Eli Newberger’s All-Star Septet, featuring Bob Winter and Randy Reinhart

Posted on January 14, 2014 by admin

Eli’s All Star Septet at the Sherborn Inn, January 14, 2014 Randy Reinhart trumpet, Ted Casher Reeds, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Jeff Guthery drums, Eli Newberger tuba, Rebecca Sullivan vocals, Caroline Newberger washboard.

This was delectable hot jazz by musicians playing from the heart, enjoying the challenge of improvising, never quite knowing what was coming next, deeply listening to each other and responding in lively, pulsating jazz.

The All Stars opened with At the Jazz Band Ball, a jazz instrumental first recorded by the ODJB (Original Dixieland Jass Band) in 1917. Eli introduced Randy Reinhart , a celebrated virtuoso on cornet, trumpet and slide trombone, just back from playing in Japan. Randy played lyrical cornet on You Can’t Take That Away From Me, setting the tone for this splendid evening.

Randy Reinhart

Rebecca Sullivan’s phrasing adds to the sweetness of the songs. Blue Skies, Lullaby of Birdland, Them There Eyes sung in her own unique expressive nuances. She has an extraordinary broad range, and uses it to the fullest. Jimmy took the final vocal, with Ted on tenor sax, cornet interweaving with trombone. Fabulous!

Rebecca Sullivan

Rebecca was backed by all the instrumentalists in a poignant Georgia, with tuba solo that shows why Eli was voted best Traditional Jazz Tuba Player in polls by the Mississippi Rag and Jazzology Magazine.

Bob Winter loves playing piano!

Bob Winter has played with the Boston Pops and supported vocalists for over 30 years. He obviously enjoys making fine music and sharing it with us. His stunning harmonies and sudden key changes on Over the Rainbow took our breath away. Some of the band literally gasped. He was featured with a passionate and riveting Satin Doll and backed Rebecca’s capricious Dancing Cheek to Cheek with smooth walking bass notes.

Jimmy Mazzy plays and sings “Tomorrow Night”

Jimmy dug into his storehouse of great early 1900’s tunes and came up with Tomorrow Night. Just Jimmy and banjo; soul warming, he really gets his head around the lyrics:

Ted Casher, powerhouse tenor sax

Ted Casher is a precious gem. He’s a powerhouse on tenor sax, and was featured on a Lady Be Good that raised goose bumps. Let’s hope we get a video of this one! Eventually there will be a DVD,

Dynamic Front Line

What a Difference a Day Makes – the front line was a combustible combination, brilliant polyphonic improvisation with extraordinary give and take. They toned down for the piano solo backed only by Jeff’s fine brushing on the snare drum.

At times Randy’s cornet executed clever embelishments all around Eli’s tuba. Randy was relaxed and enjoying himself. So was the audience, intently listening to this fabulous music.

Only ten minutes left, Randy approached the close with an unforgettable Someday You’ll Be Sorry, a tip of the hat to his idol, Louis Armstrong.

Introducing Special guest, Carolyn Newberger, adding spice to the All Stars with her washboard on Jelly Roll Morton’s Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll.

Jimmy, Eli, Jeff, and Carolyn and washboard

Carolyn Newberger adds zest to the All Stars with washboard

They closed with a quick Tiger Rag, originally played by the ODJB in 1917. Eli’s All Stars played it with equal fiery enthusiasm, with a roaring tuba tiger, great solos – drummer let loose, nice muted trombone by Herb Gardner. Another barn burner! We’re looking forward to more lively New Orleans Jazz in the next version of Eli’s All Stars with Bob Winter, piano (Boston Pops) and Rebecca Sullivan, vocalist (New England Conservatory), and Bo Winiker, trumpet, with Ted Casher, clarinet and tenor sax, Herb Gardner, trombone, Jeff Guthery, drums, Jimmy Mazzy, drums, Eli Newberger, tuba, and guest washboard wizard, Carolyn Newberger at the Sherborn Inn, 33 N. Main Street, (inters. of Rts. 16 & 27) Sherborn, MA Reservations: 508-655-9521 or info@sherborninn.com. Hope to see you there!!

Videos by Kathy Wittman, recorded by WGBH’s Frank Cunningham

Tunes:

1. At the Jazz Band Ball
2. You Can’t Take That Away from Me
3. Blue Skies
4. Georgia on My Mind
5. Satin Doll
6. Stardust
7. Cheek to Cheek
8. Tomorrow (Jimmy’s banjo and vocal)
9. Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll
10. Them There Eyes
11. Our Love is Here to Stay
12. Lady be Good
13. Over the Rainbow (piano solo)
14. Lullaby of Birdland
15. What a Difference a Day Makes
16. Some Day You’ll Be Sorry (cornet feature)
17. Tiger Rag

Eli’s All Stars with Bob Winter piano at the Sherborn Inn, December 3, 2013

Posted on December 3, 2013 by admin

Eli Newberger leader/tuba, Bob Winter piano, Rebecca Sullivan vocals, Bo Winiker trumpet/flugelhorn, Herb Gardner trombone, Ted Casher reeds, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Jeff Guthery drums, Carolyn Newberger washboard.

Everyone was at the top of their form at the Sherborn Inn on Tuesday, December 3rd at the Sherborn Inn, the Last Tuesday Jazz for this year.

Bob Winter approached the piano and started playing Undecided. After 32 plus years of playing piano for the Boston Pops, and backing all its vocalists, he’s very comfortable at the piano. (It was in perfect pitch because Jimmy Mazzy gave it an emergency tune up.)

Bob Winter duo with Bo Winniker Photo by Kathy Wittman, ball square FILMS

Bo Winiker on flugelhorn

Bo Winker joined Winter on silky-smooth flugelhorn for a duo performance, as the remainder of the band slipped in.

Winiker made a magnificent contribution all evening on trumpet and flugelhorn, and backing vocalist Rebecca Sullivan.

Rebecca Sullivan in red amd white dress and red sweater with one button tied at the center.

Rebecca is in the graduate program at the New England Conservatory of Music, and an asset to the Boston music scene. She was adventurous and deeply expressive. Stardust, Perdido, Honeysuckle Rose, My Old Flame,The Man I Love, and Memories of You, are full of passion, zest, virtuosity, lovely expressive nuances, and fabulous interactions between Rebecca and instrumentalists.

I Can’t Give You Anything But Love

Ted Casher clarinet, Bo Winiker trumpet, Herb Gardner trombone

Ted Casher, Bo Winiker, Herb Gardner

Rebecca’s voice and Bob’s piano are captured beautifully on Someone to Watch Over Me. Winter’s solo variations on Over the Rainbow and Charleston Rag were astounding, provoking gasps of delight from both musicians and audience. He gave Eli’s tuba a workout on Tico Tico!

Eli Newberger attacks the tuba!

Jeff Guthery

After returning from Asia and Europe, Jeff Guthery is finally fulfilling his dream of attending Berklee College of Music. He knows when to stay out of the way, or kick it up on all genre of music. In Traditional Jazz he mainly uses brushes on snare drum and cymbals, tapping on the woodblock on Fidgety Feet,

Bo was featured on trumpet on a magnificent Moonlight in Vermont. The ubiquitous Ted Casher played with energy and syncopation on clarinet, tenor and soprano sax.

Jimmy Mazzy is famous for his self-taught single-string picking on banjo. I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Winter followed, emulating on single notes, then continued with electrifying piano.

Herb Gardner, monster trombone and piano player from New York, recently moved to Massachusetts. Welcome, Herb! Herb and Jimmy’s Trombone Charlie (Herbie) was delightful.

Carolyn with eyes closed playing washboard with spoons

Carolyn enjoys playing washboard!
Photo by Kathy Wittman

Carolyn Newberger was featured on Coney Island Washboard, with Jimmy speaking the words. Marvelous ensemble backing Ted’s powerful soprano sax in stop time.

Rebecca closed with a sultry My Old Flame, backed by gut-wrenching tenor sax. The evening was intensely pleasurable and full of spine-tingling moments, filmed for video by Kathy Wittman of Ball Square Films, and recorded by WGBH’s Frank Cunningham. The upcoming videos will be great! Stay tuned.

There will be another special evening at the Sherborn Inn January 14th, 2014, when Eli’s All Stars return with cornet player Randy Reinhart. For those who don’t know him, here he is with most of this band at a Gershwin night at the Tavern Club in Boston two Valentine’s Days ago:

Strike Up the Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NsUbQFSlio

They Can’t Take That Away from Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZpJ6VKXLk0

See you there??

Marce

Jazz Tuber Trio Plus Four at the Sherborn Inn, November 12, 2013

Posted on November 12, 2013 by admin

Piano, Banjo, Vocalist, Tuba, Drum, Ten Sax, Trombone

Jazz Tuber Trio Eli, Jimmy and Ted, Plus Bob Winter piano, Rebecca Sullivan vocals, Jeff Guthery drums, Herb Gardner trombone, Carolyn Newberger washboard

It certainly was an exciting evening at the Sherborn In on November 12, with Boston Pops’ pianist Bob Winter joining The Jazz Tuber Trio. Bob Winter has been the pianist for the Boston Pops for over 30 years, but also has extensive experience in clubs, television, radio, and theaters, including performances with Henry Mancini, Teddy Wilson, Buddy DeFranco, Mel Torme, Luciano Pavarotti, Eddie Daniels, Stan Getz, Cleo Laine/John Dankworth, and Airto Moreira.

Bob Winter

Bob set the mood with piano intro to an upbeat Found a New Baby, just as New York’s Herb Gardner walked in carrying his trombone case. Surprise!

Herb Gardner moved to NY in 1963 and began touring with Wild Bill Davison, Kenny Davern and Dick Wellstood, was a regular at the Metropole, Jimmy Ryan’s and Eddie Condon’s nightclubs. He’s appeared with virtually all of the classic jazz musicians in the New York City. He just walked in, took out the trombone, sat down and started playing.

Ted Casher and Herb Gardner

We love this marvelous hot jazz. You never know what’s going to happen next! Instrumental titans playing delectable hot jazz!

No holds barred – combustible combinations of piano, tenor sax, trombone, Eli’s tuba maintaining a deep underpinning bassline, Jeff Guthery laying down the beat with brushes.

Jeff Guthery mostly uses brushes

Eli introduced vocalist Rebecca Sullivan, an accomplished vocalist and teacher, with a three-octave range. She’s learning something new at the New England Conservatory of Music, with Eli Newberger assigned as her mentor. She’s an emotionally powerful performer, singing very slowly, which takes considerable skill.

Squeeze Me.

Eli called for a fast tune, Bob responded with a lovely solo on Ida. (Here he is at the Tavern Club in Boston 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtAF92TCxtE)

Rebecca makes the songs personal and passionate.

Silky-smooth Satin Doll, Rebecca sings it in her own style, stretching out words and syllables, adding unexpected emphasis, going from low to high when least expected.

In a more romantic tune, a lovely Someone To Watch Over Me. We were mesmerized and only caught a partial video.

I can’t Give You Anything But Love, Rebecca almost talking the vocal, backed by Winter on piano. Eli said “He plays in unconventional keys to support her exceptional range, with an amazing lower register.”

The unpredictable reed-man, Ted Casher began the Ukrainian Ochi Chyornye with tenor sax in Klezmer style, the band slipping in with Dark Eyes. Eli’s turbo charged bass riffs gave it energy and drive.

Rebecca, with Jimmy and Eli

Mean to Me, Rebecca feeling the song.

Jimmy took off in his own unique single-string banjo with Fidgety Feet, Jeff backing him with brushes on snare drum. Fans had fidgety feet! Winter finished the last chorus with multi-layered intense piano.

Carolyn Newberger had spent most of the evening listening to the music while drawing portraits of members of the band. Carolyn’s Portraits.
(Her works “In The Moment” had a Showing last month at The Harriet Tubman Gallery Boston.)

She sat in on washboard for Louis Armstrong’s 1936 Don’t Forget To Mess Around When You’re Dancing the Charleston, Jimmy on vocal. The washboard began to come apart, but Carolyn maintained her cool, set it on the floor, holding the instrument vertical and in one piece, never missed a note playing spoons through the whole tune. Bravo!

Caroline Newberger, resourceful washboard maven, joins the rhythm boys

Carolyn Newberger, resourceful washboard maven, adds rhythm

Eli plays tuba like a solo instrument with energy and drive on Perdido, supported by Jeff’s brushes, the ensemble connecting in breathtaking tempo, led by clarinet and tenor sax. Listeners were dancing in their seats!

They closed with romping polyphonic ensemble on Royal Garden Blues, Jimmy scatting, each instrument taking a final solo.

Great fun! And we’ll be doing it all again on December 3^rd, with the addition of another titan, Boston’s famous Bo Winiker on trumpet! See you there?

Jazz Tuber Sextet at the Sherborn Inn

Posted on October 1, 2013 by admin

Eli on piano, clarinet, banjo, string bass, and drums

Jazz Tuber Sextet

Jazz Tuber Sextet at the Sherborn Inn, October 1, 2013

Ted Casher clarinet, tenor and soprano sax, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger piano/tuba, Rebecca Sullivan vocals, Andrew Schiller string bass, Jeff Guthery drums, Carolyn Newberger washboard

Jimmy Mazzy and Andrew Schiller

The Jazz Tuber Trio returned to the Sherborn Inn with three new members. Rebecca and Jeff have been with us before, but this was bassist Andrew Schiller’s initiation to the Inn.

The Tuber Trio kicked it off with a rousing HOT Dr. Jazz.

Jazz Tuber Trio

Then Eli moved to piano for Bessie Smith’s Put It Right Here, backing Jimmy’s vocal.
Eli loves to play both tuba and piano. His absolute rapture in making music is obvious, and he shares that joy with his audience.

Eli Newberger

Rebecca is a grad student at the New England Conservatory in jazz voice and contemporary improvisation, Andrew is also at NEC, Jeff is at Berklee College of Music. Eli let them loose with a sauntering swing on Perdido, with Rebecca’s refreshing vocal, and Andrew’s relentless pulse on string bass.

Rebecca Sullivan

Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Eli on piano backing Rebecca. She has a unique approach to the music, slowly nurturing, passionately stretching it out, reaching deep into the soul of the song. Summertime – Marvelous!

Ted Casher

Back Home Again in Indiana, Andrew on bass, Eli was back on tuba, trading 4s with Jimmy’s scatting. Ted’s soprano sax backed Rebecca on It Had To Be You. On Satin Doll he moved to tenor sax enlivening Jimmy’s singing and scatting. His moaning tenor backed Rebecca’s sentiment on Our Love is Here To Stay.

Jeff Guthery

The Tuber Trio with Andrew and Jeff went wild on Birth of the Blues. Never gets dull! Tenor sax took a whirling intro into I Got Rythm, with Eli on piano, Andrew bass, Rebecca vocal, featuring Jeff Guthery’s dynamic drumming.

And always in the wings, Carolyn Newberger came up front for her special Coney Island Washboard Roundolay – with the washboard that has been resurrected from the attic after 50 years. Retirement has its rewards! Jeff summed it up with one word: “Smokin!”

Carolyn now has more time to devote to her artwork, recently back from her showing, In The Moment, at the Harriet Tubman Gallery in Boston. http://www.carolynnewberger.com/

The evening closed with Mean To Me, with Eli back on piano, Jimmy banjo, Ted on soprano sax, Andrew string bass, Jeff swirling brushes on snare drum.

The Jazz Tuber Trio will return November 12^th with more surprises. See you there?

Jazz Tuber Trio + 3

Posted on April 2, 2013 by admin

At the Sherborn Inn, April 2, 2013

The Trio, with Ted Casher on reeds, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba/piano, have been joined by a fine drummer, Jeff Guthery drums, for some really Hot Jazz.

The biggest surprise this evening was Rebecca Sullivan, a grad student at the New England Conservatory in jazz voice and contemporary improvisation. Eli is one of the NEC board members who’s participated in the mentoring program since its inception in the mid-1990’s. She and Eli were “assigned” there to one another in the Fall as “mentor” and “mentee.”

Although Eli had heard that Rebecca was great, he had no idea how great. “Did she ever bless us with her swinging and moving interpretations of this familiar material?” Eli.

She certainly did. She’s a natural, charming entertainer, with passion for the music.

She began with Gershwin’s Our Love is Here to Stay, and Sunny Side of the Street.

I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Somewhere Over The Rainbow with her own unique version of the verse.

She instantly captivated the audience with her phrasing and tempo, drawn out pearly notes.

My Old Flame

I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby

The Tubers pulled out an old war horse, That’s A Plenty. They deeply listen to each other and to the music itself, making it energetic and exciting.

The inexhaustible Ted Casher began Bei Mir Bis Du Schoen mixing klezmer clarinet and swing, with Eli backing on tuba and Jeff wild on drums. He introduced Just Squeeze Me (But Don’t Tease Me) on tenor sax, with Rebecca enjoying some high spirited scatting with Ted.

In complete control of the band, Ted is master on clarinet, tenor sax, soprano sax and even a dynamic vocal of Charlie on the MTA.

Now you citizens of Boston,
Don’t you think it’s a scandal
That the people have to pay and pay
Vote for Tom Menino
Fight the fare increase!
Get poor Charlie off the MTA.

You will hear him playing all over the six New England States, thanks to his most avid supporter, his wife Vel. (Thank you, Vel!)

We’ve been listening to Jimmy Mazzy since the early 70’s when he was playing with the New Cabaret Jazz Band at Billy Mitchell’s Postime in Nantasket Beach. He hasn’t changed a bit, and we’re still just as fascinated with his banjo and vocals: an exuberant Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now), Just a Gigolo sounding like a soft love song, Jeff backing him on drums with nice soft brushes. Put it Right Here (Or keep it out there) Eli playing barely detectable low notes on tuba.

Jeff Guthery first played here last January with the Jazz Tuber Trio. Jeff is enrolled in Berklee College of Music.

With rhythmic pattern and tempo, and whispering brush strokes and accents, he plays HOT Traditional Jazz as if he were born to it!

Eli has an enormous commitment to two professions, preventing child abuse, and music. He is world famous for his tuba, but also gets very emotional playing the piano!

Jimmy Mazzy and Eli have been friends for close to 40 years. Weekend seminars on abuse at Children’s Hospital conducted by Eli and Carolyn Newberger in the early 70’s had intermittent breaks of tuba and banjo demonstrating abuse in the songs of the 20’s and 30’s.

Carolyn Newberger was playing washboard back in the mid-1960’s when she and Eli were Resident Directors at Yale’s International House for foreign students. They started a Friday Night Café, where musicians could Jam, and she played washboard.

Eli and Carolyn, who is an artist (see drawings below), child psychologist, and musician, have succeeded in sharing both their personal and professional lives, working together on several projects and often sharing the stage.

On their 50th anniversary, Eli pulled the washboard out of the attic, and Carolyn is back to being an enthusiastic player. With Carolyn on washboard, Ted on soprano sax, Jimmy banjo and scatting, all backed by tuba, we heard a vibrant rendition of Coney Island Washboard Roundelay.

This evening was filled with fast moving, energetic hot jazz. It was also an intimate, informal musical experience with friendship and camaraderie between the musicians and their followers and supporters. We’ll all be back.

The Jazz Tuber Trio, with Rebecca Sullivan and Jeff Guthery, will return to the Sherborn Inn on August 6, October 1, November 12, and December 3rd. Mark your calendars!

And remember the name – Rebecca Sullivan. You’ll be hearing more from her! http://www.rebeccasullivanjazz.com

New England Traditional Jazz Plus

Swing, Traditional Jazz, Dixieland Jazz, Big Bands

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