The Wolverine Jazz Band
Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark clarinet and bari sax, Tom Boates trombone, Ross Petot keyboard, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums
An energetic, rambunctious Wolverine Jazz Band raised the temperature on this very cold February evening with uplifting, toe-tapping Traditional Jazz at Primavera Ristorante. This was the band’s first time here. They checked out the sound with Ain’t Misbehaving and were very pleased.
Just a few days after Mardi Gras, this was an evening of tunes from the essential spirit of early New Orleans up to the 1950’s. They played a mix of Armstrong, Oliver, Ellington, Bix and Whiteman, many tunes from their last CD ( 12th ), Moonlight, and some from their next one, yet to be named.
Jeff Hughes plays Michigander Blues
New Orleans Mardi Gras,
Clarence Williams’ Cake Walking Babies, Shake it And Break It; from their next CD, a ‘baker’s dozen’, Michigander Blues.
The Chant, a Mel Stitzel tune arranged by Jelly Roll Morton, resurrected fond memories of the early Sticky Wicket Days, as did Panama.
The front line, Tom Boates, Jeff Hughes, leader John Clark
Jimmy is world renowned on banjo and vocals. He chose the next tune, Mill’s Brothers’ ‘Till Then.
#1 Fan, Betty Weaver, persuaded John to sing, he chose Oceana Roll, a tune depicting the arrival of the US Navy in Japan in 1911. They ended it with a line of Anchors Aweigh.
John Clark played Rose Room on low register clarinet, backed by a playful trombone and trumpet playing an entirely different tune.
John on baritone sax
Clark took out the baritone sax, with Jeff on flugelhorn, for a “good ol’ good one” done by Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton in 1951, That’s My Desire.
Tom Boates sings Honky Tonk Town
Tom Boates, who drove 125 miles from Connecticut to get here, was featured on trombone and vocal, putting heart and soul in a New Orleans tune recorded in 1940 by Sidney Bechet and Louis Armstrong – Down in Honky Tonk Town,
The Wolverine Jazz Band is backed by the dynamic duo of Rick MacWilliams pushing on tuba, keeping the music lively, and Dave Didriksen on drums, keeping it on time.
Rick MacWilliams
Dave Didriksen
Tom Boates plays tribute to Harry Arnold
Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans, was Tom Boates’ tribute to Connecticut trombonist Harry Arnold, who died a year ago January. They both played in the Hartford Jazz Orchestra that is now featured at the Arch Street Tavern in Hartford every Monday night.
Jimmy Mazzy, the one and only!
Tight ensemble on Frankie Trumbauer’s There’ll Come a Time; a Lil Hardin tune, Do What Ory Say, with Jimmy scatting. The band sat out as he began the verse to Stealing Away Blues, singing and playing banjo as only he can.
Jeff Hughes sings
It’s always a pleasure to listen to Jeff Hughes sing. He introduced a cute ditty, Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia, that was recorded by the Boswell sisters with the Dorsey Brothers Band in 1932.
Pianist extraordinaire, Ross Petot teaches on Thursday evenings. He is pianist for many bands, so we’ve really missed him at Primavera. Fortunately, this was School Vacation Week – we were very happy to have him back!
Ross Petot on keyboard
Down to the wire, the band had a romping New Orleans take on the Original Jelly Roll Blues, 100 years old this year, and a wild wind up with another hot tune, Panama.
Hot Traditional and Dixieland Jazz will continue at Primavera for the rest of the year – you can bet The Wolverine Jazz Band will be a significant part of it, when they aren’t playing at a festival someplace. So far, they are invited to The 25th Annual America’s Jazz Classic in Washington State in June, and The Bar Harbor Jazz Festival Maine in July. There will be more.
You can purchase any of their fine CD’s at www.wolverinejazzband.com.
