Seacoast Stompers in 6th year at the Acton Jazz Cafe

Posted on September 7, 2013 by admin

Seacoast Stompers

Scott Philbrick cornet, Craig Ball clarinet, Lee Prager trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Frank Stadler leader/piano, Albie Bernard sousaphone, Bobby Reardon drums

By Marce, Videos by Harold McAleer

The Stompers started right off with an explosive Jazz Band Ball that ignited the Acton Jazz Café, and they were smokin’ the whole afternoon.

Frank Stadler, leader of the Seacoast Stompers

Leader Frank Stadler has a list of every tune they’ve played in those 5+ years. He always brings in a list of new tunes or some they haven’t played lately.

But this is a democratic band, if they don’t like what he calls, they just do something else.

Jimmy Mazz singing, tuba and drums with him

Jimmy sings with Albie and Bobby support

Jimmy Mazzy is something else all by himself!

He sings Nagasaki with Al Bernard on sousaphone and Bobby Reardon raring to go.

The band actually all agreed on that tune, but not the key. Finely tuned ensemble; Craig’s clarinet set the pace, pushing the boundaries. Drums were vibrating off the floor!

Carrie Mazzy sings “Sugar”

Carrie Mazzy flashes a smile, singing Sugar.

They played Three Little Words in triple time, clarinet and cornet squeezing in multiple notes; difficult for trombone, but Prager is resourceful. Al Bernard’s sousaphone drove the band, Craig Ball sneaking in many other tunes – he can do that on clarinet.
Nice brush work by drummer. The musicians really appreciate Bobby Reardon’s drumming. He keeps them going, lays down perfect time, and never gets in the way.

Seacoast Stompers front line – Bob McHenry, former string bass, at right in blue shirt

The inimitable Jimmy Mazzy sings Kansas City. Cornet and trombone have remarkable interplay, but Scotty likes to tease Lee, playing rapid muted passages.
Watch what happens.
Kansas City

Lee Prager played a deep burnished trombone on I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plans, with Jimmy singing a heartwarming, tender ballad.

Lee Prager on trombone

Lulu’s Back in Town was WILD, cornet trading fours with trombone, challenging Prager with vibrating cornet, Lee responding with vibrating trombone, it was hysterical! They actually gave each other high 5’s when it was over. Lee was having so much fun, he never stopped bouncing, except when he was playing. Great talent – it’s a pity we can’t hear him more often.

They moved on to a rabble-rousing China Boy, clarinet starting in nice low register, then moving up the scale into the stratosphere. Stadler prodded marvelous sounds out of the piano. Éva Balazs was back, listening to her favorite ‘humble piano virtuoso’.

They all agreed on Stadler’s call for the finale, Sweet Georgia Brown,
Bobby set the dynamic level:

The energy level was still high, leaving the audience with an adrenaline rush. We’ll all be back October 5th with more fun and upligting jazz with the Seacoast Stompers.

Tunes played this afternoon:

set 1
At The Jazz Band Ball
Someday You’ll Be Sorry
Squeeze Me
Smiles
Sugar
Kansas City
Tin Roof Blues
Old Fashioned Love
Nagasaki

set 2
I Can’t Get Started
Nobody’s Sweetheart Now
How Come You Do Me Like You Do
Oh Baby
Three Little Words
I guess I’ll have to change my plans
Jelly Roll (Ain’t Gonna Give You None)

set 3
Mandy Make Up Your Mind
Sweet Lorraine
Lulu’s Back In Town
China Boy
Sweet Georgia Brown

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!

Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Cafe

Posted on May 4, 2013 by admin

Videos by Harold McAleer

Frank Stadler – piano and leader, Jimmy Mazzy – banjo, Blair Bettencourt – reeds, Scott Philbrick – cornet, Dave Whitney – trumpet, Lee Prager – trombone, Al Bernard – sousaphone, Bobby Reardon – drums.

Leader Frank Stadler announced that there would be an exception to the usual tune selection; this time they would play only old favorites and most requested tunes. They generally avoid repeating tunes! He left the choice of tunes to the guys, varying the tempos.

An obvious change was Blair Bettencourt on clarinet and tenor sax. It’s been a while!

In the late 70s, Marce and Jimmy Enright were dancing at the back of New England Life Hall to the two-beat jazz of The Yankee Rhythm Kings with Jimmy Mazzy and Blair Bettencourt,

The Seacoast Stompers first tested the sound system with a snippet of At The Jazz Band Ball.

Sound-check was done by none other than Fran D’Agostino, who runs the Jazz Jam every Tuesday here at the AJC.

He got it right!

The Seacoast Stompers have built up a significant following of devoted fans that fill the Café on the first Saturday of the month. Alice and Cathy Riley came in from Seekonk, Jack Phelan, pianist for the New Liberty Jazz Band from Swampscott, Dave and Nancy First from Carlisle, Eve Welts, Sally Meyer and friends from Lincoln, Al Ehrenfried, Alice Brunton of Acton, dancers Evelyn and Charlie have been here from day one. The Amoskeag Strummers were well represented.

There’s not much space for dancing; but dancers will make room:

Charlie & Evelyn

Alice & Al

It was great to see Bob McHenry, former Seacoast bassist sitting up front and center, enjoying the music.

Blair Bettencourt’s tenor sax turned Sweet Georgia Brown into a real rabble rouser!

Fabulous tenor sax on a dazzling Stealing Apples

Bob & Marjorie McHenry enjoy Blair’s playing

Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams. Jimmy vocal. He couldn’t resist “Dedicated to Luca Brazzi, swimming with the fishes.” (from Boardwalk Empire).

Time to take it down a bit with Mama’s Gone, Goodbye, Jimmy vocal, Whitney playing marvelous wa wa trumpet.

Cornet, trumpet, trombone, with gut-wrenching tenor sax were fabulous on another old favorite, and most often requested, Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans. Dave with poignant vocal; if you ever visit New Orleans, you can’t leave it behind – it becomes a part of you.

T’ Ain’t No Sin To Take Off Your Skin and Dance Around in Your Bones (Walter Donaldson). Scotty knew many more verses..

I Would Do Most Anything For You, Claude Hopkins’ theme song. Claude was a world famous Boston pianist, and has returned to play in the area with many of our local musicians.

Classy, polished piano performance by Frank.

He requested a ‘down tune’ (as opposed to an upbeat tune). Everybody looked at Jimmy. I’ll Be a Friend With Pleasure.

Dave Whitney, jazz historian, gave interesting backgrounds to all these tunes. “Louis would say Margie is a good ol’ good one.”

Scotty and Lee, both on muted instruments challenging each other – incredible! We love it!

Make Love to Me, a 1954 pop song by Jo Stafford, became a No. 1 hit, using the New Orleans Rhythm King’s music from the 1923 jazz standard Tin Roof Blues…

Sweet intro into Tin Roof Blues,
fantastic clarinet, wa wa cornet and trombone. We love it!

Jimmy’ unique single string banjo was backed by Al Bernard, wrapped in sousaphone.

Bobby Hackett and Jack Teagarden made hits out of a lively Oh Baby from the 1920’s.

Carrie Mazzy came up for fine vocal on A Good Man Is Hard To Find.

Jim & Carrie were packed and ready to go to the Keswick Festival in England.

Hubby Jimmy followed with One Meat Ball, hinting about a restaurant (not the AJC!)

Frank said it was time for a barn burner. This is one of the most requested Classic tunes.

Goodman had a hit with both his big band and quartet.

Strutting With Some Barbecue was played in indescribable tempo!

Tough on a trombone – Lee breezed through it.

Time for a Swing tune. Jimmy with Duke Ellington’s I’m Beginning To see The Light, a Harry James hit in 1944. Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone, had friendly, competitive duet with cornet/trumpet.

Sunny Side of The Street, Dave Whitney scatting vocal, with Blair’s tenor sax, tuba, and piano playing harmony.

Frank asked Dave to pick a tune – he likes Back o’ Town Blues. He and Jimmy have done this before, with Jimmy responding with his own Mazzy quips. Scotty’s multiple notes hit the top of the register, almost squeaking.

Dave was on low, growling trumpet; he never disappoints his public.

Finally Frank asked Bobby Reardon for a tune.

From the seedy side of London, he picked a real war horse, Limehouse Blues. The Seacoast Stompers terminated as fiery as they had begun.

They’ll be back, Frank hopes with the full crew (they are all independent minds!) on the first Saturday of every month for the rest of the year. With their fans in tow, they’ll be here on June 1.

Seacoast Stompers At the NEW Acton Jazz Cafe, 103 Nagog Park, Acton, MA October 6, 2012

Posted on October 6, 2012 by admin

Videos by Vernon Welch

With the support of many volunteers, Gwenn Vivian moved the Acton Jazz Cafe October 1st to 103 Nagog Park – Rts. 119/2A Acton; much easier to find! But their sign isn’t up yet, so watch for Beyond The Border. It’s the last building on the right in the first row. Continue reading →

Seacoast Stompers with Dave Whitney and John Clark at the Acton Jazz Cafe, July 7, 2012

Posted on July 12, 2012 by admin

by Harold McAleer

Seacoast Stompers held their regular 1st Saturday of the month at the Acton Jazz Cafe with Scott Philbrick guitar/cornet, filling in for Jimmy Mazzy, Lee Prager trombone, Bob McHenry string bass, Bobby Reardon drums, Frank Stadler piano, and substitutes Dave Whitney on trumpet, John Clark reeds, and special guest Maureen Benson on vocals.

Maureen Benson with a sweet vocal to this Ellington classic.

for video – sound on – click here: http://youtu.be/v1jYhgZMMMA

Dave Whitney has a woman living way back o’ town at the Acton Jazz Cafe. for video – sound on – click here: http://youtu.be/T5IFUjrFVDc

Catch the exchange between trumpet and trombone!! I love it! (Marce)

And another video:

http://youtu.be/6AWCag3sRnU

Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Cafe, June 2, 2012

Posted on June 2, 2012 by admin

by Marce
videos by Harold McAleer

A horrendous downpour did not deter fans of the Seacoast Stompers on Saturday, June 2^nd. They filled the room at the Acton Jazz Café in spite of the rain, and were not disappointed.

The regular crew were here, with Scott Philbrick on cornet, Lee Prager trombone,Craig Ball clarinet and soprano sax, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Bob McHenry string bass,Bobby Reardon drums, and band leader Frank Stadler on piano. Scott picked the tune list for today – an eclectic mix of Swing and Dixieland.

At The Jazz Band Ball

At The Jazz Band Ball, always a barrel-house opener, set the tone for an afternoon of uplifting, toe tapping, high energy music, with polyphonic ensembles and lively solos. Somebody Stole My Gal, Exactly Like You, Tuxedo Junction, When My Dreamboat Comes Home, Dardanella, I Got Rhythm. The atmosphere is jovial and light-hearted. They love classic jazz and swing, and you can tell they are having fun playing it.

Marie – Lee’s fabulous clean crisp trombone solo was reminiscent of Tommy Dorsey. Just beautiful! Brought tears to our eyes. Honky Tonk Town had smokin’ solos!

CC Rider, with both Scott and Lee playing wa -wa sounds on muted instruments. Fabulous! Craig playing slow slide up the clarinet register. He was in rare form with the two Bb clarinets he brought – one like Artie Shaw’s that reaches into the stratosphere. He also took out a soprano sax for My Pretty Girl and Beale St. Blues that blew us away!

He backed Scotty on his fine vocal From Monday On.

These two musical soul-mates share ideas on how to approach the tunes, making each Saturday afternoon unique and spectacular.

photo and video by Hal McAleer

Jimmy Mazzy had many vocals – we never get enough of them, A Hundred Years From Today, scatting on Nobody’s Sweetheart Now. There was a special request for As Time Goes By. His humble sincerity touched the hearts of the audience, and they responded with an “awwww”.

This tune was dedicated to Al Ehrenfried, who will be celebrating his 90^th birthday on June 19^th at the Sherborn Inn.

June night – apt for the pouring rain, Bobby Reardon doing a turn-around on the drums. Bobby listens carefully and gives the band just the bang it needs. He knows his stuff – he’s been playing regularly for 23 years at the Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus.

Lee Prager moved back for a sizzling duet with Bob McHenry, fantastic interchange between Trombone and String Bass on Lady Be Good.

Bob McHenry is still using the Kay Model C Bass that he used when he was on the road with Billy May. Behind Jimmy’s vocal on I’m Beginning to See The Light, he moved to a 5-string electric bass guitar. It is fretless, and has a flatwound string that makes it sound like his bass. This was a first for us!

He took a lively, pulsating 32-bar solo on upright bass for Jimmy’s vocal on Fats Waller’sSqueeze Me.

Carrie and Jimmy had a sweet duet on Dedicated To You, a tune done by the Mills Brothers and Ella, with Carrie singing the melody and Jimmy harmonizing.

Frank Stadler guides this band of independent characters from behind the 6′ 1″ 1912 Baldwin Grand Piano that Gwenn Vivian recently installed at the cafe. Frank was featured in a nice blues number, handling the rhythm with delicacy and good taste.

It was a fantastic afternoon, and we all left with a bit of sunshine inside, if not outside.

* * *

The Seacoast Stompers play at the Acton Jazz Cafe on the first Saturday of the month, unless there’s a holiday. They will be here July 7th, but Jimmy and Craig will be away at a private function. Sweet substitutes will be Dave Whitney on trumpet, and John Clark, with his multitude of reeds. Scott will move to guitar (which he prefers) and some banjo, and maybe join Whitney for a few wild trumpet/cornet duets!

And for those in New Hampshire, on August 10th the Seacoast Stompers will be at the Merrimack Valley Jazz Festival from 5:40-6:25pm. FLYER

Jimmy Mazzy w/ Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Cafe May 7, 2012

Posted on May 7, 2012 by admin

Video by Harold McAleer

Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Cafe, April 7, 2012

Posted on April 7, 2012 by admin

by Marce
videos by Harold McAleer

The Seacoast Stompers began this Saturday with a fantastic, driving swing beat with At The Jazz Band Ball – and set the tone for an afternoon of great Jazz and Swing.

Craig Ball, Scott Philbrick, and Frank Stadler took turns picking out the tunes, so nobody knew for sure what they were going to play next. The musicians were having fun with it, playing as much for themselves as the fans out front, and the fans were feeding off the energy radiating from the band. You could feel it in the air!

Pianist/leader Frank Stadler has a knack for bringing together the right musicians:

Scott Philbrick on cornet, Lee Prager trombone, Craig Ball clarinet and soprano sax, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Frank Stadler piano, Bob McHenry acoustic string bass and Bobby Reardon drums.

They even threw in some soul-wrenching blues with Apex Blues, Jimmy adding his unique banjo and scatting, clarinet drawing out the notes, the trumpet and trombone chorus in vibrato – fabulous!

This band radiates energy, ask 93-year-old Frank, who officially collects admissions at the door.

The Amoskeag Strummers from New Hampshire were well represented, everyone in high spirits.

Carrie Mazzy’s rendition of I Don’t Know Enough About You, tender lyrics presented with heartfelt feeling.

We never get enough of Jimmy’s vocals, there isn’t another one like him in the whole world!

Jimmy scatting on It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Thing, with Craig on soprano sax.

Special treat this afternoon was vocalist Maureen Benson, who normally sings with the band, Jazzport, in Danvers.

Effervescent delivery on this Fats Waller classic Ain’t Misbehaving

Craig’s soprano sax was perfect forEaster Parade, the holiday was the next day.

I Can’t Give You Anything But Love was WILD – with Scotty quoting many other tunes.

Talk about resonating energy, Maureen Swing Dancing with Charlie to Sweet Georgia Brown.

Craig picked another Blues – Blues in B Flat, Lee started it with a low, growling trombone.

Marvelous harmonic ensemble by the virtuoso musicians on the front line. Dancers loved it!

Drummer Bobby Reardon keeps a constant beat, working with the band, never speeding up; had an especially great duet with clarinetist Craig Ball on You Can Depend On Me.

His forceful Gene Krupa solo, using the splash cymbal on It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing, demonstrated his admiration for the drummer.

Check out his auto registration.

They closed with a special request for Limehouse Blues, beginning with the whole band in tight ensemble, fine intonation by soprano sax, cornet, and trombone.

* * * *

Gwenn Vivian should get a special Jazz Award – for presenting JAZZ at the Acton Jazz Cafe six days a week, sometimes three bands in one day (like today.) That’s a lot of work! She is truly dedicated. Thank you, Gwenn, and the members of your crew who take such good care of us.

Gwenn Vivian

Greg – waiter

Lee – bartender