Bill Reynold’s Back Bay Ramblers

This was Traditional Jazz at its height, leader Bill Reynolds choosing tunes mostly from the early 20’s that we have never heard before.  This was an enchanting revival of Bill’s Dad, Ed Reynolds’ Back Bay Ramblers.  The musicians were all dressed in tuxedos, because his father insisted that “The ‘Band had to be dressed as well as the listeners”, and the listeners in Ed’s time wore fancy dresses and tuxes.

This was Ed’s concept and style of music.  It was not only popular music of the day, but it also contained a lot of jazz.  Ed took pop music and chose tunes that had a lot of section work between horn, trumpet, saxes, and clarinet.   What the arrangements did was feature very tight section work by these four professional musicians.  It was all written, except for the solos.  Ed respected good musicianship, you couldn’t fake it, so you had to be a good reader and good technician to play this music.

Bill’s Back Bay Ramblers were definitely up to the task. He has two amazing sax players in Billy Novick and Mark Earley, Mike Pipeman taking the lead on trumpet, the ubiquitous Dan Gabel, leader of the Abletones Big Band, on trombone, Ross Petot magnetic on piano, with Jim Guttman’s string bass and Bill’s drum working in sync to maintain the proper Trad beat; music to our ears!

Some of the first tunes were requested by Dan Gable, Hello Lola, that was played by a star studded band in 1929, The Mound City Blue Blowers with Coleman Hawkins (ts) Charles “Pee Wee” Russel (cl); Glenn Miller (tb) William “Red” McKenzie (kazoo); Jack Bland (g); Eddie Condon (bj); Pops Foster (b); Gene Krupa (d);  Bill said he hoped this band would make them proud.

Nancy McGhee has a great feeling for this music.

Bill introduced Nancy McGhee with Dreaming ‘Bout My Man 1931, done by Hunters’ Serenaders, a Territory Band.  Nancy is a beautiful and talented vocalist, a graduate of both Berklee and The New England Conservatory. She teaches music at Lawrence High School…. and is also Bill’s cousin.

She sang Concentrating on You that was done by Connie Boswell in 1931.  She was featured on Honeybunch, made popular by Jane Green in 1926. Down Among The Sugar Canes, sung by Lilian Roth in the 1930’s.

The Ramblers played Duke Ellington’s Riding But Walking that Duke’s Cotton Club Orchestra played in 1926. Fine trumpet by Mike Peipman who took the lead on every tune.  It’s on their Red Hot Band CD, and for sale.

Both saxes were marvelous together on the 1929 That’s Where You’re Wrong 1929.  Dan Gabel was blowing his trombone into a megaphone.  More about that later.

Mark has a collection of saxes.

Top and Bottom was recorded by the Joe Steele Orchestra in 1929.  Trumpet lead, with the band backup. Nice bass by Jim Guttmann.  Mark Early on baritone sax.

Raising The Roof was done by Henderson’s Roseland Orchestra in 1929, starting here with two clarinets, then Mark moving to tenor sax.  Very abrupt ending – this was repeated on many tunes, always catching the audience by surprise.

Ross Petot looks great in a tux!

Ross Petot is marvelous on piano, anchoring the band with rhythmic motion.

Here comes Marjorie is a peppy tune that was played by Benny Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra in 1930.

We’re fortunate to have Australia’s Mike Peipman here in New England!

Really modern for this band, Stomp Miss Hannah was done by Australian Lazy Ade Monsborough in 1951. He  was an important force and a popular figure for decades in his native country.  We have our own Australian, Mike Pipeman, who plays trumpet in many New England Bands.

The Back Bay Ramblers’ version was arranged by Billy “The Kid” Novick.
Fantastic saxophones!   

Bill Reynolds on choke cymbal

Good Feeling Blues was done in 1929 by Zack White and His Chocolate Beau Brummels,  The whole band played an abrupt quarter beat on the first measure, and then there was a brief silence before the band continued with the melody, playing in stop time, with Bill on choke cymbal.  Great trumpet with two saxes, and Ross on piano solo. They have never played this before. Amazing!

The Musical Stevedores’ Happy Rhythm from 1929 was taken slower than written, but still fast; Dan on magnetic muted trombone.

Nancy returned with Without You Sweetheart, done by the Vincent Lopez Orchestra in 1927.  Nancy’s vocal brought it fresh nuance, backed by Ross’s piano.

Absolutely amazing saxophones by Billy Novick and Mark Earley

Lotta Sax Appeal was done in 1929 by Andy Kirk and His Twelve Clouds of Joy.  Mary Lou Williams was arranger, composer and piano player for Andy Kirk.

Ross took a piano intro, with Billy leading on alto sax.  The range and diversity of our two saxophones was captivating!

It’s on the Back Bay Ramblers’ CD,  Red Hot Band.  Billy asked if anyone knew what year this was.  Jeannine James won a CD for picking the year of this tune.  It wasn’t very difficult – 1929 of course.

I’m Gonna Meet My Sweety Now was sung by 19-year-old Kate Smith in 1927.  The Ramblers played it as an instrumental, featuring Dan on trombone, playing through a megaphone.

That idea came from a famous trombone player, Spiegel Wilcox, who went to see Paul Whitman, with trombone player Sammy Lewis. Spiegel saw the megaphone jerry-rigged up to a bird cage holder, with Sammy playing trombone through the megaphone. Spiegel thought it sounded amazing and made one himself and used it frequently.
Dan Gabel was creative, supporting the megaphone with his feet!

That To Do was recorded by Benny Moten’s Kansas City Orchestra.  This needed audience participation, with all of us obliging with “Yeah” and “Right”.  It’s on the Ramblers CD Cuttin’ Up.  Dan added flair with his ‘laughing trombone’.  Billy played clarinet, Mark tenor sax, with fascinating interplay between drum and sax.

The River and Me. Recorded by Duke. Dan playing on megaphone traded 4’s with Billy’s clarinet.  It’s a good swinging tune that was specially arranged for the band.

Vipers Drag – was recorded by Cab Calloway in 1930.  Finally a song we knew, but we’ve never heard it played this way.  Dan making guttural, talking, trombone sounds; Mike’s muted trumpet playing riffs.  The whole band made the melody come alive.

There was time for one more tune; brought Nancy back for 1929 I Have to Have You.
It was an enchanting evening, with Bill’s Back Bay Ramblers playing the beautiful music rooted in the 1920’s, just as Ed Reynolds had.  Thank you, Bill!

Also:
The Ramblers played the previous night to a full house of GBVS (Greater Boston Vintage Society) dancers dressed in vintage attire at the Crane Estate in Ipswich, MA.  Dance floor was loaded, and they were actually screaming when Nancy sang, she had an instant fan club!

GBVS in vintage attire dancing to the Back Bay Rambles.

So what is the future for this style of music?  
The 20’s will return – it will soon be 2020.  See you there!
To hire the band, or get a CD: email drumkits@verizon.net