stompers Quartet
Jeff Hughes has many faces, Bix Beiderbecke, Bunny Berigan, Joe ‘King’ Oliver, Buddy Bolden, with his lyrical style and melody-based improvisations. He and Jimmy Mazzy are brothers at heart, having played together since the 1980’s, especially with Ray Smith’s Paramount Jazz Band. Frank Stadler’s piano set them free to exchange riffs, play intricate melodies and counterpoint, and Albie Bernard provided the perfect bass lines. It was a memorable afternoon!!
Act III is a small venue, but has a bar and serves a fine assortment of Mediterranean cuisine. When Act IV in Lowell is finally allowed to open, the full 7-piece band will play on the 2nd Saturday of the month from 2-5pm. We hope!
In the meantime, we are all extremely grateful to these wonderful musicians for making this a great life for ALL ages!!
Scott Philbrick cornet, Craig Ball clarinet, Steve Piermarini trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Frank Stadler leader/piano, Al Bernard sousaphone, Bob Reardon drums
The Seacoast Stompers were back at Bemis Hall at their regular daylight time, 2-5pm, Saturday afternoons – great time to listen to great Jazz. They are wonderful, lyrical players, inspire one another, enjoying what they do, pleasing their audience. We especially enjoy Jimmy’s many songs. (We’ve been listening to Jimmy for over 43 years, and he is still unique.)
They began as always with their theme song, At The Jazz Band Ball. Frank Stadler leads the band, but Scott Philbrick is their ‘music’ leader. Frank held a list of tunes they would play. Something new had been added – all the endings were kept short and abrupt. Each one caught us by Surprise!
This was Craig Ball’s first sorti after breaking bones in his hand when he slipped on ice four weeks ago. He still should have had at least two weeks recovery, but was climbing the walls. So he returned to playing clarinet with a swollen left hand, clarinet still reaching for the stratosphere!
Everybody Loves My Baby – check out that clarinet.
I Would Do Most Anything For You, Scotty racing so fast on cornet, it almost made us dizzy, it was a Wowzer!
Moving to more moderate tempo, Mama’s Gone, Goodbye, Jimmy at his best with Albie’s powerful brass, Stadler offering just the right chords, drum tapping on crash cymbal.
Jimmy solo backed by Frank Stadler on piano and Al Bernrd tuba, plus drum not pictured
China Boy (video by Marce)
Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home had Scott playing sweet smooth cornet with Jimmy backing on banjo.
Upbeat Lady be Good, band in great New Orleans polyphony with exciting individual solos, Scott sneaking in tidbits of other tunes, Jimmy’s banjo pushing the beat with Bob beating hard on every drum he had!
Frank said that half of the tunes in this idiom seem to be in the key of F. So they moved to Rose Room, in the key of A♭, Scott’s cornet almost talking. Nice dance tune; there’s room at the back of the hall for dancing.
Al Bernard wrapped in sousaphone
Albie not only pushes the beat wrapped in sousaphone, but softly responds to solos In My Honey’s Loving Arms.
Strutting With Some Barbecue was wild!
Mood Indigo had an extraordinary cornet and trombone duet, with Scott throwing in some wa wa on muted cornet.
Scott Philbrick and Steve Piermarini in great muted duet
Jimmy’s choice, Nagasaki, in B♭, cornet leading, trombone playing counterpoint, Jimmy startling vocal. Piano took the intro to My Monday Date with Jim vocal.
It’s been a long time since they played I Ain’t Got Nobody, Pieranunzi playing fine growling muted trombone. Blue Lu, Bob Reardon with left stick on snare drum, right on splash cymbal, pushing the band.
Bobby’s choice of tunes – he always picks my favorite, Limehouse Blues. Piano intro, Bob’s brushes on tom tom drums, arms flailing in the air.
Bobby Reardon hitting all the drums!
E♭ banjo 16 bar intro into Louisiana, band following with exciting Dixieland Jazz.
Chicago was HOT, a barn burner with Jimmy scatting. Another upbeat, Found A New Baby with Jim vocal, Bob ended it with a stinging crash cymbal.
Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate. Frank loves playing this 1870 Steinway!
They closed with another rouser, Swing That Music. Bobby wouldn’t let it end, playing two moving drum encores.
They also played Swing That Music here in January, with Dave Whitney on cornet and Scotty on banjo. This was before Craig broke his hand. That tune is always an excellent closer.
.
This music touches the heart and spirit. The musicians consider themselves lucky to be jazz players; they love this music. The don’t use charts, they listen to each other, improvising, sometimes challenging each other. They don’t necessarily get rewarded, except from the crowd that shows appreciation by applauding their marvelous talent.
Seacoast Stompers will be moving to a new venue. It’s been fun being here at Bemis Hall, thank you Harold McAleer and Vern Welch for making it possible. Next month on Saturday, May 9th, the Seacoast Stompers move to ACT IV, (formerly Acton Jazz Café) now at Jameson’s Restaurant, 26 Andover St, Lowell, Massachusetts 01852 still from 2-5pm. Come have a good meal (5 ½ Stars), a drink, and enjoy this great band!! We hope to see you there – bring a friend.
Harold McAleer with trusty video camera
We expect Harold will be taping at Jameson’s restaurant also. We hope they have good lighting!
Scott Philbrick cornet, Blair Bettencourt clarinet/soprano sax/vocals, Lee Prager trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Frank Stadler piano/leader, Al Bernard sousaphone, Bob Reardon drums
Daylight!! Afternoons of Dixieland Jazz are rare! It was a pleasure coming to Bemis Hall in Lincoln Massachusetts, even if it was raining, to hear the return of the Seacoast Stompers after a particularly brutal New England winter! The band had to cancel their February concert because of snow. We’ve missed them.
They began with At The Jazz Band Ball, always a barrel-house opener that sets the tone for an afternoon of uplifting, toe tapping, high energy music. Each of these musicians is a pro in his own right; nurtured and inspired by New Orleans music, they are phenomenal!
Frank has maintained a list of each song, where and when it was played.
They are also independent. Frank always brings in a list of tunes to play, but they generally ignore it. Tonight he brought in a complete listing of tunes that he has meticulously maintained since they first began in 2008. They checked out the list, looking for different styles, trying not to duplicate any melody. Each musician chose a tune.
Unfortunately, reed player Craig Ball fell down the previous day and hurt his right hand. He will be in a cast for some time. Blair Bettencourt graciously filled in for him. We’ve known Blair for over 40 years, so it was a pleasure to hear him again.
Scott Philbrick
Scott Philbrick is the ‘music leader’ of the band, letting them choose songs from the list, bringing them together as a team. His cornet generally establishes the melody, and the band sores with him making powerful music.
Everybody Loves My Baby, we love Lee’s trombone. Lee Prager joined the band in 2010 and has been a plus ever since. His deep, burnished, trombone is reminiscent of Tommy Dorsey. We don’t hear him often enough, he really makes a difference. He was also featured on I’ll Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plans.
Three Little Words, In My Dreams with Jim on sweet vocal. An old Basie tune: Things Ain’t What They Used To Be. The Front line had fun with shading on this one. Blair surprised everyone with a long, smearing gliss up the scale, Scott picked it up with some effort doing a slow gliss from low to high on cornet. It was much easier for Lee with that long, slow, slurring, slide on trombone! Nice touch.
Albie listens carefully and provides momentum for the ensembles, and also quietly backs many of the solos. Blair picked Tin Roof Blues, the musicians inspiring each other on this Trad Jazz chestnut. Lee called Mama’s Gone, Goodbye, giving Albie one of many sousaphone solos.
Elke and granddaughter Stella
Elke and Stella were having a ball dancing
in the back of the room.
There was a romping New Orleans take on Jelly Roll Blues, with ultra tight ensemble and great piano. It’s obvious that Frank loves playing piano; he says all Steinway pianos are individuals, handmade by specialized craftsmen. This one in Bemis Hall was built in 1870. Frank said “Playing it is a joy, even though I have a nine-foot Steinway at home”.
Frank Stadler loves playing piano.
Stealing Apples, Fats Waller’s tune made famous by Benny Goodman, was absolutely WILD, followed by a scorching Avalon. This never gets dull!
Bob Reardon posed for this one.
Bob Reardon listens carefully and gives the band just the bang it needs. He picked Limehouse Blues, with a tempo that was frightening-fast. (Forget the list, Bob always asks for Limehouse.)
Bob hit the drums with everything he had, using blue wire brushes. He knows his stuff – he has played for 27 years at the Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus.
Blair Bettencourt on bent soprano sax
Blair Bettencourt plays exciting clarinet. He has a particularly soft way of playing eloquent bent soprano sax. He also sang a couple of songs for us in a smooth, powerful voice.
Jimmy Enright and I were dancing to his clarinet at Bob Connors Yankee Rhythm Kings’ first performance in New England Life Hall in 1975.
Jimmy is extraordinary; he had just arrived from Florida this morning where he performed with the Williams Reunion Jazz Band.
Jimmy Mazzy
How Come You Do Me Like You Do? Sugar, In his own distinctive style, he pleads, cajoles, scats, sweet talks. He picked I Want a Little Girl, backed by Blair playing soft soprano sax, with Scott and Lee on muted cornet and trombone. Nice.
They closed with an upbeat Mandy, and sent us home with sunshine inside, if not outside. You can catch them LIVE at Bemis Hall every month. The Seacoast Stompers will return on April 11th, same time, same station, same fantastic group of musicians. Hope to see you there!
Craig Ball and his sky-writing stratospheric clarinet will be missed by his throng of fans and the many bands he plays in. We wish him a speedy recovery!!
Frank Stadler – piano and leader, Scott Philbrick – trumpet, Craig Ball – clarinet, Steve Piermarini – trombone, Jimmy Mazzy – banjo, Al Bernard – tuba, Bobby Reardon – drums
This Saturday was unique in more ways than one. This being the last Saturday of the month, Steve Piermarini filled in for Lee Prager on trombone. He’s been with us before – fine player. The Seacoast Stompers picked songs at random from their vast repertoire, and featured two new vocalists. This would be their last gig here at Nagog Park. The Acton Jazz Café was forced to close May 1st.
Steve Piermarini
At The Jazz Band Ball, Everybody Loves My Baby, appropriate for this day – There’ll Be Some Changes Made, with Jimmy vocal, Craig on low register clarinet and Steve on growling trombone.
Frank introduced the first vocalist, Maureen Benson. Maureen sings with Jazzport, Frank is pianist, at the Cape Ann Brew Pub in Gloucester, MA. She started with I Don’t Know Enough About You.
Maureen Benson A Train – video speaks for itself!
Scott Philbrick had the vocal on From Monday On, the whole band playing fantastic New Orleans polyphony. Jimmy introduced Take Your Tomorrow and Give Me Today with banjo and a vocal, Scott backing him on silky cornet. Craig resurrected Artie Shaw with his clarinet on Blue Lou.
I Would Do Most Anything For You was a barn burner! Fast and Hot clarinet, Scott followed with quick multiple notes on cornet, wild trombone, finally ended with bang-up drumming by Bobby Reardon. WOW! They continued up-tempo with Undecided, smearing gliss on clarinet, piano flying high, bass drum pushing the band.
Carrie and Jimmy Mazzy
Carrie Mazzy crooned to husband Jimmy on Write Myself a Letter.
Sandy Cash
Sandy Cash, charming vocalist from New Orleans, sang a lively Basin St. Blues, and won over every heart in the Café.
Emily Shamieh
Makin’ Whoopee was sung by another fine vocalist, Emily Shamieh, of Jamaica Plain, Boston
Struttin’ With Some Barbecue, Jazz Me Blues. Maureen returned with As Long As I Live, making the song her own, and a lively I Cried For You. They closed with Bobby’s favorite, Limehouse Blues.
We were all feeling the Blues. The Seacost Stompers were three months short of six years at the Acton Jazz Café, presenting the highest level of entertainment. They gave us an extra tune with Swing That Music, before ending it for who knows how long. Frank thanked Gwenn for her devotion to live jazz. She spent unbelievable hours featuring Live Jazz close to seven days a week at the Acton Jazz Cafe, sometimes two and three bands in one day. That’s pure devotion!! Thank you Gwenn. Be well, we hope to hear from you soon!
Seacoast Stompers at the AJC, 26 April 2014
Set 1
1 At The Jazz Band Ball
2 Everybody Loves My Baby
3 There’ll Be Some Changes Made
4 I Don’t Know Enough About You (maureen-vocal)
5 Take the A-train (maureen-vocal)
6 From Monday On
7 Take Your Tomorrow
8 Blue Lou
9 I Would Do Anything For You
Set 2
1 What Can I Say After I Say I’m Sorry
2 Undecided
3 I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write (Carrie-vocal)
4 Stealin Apples
5 Makin Whoopee (Emily-vocal)
6 Struttin With Some Barbecue
Set 3
1 Basin Street Blues (Sandy Cash-vocal)
2 Jazz Me Blues
3 As Long As I Live (Maureen-vocal)
4 I Cried For You (Maureen-vocal)
5 Limehouse Blues
6 Swing That Music
Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Café, on a bitter cold January 4th 2014, with Scott Philbrick cornet, Craig Ball clarinet, Lee Prager trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Al Bernard souzaphone, Bobby Reardon drums, Frank Stadler leader/piano. Videos by Harold McAleer.
In spite of the bitterly cold weather, The Acton Jazz Café had few empty seats when The Seacoast Stompers began another year of 1st Saturdays of the month. Many of us were suffering from Trad Jazz withdrawal over the holidays, with the musicians busy playing at private gigs.
Leader Frank Stadler was back with a long list of tunes, offering two at a time, and letting the musicians choose. They are almost all Band Leaders and have minds of their own; sometimes they picked one, sometimes picked totally different tunes. There is much discussion, but it’s all in great fun. Frank is to be commended for patiently managing the divergent personalities that are the Seacoast Stompers.
They started hot and heavy with the Bix version of their theme song, At The Jazz Band Ball, hot solos!
Frank took the intro with bass notes on I Would Do Most Anything For You. Bobby went wild on drums!
Frank Stadler, piano – leader
Take Your Tomorrows and Give Me Today, Swing That Music. Nice tuba solo. The rhythm boys set the dynamic background that gets toes tapping.
Jimmy Mazzy, Al Bernard, Bobby Reardon
Jimmy has his own unique style of playing banjo, and singing. We especially liked his ballad, Sugar, with ecstatic interchange between Philbrick and Prager. They challenge each other. Rose Room got dancers up, with Scott sneaking in Always Chasing Rainbows on cornet.
We all helped celebrate Jack Phelan’s 90th birthday, who was here with his family. Jack is the pianist for the New Liberty Jazz Band and formerly led the Scollay Square Stompers.
Jimmy Mazzy and Jack Phelan
Jack says “The Seacoast Stompers are a great group, and anytime Jimmy Mazzy is with a group it’s even better!”
He said “Frank Stadler is a top notch piano player, with a steady rhythm and steady beat.” “The front line, Craig, Scotty and Lee, are just great! They sound like they rehearsed for weeks, but we know they were improvising, making it up.”
Frank Stadler filled in for Jack with the New Liberty Jazz Band on their 1941 Fire Truck last November 23rd at the Methuen Parade, when it was again cold weather. Jack recommended him.
Jack Phelan has been around Jazz and Jazz Joints for a long time. He was sitting up front and center, where he could hear them discussing what they were going to play next. He said to Scotty, “Since they moved the spittoon from the corner of the saloon, you just can’t spit anymore!” That broke them up!
The band wanted to play the Birthday song for him, instead he requested Ain’t She Sweet and they were happy to oblige.
Frank asked for Fidgety Feet. All agreed, no discussion!
We especially like Jimmy’s ballads, I’ve Got The World on a String.
Bill Flynn and the Missus from New Hampshire found themselves a corner for dancing. He’s a retired Raytheon engineer who writes books for sale on Kindle as a hobby.
Lee Prager
Trombone intro I’ll Take Manhattan, Lee bends over backwards to get those perfect notes. Sweet tune, followed by something peppy – Sunday.
St. Louis Blues is one of the oldest tunes known to the cognoscenti. Tuba intro, imaginative ensemble. They listen to each other and to the music, play mesmerizing blues.
Fantastic ensemble by the front line, Craig Ball, Scott Philbrick, and Lee Prager
Bobby Reardon has two sets of drums with him, he has another job in Stoneham when he leaves the Acton Jazz Cafe. The musicians really appreciate his tasteful, shrewd, drumming.
Bobby Reardon
They closed this set with a romp roaring Sweet Georgia Brown.
Harold McAleer with his video camera.
We are all grateful that Harold McAleer is back. He is dedicated to recording this music for posterity, and spends hours videotaping and editing many videos, especially of the Seacoast Stompers. You can find hundreds of them on You Tube.
There was much more great jazz in store. (see below). We’ll be back with the usual Trad Jazz Crowd, thirsting for this kind of music, on February 1st. We hope to see Jack Phelan back too!!
Seacoast Stompers January 4, 2014 Tunes:
Set 1
1 At The Jazz Band Ball
2 Sugar
3 I Would Do Anything For You
4 Take Your Tomorrow
5 Swing That Music
6 Rose Room
7 Fidgety Feet
8 I’ve Got the World on a String
9 Sunday
10 St Louis Blues
11 Sweet Georgia Brown
Set 2
1 It Don’t Mean a Thing If it Ain’t Got That Swing
2 Tin Roof Blues
3 Ain’t She Sweet
4 Curse of an Aching Heart
5 New Orleans
6 Undecided
Set 3
1 Jelly Roll (Ain’t Gonna Give You None)
2 Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down
3 If I had You
4 Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me
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.
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 2nd, 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
