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.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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