Swing Times Five with Debby Larkin at Ken’s Steak House, February 21, 2016

Posted on February 21, 2016 by admin

Swing Times Five – Dave Didriksen, Dan Weiner, Bob Sinicrope, Jeff Hughes, Ross Petot

Jeff Hughes cornet/flugelhorn, Dan Weiner guitar, Ross Petot piano, Bob Sinicrope string bass, Dave Didriksen drums, Debby Larkin vocals.

This is an unusual combination of instruments for playing Swing, but SWING they did, just as well as any big band!! They captivated the crowd by rekindling fond memories, starting with their theme song, When Lights Are Low, with Jeff on cornet. His rhythmic concept on cornet and flugelhorn lifted the whole band. He moved to flugelhorn for a Johnny Mercer tune, Dream.

Debby Larkin

Vocalist Debby Larkin sings with authority, good voice and knows just the right style, whether singing a rousing number or a ballad. She sang many Frank Loesser tunes, If I Were a Bell, Everything But You. Slow Boat to China was a rouser! Billie Holiday’s Moanin’ Low; an all-time favorite All Of Me, upbeat and swinging; even Tommy Dorsey’s Opus One. She shook things up with the satirical Everything I’ve Got Belongs To You, looking at hubby Jeff Stout, sitting at a front table.

Singing I Fall In Love Too Easily, she was backed by Jeff Hughes on dark, smokey flugelhorn. They charmed the audience, many of whom were seniors nostalgically reconnecting the music to memories of their youth.

Jeff on flugelhorn, with Sinitrope in background

Jeff Hughes on silky smooth flugelhorn

Jeff left the audience spellbound with incredible intonation on Jerome Kern’s I’m Old Fashioned, ending with a virtuosic coda. Perfect! People will remember this one for a long time!

Ross looking down at keys playing Yamaha piano

Ross Petot

Ross Petot is a great performer of Gerschwins, he was featured on Of Thee I Sing, and referring to the current political season, Who Cares? He performs unceasing rhythmic motion on the fine Yamaha piano. He picked an odd one, All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm, backed by Dan Weiner’s fingers floating across the guitar.

Dan Weiner on swinging guitar

Dan was featured on Lullaby of The Leaves, dazzling guitar, fingers flying; his spontaneity is very much representative of the swing era.

They picked many tunes from the American Song Book:
Dorothy Fields/Jimmy McHugh Doing The New Lowdown
Julie Stein’s It’s You Or No One.
Sammy Cahn’s I’m Falling in Love.
Sinatra’s All The Way
Irving Berlin’s A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody
Cole Porter’s I’ve Got You Under My Skin

John and Gisela love to dance, and this is their kind of music! They had a family reunion with their three daughters. John persuaded one of them to dance.

couple in their 90's dancing up a storm!

John and Gisela Bruneccini

John and one of his daughters

John and Gisela and four adult daughters

John and Gisela Bruneccini Family

Bob Sinicrope

George Gershwin’s They Can’t Take That Away From Me gave Bob a solo, playing melody on upper register.

Bob Sinicrope’s string bass gave support and richness that moved the music along. Bob is head of the Jazz Program at Milton Academy, and an old friend of Jeff’s.

Dave Didriksen

Dave Didriksen is a fine drummer, softly brushing across cymbals and snare drum behind solos; he lets the soloists shine. He finally let loose on Frank Loesser’s The Lady’s In Love With You, showing he can romp with the best of them. (He also manages the band and it’s website www.swingtimesfive.com and books all the dates at Ken’s Steak House.)

They closed with the band and Jeff’s flugelhorn softly backing Debby on Sky Lark. Magnificent! Taking an “Exit Poll” – everyone said this was one of the best music they’ve heard!

The Swing Spirit continues to thrive with the unique Swing Times Five and vocalist Debby Larkin. We hope to hear more from them! Check out their great Swing CD, Raincheck; email Dave Didriksen at info@swingX5.com.

Riverboat Stompers at Primavera Ristorante, February 11, 2016

Posted on February 11, 2016 by admin

Riverboat Stompers

Neil Flewelling cornet, Steve Straus clarinet, Frank Batchelor trombone, Phil Hower keyboard, Eric Baldwin banjo/guitar, Pierre Lemieux tuba, Rich Malcolm drums

Steve Straus

Steve Straus leads this rambunctious band on clarinet and soprano sax with amiable, good natured humor.

Members of this band come from towns all over Eastern New England. They mix old New Orleans music from the 20’s with tunes from the ‘recent’ 60’s. They obviously love this music – they’ve dedicated their lives to it.

Steve asked the band to sound like a Basie Band, then they played Irving Berlin’s 1911 Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Steve giving it a surprise ending with a soprano sax coda. His sax is sweet on Paper Moon, but dynamic on Floating Down To Cotton Town. He moved to clarinet with a vocal on a tune we’ve never heard before, You Meet The Nicest People In Your Dreams.

Valentine’s Day was approaching – the evening was interspersed with love songs. But Valentine’s Day isn’t always about loving relationships, as portrayed in his vocal, Floating Down That Old Great River. This comic song was recorded in 1915, and is typical of the kind of entertainment popular during Vaudeville.

Eric Baldwin

At the start of Fats Waller’s Ain’t Misbehavin’, we realized Eric Baldwin was playing rhythm banjo, adding strength to the middle of the rhythm section.

He’s been featured on guitar for years with some of his own bands. He moved to guitar for Hoagie Carmichael’s Nearness of You, nice dance tune. He is currently teaching at Indian Hill Music Community in Littleton, MA and works as a sideman in many local bands.

Pierre LeMieux

Pierre LeMieux’s plays bass lines on tuba and extends that by turning the monstrous horn into a viable solo instrument.

Pierre leads the Mill City Jazz Band that plays in the Merrimack Valley in Memorial Concerts-in-the-Park, Strolling sidewalk music during town activities, Feaster-Five activities, Fund raisers, Senior Centers, and private parties.

He plays in parades with the Jambalaya Jazz Band, in the Shriners Swing Band, Mario Carrabba’s Big Band, and some Octoberfest German bands.

They played two early popular tunes, It’s a Sin To Tell a Lie, a 1936 song by Billy Mayhew and Write Myself a Letter, a 1935 tune by Fred E. Ahlert. Pierre gave it a nice tuba solo. He was trading 4’s with Frank’s trombone on Making Whoopee.

Frank Batchelor

Frank’s trombone sound is deep and lush, and melodic and mellow when using several mutes. He adds stimulating accompaniment to the front line.

Frank manages the band and its website – no easy task!
http://www.riverboatstompers.com/

Rich Manning

You feel the rhythm rather than hear the drum beats by Rich Malcom. He plays in good taste. His unique moves highlight the structure of the music by changing color, density, and dynamics.

On the snare drum, he softens reverberation by holding one stick to the drum and tapping with the other, or else tapping sticks together; or he plays softly with his fingers. Even his solo was reserved on It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing.

Phil at the keyboard, smiling at the camera

Phil Hower

Phil Hower introduced Irving Berlin’s Putting On The Ritz with a piano vamp. He was featured on a warm My Funny Valentine, with guitar backup, Steve playing low register clarinet solo, Frank muted trombone, and Neil’s bold cornet.

Phil’s playing offers just the right chords behind all the soloists. . Phil Hower’s heroes are the great stride pianists of the 1920’s and ’30’s, and he does his utmost to emulate their technique and style, like Jelly Roll Morton’s Why.

Once in a While was a barn burner, with Steve leading the band. Tommy Dorsey’s version was #1 in 1937.

Neil Fluelling

Neil Lewelling was featured on Sleeping Time Down South. He plays a 60’s Getsen cornet, beautiful rich tone, playing spontaneous improvisations. He’s played trumpet for 50 years, until he recently discovered this cornet, handed down from a couple of friends. He plans on playing cornet for the next 50 years!

The final tune came as a surprise, we didn’t realize time had run out. They sent us home with sweet New Orleans Traditional Jazz: Up a Lazy River.

They are wonderful and dynamic musicians, fun to watch and great to listen to. You can hear them March 6th at Ken’s Steak House and March 24th back at Primavera Ristorante. Hope to see you there!

Marce

Galvanized Jazz Band At Elim Park Cheshire, CT February 9, 2016

Posted on February 9, 2016 by admin

7 pc Trad Jazz Band, no banjo, 2 cornets

Galvanized Jazz Band with Skip Hughes singing

by Jean Hadley
photos by Angie

Fred Vigorito cornet, Bill Sinclair piano, Bob Bequillard drums , Art Hovey tuba/bass, Russ Whitman reeds, Skip Hughes trombone/vocals, Jim Fryer trombone and Mark Vigorito cornet.

The Galvanized Jazz Band once again entertained the residents of Elim Park, an Assisted Living facility nestled on a beautiful piece of New England property between Hamden and Wallingford Connecticut. Nelson Hall is Elim Park’s beautifully architecturally and acoustically designed performing arts center which can hold an audience of 300.

As people entered Nelson Hall, they were greeted by a large and friendly staff of resident volunteers. For many years, Elim Park volunteers have been doing a wonderful job. Thank you!

Elim Park Volunteers

Once the crowd settled down and the lights were lowered, the band, which had assembled at the rear of the hall, started their parade down the aisle to the stage. Following in the Second Line were the “Parasol Ladies” led by Jean Hadley…strutting to Bourbon Street Parade. With beads flying, parasols swinging, this put the audience in the mood for a Mardi Gras celebration.

The audience was pleased to be joined by three very talented guests; Jim Fryer, Skip Hughes and Fred Vigorito’s son Mark (cornet like his dad) and all the way from New Hampshire.

Galvanized Jazz Band with Mark Vigorito cornet, Jim Fryer trombone, and Skip Hughes vocalist

Songs like BASIN STREET, TIN ROOF BLUES (remember when Kay Starr made it a hit in 1953?) Added to the list was WHEN I LEAVE THIS WORLD BEHIND and, an audience participation number led by Jim Fryer…WHY DON’T YOU GO DOWN TO NEW ORLEANS? Skip Hughes beautifully delivered two spiritual numbers….JUST A CLOSER WALK and AMAZING GRACE. And, of course, many more familiar numbers.

Jim Fryer

Skip sitting and singing, string bass behind him

Skip Hughes

Bill Sinclair on piano

Fred and Mark Vigorito

Although the audience wanted the music to continue, it was the bewitching hour, time to bring a delightful evening to a close with the “Saints” and a parasol parade.

Thanks to Fred, Bill, Bob, Art, Russ, Skip, Jim and Mark for an evening of fabulous Traditional Jazz. They entertained and inspired the residents and friends of Elim Park!

By Jean Hadley
Photos by Angie

Wolverine Jazz Band at Ken’s Steak House January 31, 2016

Posted on January 31, 2016 by admin

Wolverine Jazz Band

Jeff Hughes cornet, Tom Boates trombone, John Clark leader/clarinet/bari sax, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums

by Marce

It doesn’t get any better than this!! Each musician has an infinite flow of music in him; together their relentless drive make them titantic! They played songs from various CDs including their latest, #14, and tested out songs for the next one in the works. They also inserted some rarely heard Dixie like Cushion Foot Stomp and some standards There were many surprises!

Jimmy Mazzy kicked it off with The Curse Of An Aching Heart; and the rarely heard Sugarfoot Stomp – out came John’s baritone sax.

Tom Boates and Jeff Hughes raised the 1915 Weary Blues to new heights, with Jeff playing a short melodic phrase, Tom repeating it, sometimes slightly varied or in a different pitch. Amazing!

Tom Boates

Jeff Hughes

Tom was featured on Ory’s Creole Trombone. John joined him on bari sax for Sidney Bechet’s Passport to Paradise, buoyed by the splendid rhythm section. He sang W. C. Handy’s Beale St. Blues, adding some scatting. Connecticut is fortunate to have this stellar musician in their neighborhood!

Dynamic Duo – the Wolverine’s rhythmic engine.

Dave Didriksen

Rick MacWilliams

Jeff Hughes had many requests, starting with Elmer Shobel’s Prince of Wails, the front line playing tight New Orleans polyphony.

Phenominal Front Line

The 1929 Rhythm Aces’ Michigander Blues is on their Baker’s Dozen CD, #13 with a tuba solo by Rick MacWilliams, dramatic and straightforward.

Come Back Sweet Papa was composed in the 50’s by drummer Paul Barbarin.

Ross Petot

Ross was featured on his own version of Caravan, one of our favorites, with the band joining him; glorious piano ending. He likes playing this fine Yamaha piano.

Jimmy Mazzy

Another surprise – Jimmy Mazzy actually crooned Frank Sinatra’s All The Way, with Sinatra’s unfaltering enunciation. We understood every word! Jimmy’s ballads are extraordinary, but this one was astounding.

John Clark on baritone saxophone

He introduced a nice jazzy number, done by the Blue Steele Orchestra in WWI, Sugar Babe I’m Leaving. The Wolves went wild with John again on bari sax.

Approaching 90 years-old, couple dancing fox trot

John and Gisela Bruneccini are fine dancers

Ken’s had a full house, with many loyal fans returning from the Sherborn Inn. There were dancers in the crowd. John and Gisela were happy to dance to a sweet ballad, Stairway to the Stars. Gisela is a war bride. They met during WWII in England when John was playing trumpet in the U.S. Army Band. They set a fine example for us; people congratulated them on their fine dancing.

Dr. David and Mrs. Bailen brought their whole family.

Husband and wife, son, daughter-in-law, grandson and 2 granddaughters

Dr. David and Helene Bailen and Family

Sue Lewis

Sue Lewis loves dancing too. It’s a joy to watch her!

John Clark surprised us with a vocal on Irving Berlin’s At The Devil’s Ball. He’s a fine singer, but generally leaves the singing to Jimmy. (Thank you, Betty Weaver, who has been pushing him to sing for years.)

Rick MacWilliams requested Moonlights, playing a fine tuba with clarinet playing softly in background.

Their next CD will bring memories of Ray Smith’s Paramount Jazz Band, with a takeoff on Robin Verdier’s arrangement of Who Wouldn’t Love You. That one moved the dancers.

Jimmy was featured on a new vocal, Strangers, with interesting interaction between bari sax and tuba. They did justice to Satanic Blues, originally played by the ODJB, Original Dixieland Jazz Band, in London in 1919.

Then came the biggest surprise of all – Sarah Spencer was here from Connecticut; she joined the band on tenor sax and singing. We haven’t seen Sarah in years! She plays in Traditional Jazz Style, and has dedicated her life to this music. Originally from England, she has her own band, Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band.

Sarah on tenor sax, Ross on piano behind her

Sarah Spencer on tenor sax

She began with her own matchless vocal on Love Song of The Nile, then played tenor sax in New Orleans revival style, with interplay by John Clark on bari sax. Words can’t describe the explosion of wondrous sounds!

Swing That Music was the final tune of the evening, John and Sarah inspiring each other trading fours for sixteen bars, then Jeff leading and Tom stealing his riffs for the next sixteen bars, as they did in the beginning. Jimmy went wild on banjo and song; Ross made the Yamaha sing. The rhythm section adding to the drive and momentum, reveling in pure sound and enjoyment! The audience gave them rousing applause. Whew!

Wolverine Jazz Band with Sarah Spencer

The Wolverine Jazz Band will be back February 18^th at Primavera Ristorante, and March 20^th at Ken’s Steak House.

Swing Times Five will be at Ken’s Steak House February 21^st, the only band in February at Ken’s.

Sarah Spencer will have a new CD out in the Spring, maybe called Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic All-Stars, featuring Jimmy Mazzy and Mike Owen trombone (from England). Stay tuned.

Jeff’s Jazztet with vocalist Mara Bonde at Primavera Ristorante January 28, 2016

Posted on January 28, 2016 by admin

by Bill Falk
Marce photos

Jeff’s Jazztet with vocalist Mara Bonde at Thursday Jazz, January 28, 2016 at Primavera Ristorante

This is one smokin’ band! Performing before a packed house, Jeff Hughes led the group through three great sets. His solos throughout the night on trumpet and flugelhorn were outstanding, as was his leadership of an extremely talented, upbeat band. Craig Ball excelled on clarinet and alto sax – producing many terrific solos. Jeff and Craig played off each other perfectly. Herb Gardner on keyboard is always steady working with the rhythm section –using his vast experience to great advantage whether backing up the front line or soloing. Steve Taddeo on drums set a great beat, plus he brought the house down with a Krupa solo on “Jabberwocky.” Ken Steiner makes the upright bass sing. He did a marvelous job helping the group rock, plus he threw in some fine solos. Eric Baldwin on guitar complimented the great rhythm section, and showed he can really swing.

The band was swinging all night, plus they featured Mara Bonde on vocals. It was unusual to have a soprano combine with a swinging group like this one, but it worked very well once they adjusted to each other after one or two numbers. I don’t recall ever seeing this attempted, but the crowd loved it. In fact, those in attendance enjoyed everything they saw and heard all night.

Mara opened with an upbeat version of “The Song is Ended”, then did several ballads beautifully. She added a wonderful touch to a great evening.

All in all, the performance was memorable to me. It possessed all the right ingredients – great band, excellent singer and a happy tone. I’m sure everyone there loved it. If you get a chance, go to see and hear these performers.

Bill Falk

Mara Bonde

Jeff backs Mara on I Thought About You

Steve Taddeo plays Krupa on Jabberwocky

Mara sings My Funny Valentine

Ken on upright bass, with bright red hat and shoes

Ken Steiner – one of a kind!

Craig is featured on I Would Do Anything For You

Rhythm Boys, Eric Baldwin, Ken Steiner, Herb Gardner

Tunes:

1st set
The Song is Ended – Mara uptempo
I Thought About You – Mara
S’Wonderful
Someone to Watch Over Me
Ciribiribin – instrumental
They Can’t Take That Away From Me – Mara
720 In The Books – instrumental

2nd set
Jabberwocky
It’s Been So Long
You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To – Mara
Funny Valentine – Mara
I Get a Kick Out Of You – Mara
It Might As Well Be Spring – Mara
Blue Lu – Craig Ball feature

3rd set
Nearness of You – Mara
‘Till There Was You – Mara
I Would Do Anything For You – Craig Ball feature
Speak Low – Mara
Thou Swell – Mara (closure)

Bill’s Seafood Allstars, every Friday in Westbrook CT

Posted on January 22, 2016 by admin

Bill’s Seafood Allstars

By Sue Finn

Bill’s Seafood Allstars Fridays 7pm to 9pm
at Bill’s Seafood Restaurant, 548 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook, CT 06498
(860) 399-7224 www.billsseafood.com

January 22, 2016
Bill Sinclair piano, leader
Tom Boates trombone, vocals
Noel Kaletsky reeds
Lou Bocciarelli bass
Tom Palinko drums

Every Friday evening Bill’s Seafood presents their Allstars, a band made up of very talented local musicians. They play mostly Dixieland along with some swing and other types of jazz with occasional surprises from various other genres thrown in. There is always a full house at Bill’s with many regular fans.

Tom Boates

Every performance is exciting and tonight’s was no exception. It started with a rousing rendition of Canal Street Blues, followed by Little Girl, then Tom Boates vocal on St. James Infirmary Blues. Tom also sang Dr. Jazz later in the program. He’s the frontman for the band and plays a mean trombone.

Noel Kaletsky, Tom Palinko

The Allstars have several Wilbur de Paris numbers in their repertoire and usually play at least one. Tonight it was the fast and furious Tres Moutarde.

Noel was featured on I Got Rhythm and, on the soprano sax, in a beautiful rendition of When Day is Done. He also played back and forth with Tom Palinko’s drums on the final number of the evening, one of the group’s standards which always gets wild applause from the audience, Duke Ellington’s Caravan.

Noel Kaletsky, Lou Bocciarelli, Tom Palinko

The audience also participated – clapping, waving napkins, etc – on a rousing version of Bourbon Street Parade. All the musicians get plenty of solo spots during most of the numbers, Bill’s piano and Lou’s bass are always great and everybody loves Tom’s drum solos.

soprano sax, string bass, drum, trombone, piano

Noel’s sax, Lou Bocciarelli, Tom Palinko, Tom Boates trombone, and leader Bill Sinclair behind piano.

As always, we all enjoyed the evening. The band is wonderful and the food is excellent.

The Allstars will be making a special appearance on Tuesday, Feb 9th for a Mardi Gras Celebration. It will start early, from 6:30 to 9:30, with the band playing from 7pm – 9pm. Bill’s is NOT taking reservations for the Mardi Gras party. Just come as if it were a Friday. There will be a variety of food items associated with New Orleans cooking which will be incorporated into Bill’s regular menu.

Bonnie and Hot Stuff at Primavera Ristorante in Millis January 21, 2016

Posted on January 21, 2016 by admin

Bonnie and Hot Stuff made their debut at Primavera Ristorante on January 21^st with a mixed audience of ‘Regulars’ and some of their fans who followed them here.

Bonnie Jeanne

Bonnie Jeanne has been performing classical, Jazz, Blues, and Country music for many years. She also studied vocal performance at the New England Conservatory of Music and is an avid member and frequent guest performer at many New England to Nashville showcases at Loretta’s Last Call in Boston.
http://www.bonnieandhotstuff.com/

Hot Stuff is comprised of Bonnie Jeanne on vocals, ‘Ragtime’ Jack on keys, and Don Barry on upright bass; but Don Barry was unavailable, so this evening was just Bonnie and Jack. They worked together on love songs, Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson country favorites. Some 20’s Jazz and Ragtime.

Bonnie brought her own sassy, upbeat and modern sounds to their repertoire, with a wide variety of eras: All of Me, Squeeze Me, It Had To Be You; a tune Elvis recorded in 1957, Don’t. Louis and The Hot Five – Big Butter and Egg Man. Both sang in harmony, like the Everly Brothers with Love Hurts. Bonnie evoked Nine Simone’s Since I Fell For You.

They moved to a spiritual, Ramsey Lewis’s Wade In The Water. I’ve Got a Weakness, Jack’s fingers flying across the keyboard. An upbeat Bessy Smith’s Ain’t Nobody’s Business changed the mood. Jack warned us that the next tune was bawdy with Bonnie singing a lively Wild About That Thing.

Jack played solo with Jelly Roll Morton’s Don’t You Leave Me Here, and Keeping Out of Mischief Now. He is immersed in Jazz history, recounting when Andy Razaf came to Tin Pan Alley and got a job as an elevator operator. One day a very large gentleman stepped in the elevator, very upset because he had a tune to present, but it needed lyrics. Andy said “How about Every honey bee, fills with jealousy, when they see you out with me”? That’s how Fats Waller finished Honeysuckle Rose, and Andy Razaf embarked on a career as a lyricist.

Jack embarked on a wild Honeysuckle Rose, followed by his own composition, Newport Getaway, stride piano; he thanked James P. Bonnie returned with lovely songs, When I Fall in Love, and singing soft and slow, You Don’t Know Me.

That’s The Story of Love and Making Whoopee was a fun upbeat medley, with Bonnie and Jack singing the two songs simultaneously. Amazing!

Jack joined Bonnie on Willie Nelson’s Remember Me, beating time with snapping fingers. She continued with Bessie Smith’s 1927 Blackwater Blues, about the first New Orleans’ flood.

Crazy – the tune Willie Nelson wrote at age 19; the words paid off all his fines! Walking After Midnight. They went from Patsy Cline to Nina Simone’s You Know How I Feel.

“Ragtime” Jack

Jack embraces a wide variety of emotions and textures in his work. Ragtime’ Jack Radcliffe has been performing for more than 45 years. He is a master ragtime and stride piano, of traditional country blues, and is a powerful singer/songwriter, as well. www.wepecket.com/radcliffe.htm

He is going to N. O. from February 11 to March 2nd, right after Mardi Gras, making his home at Check Point Charlie’s, a popular night spot in New Orleans. He played and sang a heartfelt Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans? and continued with Scott Joplin, “who wrote much timeless classical music.” In 1904 Joplin wrote Easy Winners, a ragtime two-step. Jack absorbed it, added a little ‘Papa Joe’.

Time was running out. Bonnie returned with As Time Goes By, and then Duke Ellington’s, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.

They closed with Utah Phillips’ “Starlight On The Rails.

“Looking back, down along the road I’ve traveled
Every mile could tell a million tales.
Each year is like some rolling freight train
And cold as Starlight On The Rails.”

Bonnie and Hot Stuff with Don Barry are at Blackthorne Publick House, 402 Turnpike St., So. Easton, MA. February 12, 8pm, folloiwing The Boston Boatmen. Jack will be in New Orleans.

Eli and The Hot Six at Primavera, January 14, 2016

Posted on January 14, 2016 by admin

Eli and The Hot Six

Phil Person trumpet, Ted Casher clarinet, soprano, and tenor sax, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter keyboard, Jim Mazzy banjo, Eli Newberger tuba, Bob Tamagni drums

Eli Newberger integrated a lively group of Berklee Professors into his Hot Six and put them through their paces playing Dixieland Jazz. (Bob Winter, piano, Phil Person, ear training, and Bob Tamagni, percussion.) Their fiery enthusiasm captivated the audience!

They opened with a stunning Sheik of Araby, Jimmy singing with uncontrolled Mazzy passion. Phil Person followed with on trumpet, then Ted on clarinet, then Herb trombone, the soloists playing for each other as much as the people out front. Bobby Tamagni had only one drum, playing Traditional Jazz by tapping the snare drum or hitting drum sticks together. Eli directed them, then just sat back smiling, listening, enjoying every second. Jimmy ended it shouting scat choruses. This was going to be one exciting evening!

Phil Person

None of the musicians knew what they were going to do – they’ve never played together as a band. Eli asked Phil if he knew Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me. Phil answered, “I wrote it!”, took the lead and ran with it!

Phil Person performed all through the session with beautifully simple phrasing, deep understanding of the emotions of the music, and respect for the other players. He’s a true gentleman, who always listens and plays with a light touch.

Bob Winter does amazing things with Traditional Jazz!

Eli looked for a Trad Jazz War Horse and settled on Royal Garden Blues. Jimmy and Tamagni trading fours, then Bobby playing a vast range of dynamics on his one snare drum.

Winter playfully demonstrated his energetic musicality with Tamagni tapping a tambourine on his hip. Eli took a masterful tuba solo. It was never ending with each one taking a solo, sharing their joy in making music.

Henry Red Allen was a New Orleans visionary with a sound all his own. He recorded a tune that Eli gave to Herb Gardner, playing trombone and singing Who Cares. Ira Gershwin went over the top with the lyrics: Who cares if the sun cares to fall in the sea? Who cares what banks failed in Yonkers? As long as you’ve got a kiss that conquers!

Herb Gardner featured on Who Cares? with vocal and trombone

Next was Ted Casher featured on gut-wrenching, smoldering tenor sax with Blue and Sentimental. Pure rapture and euphoria! We can’t hear it often enough! We needed a breather after that one.

Eli said “This is a great country – we’ve got to hold it together” and called for a Patriotic tune, Gershwin’s masterpiece Of Thee I Sing, played solo, by Bob Winter, with great feeling and delight.

Eli upstanding befpre the audience playing fabulous tuba

Eli ……

Back to The Big Easy, a fine New Orleans anthem with Jimmy taking the intro on Basin St. Blues with banjo and song as only he can. Bob Winter played it light and airy. Eli came up with the tuba hitting high and low, low, low. Jimmy finished it off singing heartfelt blues.

Bob Tamagni rim tapping on drum

The World is Waiting For The Sunrise, an anthem of hope – the banjo player’s national anthem, was introduced by Jimmy rapidly picking banjo, of course, Tamagni taking rim shots on snare drum!

Ted singing, Jimmy playing banjo, Phil and ? listening.

Ted Casher makes up his own vocals on the MTA. Velma Coffey photo.

Ted was featured again with a special vocal all his own, with all of us joining in the chorus, Charlie on The MTA. Ted had some choice words making up new verses about all the problems we’ve been having with the MBTA. Bob Winter was laughing and enjoying the whole scene.

Eli asked Sarah (Gardner) Nova to come up for a vocal. (That’s one very musical family!) She sang a commanding Keep Your Hands Off It. Sarah has an intuitive grasp of musical dynamics. She has created several CDs that teach children the joy of music – especially Jazz.

Sarah singing, with full band behind her

Sarah Nova sings Keep Your Hands Off It!

Carrie Sings with Jimmy and Eli backing

Carrie Mazzy was called up next, looking lovingly at Jimmy, singing When I Fall In Love. They have been married for close to 30 years. Seems like yesterday!

Carolyn Newberger plays washboard to Miami Rumba (file photo)

Carolyn Newberger put down her scratch pad and picked up an old washboard for one of my favorites, Miami Rumba. Her fervor fascinates the audience!
The whole band joined in, with snare drum in rumba beat.

(Check her sketches below.)

Tough act to follow; Jimmy played and sang a gripping, emotional, Georgia On My Mind.

Eli completely changed the mood with another barn-burning Dixieland tune, At The Jazz Band Ball, with the band going WILD with ultra-tight all star intensity! Ted pushed it on hot soprano sax, drum interacting with tuba. Fantastic!

Everyone needed a break!

Jimmy came up with a breathtaking St. James Infirmary Blues, with lyrics by Josh White. “I want 6 crapshooters to be my pallbearers, three pretty women to sing a song, Stick a jazz band on my hearse wagon, Raise hell as I stroll along.” Bobby Tamagni was enjoying himself beating the snare drum with his hands.

It was already closing time. The band finished with livewire ensemble; outgoing and infectious on a New Orleans tune – wait for it – When The Saints Go Marching In!

Eli and The Hot Six’s videos are now available, from their recent performance celebrating his 75th birthday at Sculler’s Jazz Club: https://www.youtube.com/user/EliNewberger . That rare traditional jazz concert was covered by the Boston Globe:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/2015/12/28/tuba-hand-acclaimed-physician-eli-newberger-delights-his-first-passion/Bw3NRBiZpquTRTH3wtGXlK/story.html

But here is even more….
Carolyn Newberger never stops. She kept busy as usual with pencil and sketchbook, getting lost in the fabulous Trad and Swing and drawing across both pages! She shared some of her marvelous artwork with us:

Eli on tuba sketch goes across both pages of the sketch book

Eli Newberger

Jimmy and banjo sketch goes across both pages too

Jimmy Mazzy

Bob playing on snare drum. single page. Nice nustache!

Bob Tamagni

This was indeed a fascinating evening. Berklee professors can actually play Traditional Jazz, and play this happy, foot-stomping music with cheerful enthusiasm!

My apologies for the quality of the photos –
I borrowed my son’s camera and didn’t
know how to use it. Many thanks to Sarah
for her help in making it useable!! Marce

Blue Horizon Jazz Band opens Primavera’s 2016 Thursday Jazz

Posted on January 8, 2016 by admin

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante, January 7, 2016

Stan McDonald leader/soprano sax, Phil Person trumpet, John Kefalas trombone, Jack Soref guitar, and Gerry Gagnon tuba.

Stan sitting back, relaxed, playing soprano sax

Stan McDonald anxious to play!

Stan McDonald was raring to go after a two-month hiatus from Jazz, and immediately led the band into a dynamic Rosetta. What Is This Thing Called Love, It Had To Be You. He sang My Gal Sal with passion.

A vital sparkplug, Gerry Gagnon’s booming tuba keeps the band in time, reinforced by Jack Soref’s guitar.

Wild Man Blues was a hot tune! Trumpet leading, sax taking the breaks, guitarist Jack Soref in a dazzling gypsy-flavored solo with tuba backup. Phil Person’s muted trumpet played from the heart, followed by Stan’s formidable sax. Embellishing the tune was Gerry’s roaring tuba solo.

Gerry Gagnon on monster tuba

Gerry Gagnon doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. With constant motion, he keeps the band in time, and softly backs solos.

They followed with a soft, sublime melody, Roaming, nice soprano sax.

John Kafalas

John Kafalas’ mellow trombone tugs at your heart strings, playing warm melodic lines.

An unusual guitar/tuba intro to Running Wild really energized the audience, followed by an equally captivating Tijuana. Moving to inspiring ensemble, Stan was pleased with Soref’s guitar on Blues My Naughty Sweety Gives To Me.

Stan turns towards Soref, playing soprano sax

Stan McDonald joins Jack Soref on Sweet Sue

Jack plays the same gently arched Selmer guitar as Django Rheinhardt.

Jack was featured with a roaring takeoff solo on Sweet Sue backed by tuba.

He will present a Gypsy Jazz Trio for the first time at Primavera on February 25 and March 17. For anyone who hasn’t heard this yet, it will be an initiation to Django Rheinhardt!

Phil Person, marvelous musician

Phil Person’s trumpet, so beautiful and moving, resonated on Rose Of The Rio Grande, inducing tuba and guitar into a fiery rhythms.

Irving Berlin’s Blues In The Night – a twelve bar blues, announced the approaching end of the evening. The Band closed with Bechet’s Marchand de Poisson, beginning and ending with a feisty Habanera.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band will return to Primavera on February 4th with another presentation of early 20’s and 30’s Hot Jazz. Hope to see you here!

(My apologies for the poor quality of the photos.
My main Nikon camera has been sent back to the
company for three weeks for repairs. Marce)

Tunes played tonight:
Rosetta
What Is This Thing Called Love
It Had To Be You
My Gal Sal
Tijuana
Wild Man Blues
Roamin’
Running Wild
Blues My Naughty Sweety Gives To Me
My Gal Rocks Me (With one Steady Roll)
Sweet Sue
Rose of The Rio Grande
Black and Blue
When I Leave The World Behind
Blues In The Night
Marchand de Poisson

Novel Jazz returns to Skidompha Library with Hot Jazz

Posted on January 8, 2016 by admin

NOVEL JAZZ RETURNS TO SKIDOMPHA LIBRARY FOR A WINTER EVENING OF HOT JAZZ

7 musicians standing in a row with trees in background

Novel Jazz Septet

NOVEL JAZZ RETURNS TO SKIDOMPHA LIBRARY- Novel Jazz Septet will be performing classic jazz at Skidompha Public Library, 184 Main St., Damariscotta, ME, on Thursday 21 January, 2016, 7PM to 9:30PM. The performance will feature Barney Balch (trombone), Dave Clarke (guitar), Mickey Felder (piano), Bryan Jones (Alto Saxophone), Herb Maine (acoustic bass), Michael Mitchell (trumpet) plus Bill Manning (drums) This evening will be the first Skidompha Novel Jazz evening of their 2016 season, beginning their 12th year at Skidompha. If you have never attended and are curious, come check them out to see why the Novel Jazz evenings at Skidompha have been so popular for so long! Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $6 for young adults 12-18, under 12 accompanied by a parent go free. For more info, call 207-563-5513 or point your web browser tohttp://www.skidompha.org/ or the band’s web site —–www.mainejazz.net . (Photo by Tara Mitchell).

_________________

After a busy year of concerts featuring Ellington and Strayhorn compositions during the Strayhorn centennial, the Novel Jazz Septet begins their 2016 season at the Skidompha Public Library atrium, 184 Main Street, Damariscotta, Maine, on Thursday, 21 January 2016, from 7-9:30 PM, for an evening of music from the Great American Songbook. These events began with the observation that lovers of books often are lovers of jazz. The superb acoustics of Skidompha’s atrium, plus the seating “in the round”, make it a superior place to see and hear jazz, all in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. It was while performing at Skidompha that the band decided to forge deeper into the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Trombonist Barney Balch began visiting the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. to work in their Ellington collection, digging out gems of these musical geniuses and bringing them back to life in summer time concerts.

The musicians of this group have been playing straight-ahead jazz for audiences throughout Maine (and beyond) for several decades. Collectively, they share over two centuries of experience in the jazz idiom. Performing this evening will be Barney Balch (trombone), David Clarke (guitar), Mickey Felder (piano), Mike Mitchell (trumpet), Bryan Jones (alto), Herb Maine (bass) and Bill Manning (drums).

Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $6 for young adults 12-18, under 12 accompanied by a parent go free. We encourage parents to bring their children, the future of this art form. The library is located at 184 Main Street in downtown Damariscotta. Call 207-563-5513 during business hours for more information. Note, if there is any question about weather, please call the Skidompha Library during business hours. Skidompha’s winter closure policy is that of the local school district (AOS 93); if the schools are closed, so is the library. For more info, point your web browser to http://www.skidompha.org/ or the band’s web site www.mainejazz.net .

This promises to be a very special night of jazz as the band celebrates the beginning of their twelfth year of performances at Skidompha. If you have never attended a Novel Jazz event and are curious, check them out and see why the Novel Jazz evenings at Skidompha have been so popular for so long. Come to Skidompha on 21 January… music to keep both your soul and toes warm during this cold winter season!

New England Traditional Jazz Plus

Swing, Traditional Jazz, Dixieland Jazz, Big Bands

Tag Archives: Where to go

Swing Times Five with Debby Larkin at Ken’s Steak House, February 21, 2016

Riverboat Stompers at Primavera Ristorante, February 11, 2016

Galvanized Jazz Band At Elim Park Cheshire, CT February 9, 2016

Wolverine Jazz Band at Ken’s Steak House January 31, 2016

Jeff’s Jazztet with vocalist Mara Bonde at Primavera Ristorante January 28, 2016

Bill’s Seafood Allstars, every Friday in Westbrook CT

Bonnie and Hot Stuff at Primavera Ristorante in Millis January 21, 2016

Eli and The Hot Six at Primavera, January 14, 2016

My apologies for the quality of the photos –
I borrowed my son’s camera and didn’t
know how to use it. Many thanks to Sarah
for her help in making it useable!! Marce

Blue Horizon Jazz Band opens Primavera’s 2016 Thursday Jazz

Novel Jazz returns to Skidompha Library with Hot Jazz

My apologies for the quality of the photos – I borrowed my son’s camera and didn’t know how to use it. Many thanks to Sarah for her help in making it useable!! Marce

My apologies for the quality of the photos –
I borrowed my son’s camera and didn’t
know how to use it. Many thanks to Sarah
for her help in making it useable!! Marce