Wolverine Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante February 22, 2018

7 pc. trad Jazz Band

Wolverine Jazz
Band

Jeff Hughes cornet, John Clark, Leader, clarinet/bass sax, Tom Boates trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Ross Petot piano, 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.   Just a week+ after Mardi Gras, this was an evening of tunes from the essential spirit of early New Orleans up to the 1950s in preparation for their umpteenth CD – and all of us were pleased to be a part of it!

Jimmy Mazzy kicked it off with banjo intro on Maybe, a song written in 1926 by George and Ira Gershwin, then Brown Bottom Bess, by Johnny Dodds.

Jimmy took banjo intro and vocal on Take Your Tomorrows and Give Me Today.

This front line lights up the room!  Trombone, cornet and clarinet against a four-piece rhythm section.

trombone, cornet, clarinet with

Tom Boates, Jeff Hughes, John Clark in Front Line

Clark playing bass sax set on seat of chair

John Clark on bass saxophone

The rhythm section had “strength up the middle.”  They laid back on ballads, but on a hot tune…look out!

Jelly Roll Morton’s Frog-I-More Rag was a killer with John Clark’s powerful bass saxophone! He reaches deep down and creates beautiful music.

John sang The Preacher, with the band in close harmony, and the 1934 Baby Brown, by Alex Hill with livewire ensemble band opening – marvelous.  Ross Petot was in full stride.

 

 

 

Ross looking up and smiling (this is rare - he never smiles when he's playing.)

Ross Petot, teacher and stride pianist

 

We were all happy to see Ross Petot back with the band.  He’s usually unavailable – teaching on Thursday nights.  Fortunately for us, school was out this week. His stride piano is inimitable!!

Check it out on the video of Honky Tonk Towne!

 

 

 

 

tom on open bell trombone

Tom Boates

 

Tom Boates requested I’m Gonna Charleston back to Charleston  –  love that growling trombone! He was featured on Stars Fell on Alabama.  (It refers to a spectacular occurrence of the Leonid meteor shower observed in Alabama in November 1833.)

Tom drove 125 miles from Connecticut to get here, putting heart and soul in a New Orleans tune recorded in 1940 by Sidney Bechet and Louis Armstrong
– Down in Honky Tonk Town.

video by Marce (sorry about shrinkage!  Listen to the music.)

Tell Me Why – sweet intro to Jimmy vocal with Jeff backup.  John actually played melody on that monstrous bass sax, with Tom on  trombone doing harmony.  Lovely!
Jimmy’s banjo opened on a sweet ballad, How Deep is The Ocean, with Jeff backing him on cornet.  (Jeff has been playing harmony for Jimmy ever since they were together in Ray Smith’s Paramount Jazz Band.)

Jimmy singing, Jeff playing cornet

Jimmy Mazzy and Jeff Hughes

Jeff and John  remembered playing In Our Cottage of Love with the Paramount Jazz Band.

Jeff Hughes is the Bix Beiderbecke in this Wolverine Jazz Band. His technique  encompasses a fabulous variety of moods and timbres, especially in a 1928 song Bix did with the Paul Whitman orchestra, Lonely Melody.

Let’s Have Another Cup of Coffee is a song by Irving Berlin in the musical comedy Face the Music, which opened in 1932. The song is sung by a group of once-wealthy citizens who were awaiting better times, as mirrored in the song’s opening lyrics: Just around the corner, there’s a rainbow in the sky.

Banjo played verse on a sweet ballad recorded by Mildred Bailey and Her Orchestra in 1937 If You Ever Should Leave / Heaven Help This Heart of Mine.  Harold Arlen’s Kicking The Gong Around had Jimmy scat-singing, with the band alternating fast and slow tempos..

Dave Didriksen

 

Hot toe-tapping Dixieland tune,   Sensation Rag, is also on another  one of their CDs, with drummer Dave Didriksen tapping on woodblock.

The buoyant rhythm section sparked by drums provided solid support.

Dip Your Brush In The Sunshine 1931 by Ted Lewis –  Jimmy singing backed by clarinet.

 

Rick looking up, playing tiba

Rick MacWilliams

 

 

 

Band in ensemble took the intro to I Ain’t Gonna Tell Nobody with nice tuba solo. Rick’s tuba gives the music support and richness and pushes the beat without racing the time.

 

 

 

These musicians get absolute rapture in making music and delectable hot jazz!!

The Wolverine Jazz Band has been invited to several festivals. They won’t be back here at Primavera until April 26th!   Mark your calendars! Don’t miss this amazing Jazz band!

You can purchase any of their fine CD’s at www.wolverinejazzband.com.

Wolverine Jazz Band at Primavera September 28, 2017

6 piece Trad Jazz Band no trombone

Wolverine Jazz Band

Jeff Hughes trumpet/flugelhorn, John Clark leader, clarinet/alto sax, Herb Gardner piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums

By Bill Falk

Listening to this group reminded me of traditional jazz of yesteryear – those days of King Oliver and ballrooms full of followers.

Despite missing their trombonist, band members meshed together beautifully – mixing brilliant solos with great backup.

behind music stand on alto sax

John Clark

 

 

John Clark led the band plus did an excellent job on clarinet and alto sax. He also vocalized on The Preacher, Stairway to Paradise and Egyptian Ella.

 

 

 

 

 

on banjo, singing into mic

Jimmy Mazzy

 

 

Jimmy Mazzy was brilliant on banjo – when isn’t he terrific? His vocal on Take Your Tomorrow was very impressive, and his solos on Chasing the Blues Away, Monday Date and How Deep is the Ocean were outstanding.

 

 

 

Jeff n muted trumpets (wearing brown wing-tip shoes)

Jeff Hughes

 

 

Jeff Hughes trumpet and flugelhorn never disappoints. I was particularly excited by the full sound he produced on the flugelhorn on
I Surrender Dear. He delivered great solos on a variety of tunes throughout the program.

 

 

 

 

at keyboard, singing

Herb Gardner

 

Herb Gardner on keyboard contributed vocals on Staten Island and The Preacher. He is a vital ingredient to the group’s sound because of his ability to backup others and hold things together.

 

 

 

Sitting, with tuba braced on chair between his legs

Rick MacWilliams

 

 

 

Rick MacWilliams on tuba soloed occasionally while helping the rhythm section keep a steady pace. He works the instrument like a saxophone.

 

 

 

tapping on snare drum

Dave Didriksen

 

 

Dave Didrikson was the drummer – not flashy but terrific at keeping the beat. He did take an occasional brief solo, but he played much like the drummers from way back – unsung but important.

 

 

 

The band also played What’s the Use, A Foggy Day in London Town, Froggy More, There Ain’t No Sweet Band Worth the Salt of My Tears, Lonely Melody, Oh Miss Hannah, Struttin’ With Some Barbecue, I Ain’t Gonna Tell Nobody, Sleepy Lagoon, The Work Song, Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans and ended a wonderful evening with their signature Wolverine Blues.

Make it a priority to see this group in person! They get into the roots of jazz as invented in New Orleans very successfully.

 

By Bill Falk
Marce Photos

 

 

Wolverine Jazz Band at Heritage of Sherborn, August 23, 2016

7 pc Trad-Dixieland Jazz Band

Wolverine Jazz Band

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

The Wolves were elated to return to the former Sherborn Inn, now known as The Heritage of Sherborn.  They first played here in 1998.  They played with lyricism and passion!   It was a full house, with their many fans returning and happy to hear them again.

The seating has been changed, with the band set up in the right hand corner of the “T”,  now playing directly to the 50+ listeners in what was the dead-end left corner.  No problem hearing the band now!!   This was taken during the break from what had been the ‘dead end’ left corner of the “T”.  Our ‘music family’ was getting re-acquainted.

picture from rear of room showing tables and people talking

New Seating arrangement

The viewing tables inside the front door were replaced with a very active bar, and a tall table with tall chairs just inside the door, and a fine dance floor.

tall table to left, bar to right, shiny wooden dance floor in front

inside the front door

The Front Line was HOT right from the beginning, with At Sundown

clarinet, cornet, trombone

Front Line: John Clark, Jeff Hughes, Tom Boates

Canal St. Blues is an old war horse, with Tom Boates’ growling trombone.  He was just back from a well deserved vacation in Florida.  He’s been teaching music for 40 years! He’ll be back at Guilford CT High School.

Jimmy was featured with a tune done by the Blue Steele & His Orchestra, in 1927, Sugar Babe I’m Leaving.  John took out the baritone sax.  RaeAnn video taped  this with the Wolverines on November 7, 2015 at the 26th Annual Arizona Classic Jazz Society in Chandler AZ   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWVjyTqKv28

Jimmy has a wealth of tunes and introduced one to the band this week, pianist Joe Robichaux’s 1933 After Me The Sun Goes Down.

Once In a While was a barn-buster! It’s on their new CD.  They slowed down for a tune of Jeff’s choice, he picked Django’s Nuage,  ending in a flamboyant cornet coda.

John and Gisela Brunaccini took advantage of the dance floor for the 1931 Pop tune, Strangers, and for the first blues ever recorded, Memphis Blues – nice fox trot.  They’re in their 90’s and fabulous dancers.

couple dance right in front of the band

John and Gisela Brunaccinis

Jimmy sang the vocal, Rick’s tuba had a great solo on Sunset Café Stomp.  John took out the tenor sax for Robin’s Nest with Jimmy Scatting.  John was still in good form from playing Sunday Brunch at the Griswold Inn Sunday with the 90-year-old Bob Card and The Freight Train Five, where they also played On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.

The Wolverines recorded Wolverine Blues on their first CD, without a trombone, because John hadn’t found one good enough.  Tom Boates definitely has filled in that gap!

Jimmy Mazzy has been playing almost every night with one band or another.  Last Sunday he was with the New Orleans Trio on the Jazz Boat  up and down the Cape Cod Canal.  There’s only one cruise left this year, folks – September 4th.  They board at 1:15pm.

banjo front, drums rear

Jimmy Mazzy and Dave Didriksen

Behind Jimmy is drummer Dave Didriksen, who has been with John Clark for years.  Dave Didriksen knows his Jazz, and is booking Ken’s Steak House every Sunday afternoon 4pm starting in September.  Ken’s Steak House

on tuba

Rick MacWillliams

 

 

He and Rick MacWilliams have lead the rhythm section for John Clark ever since he started here in New England.

Rick leads the Commonwealth Jazz Band that includes John Clark or Noel Kaletsky on reeds and Jimmy Mazzy banjo and vocals.

 

 

There was a request for Let Me Call You Sweetheart, The Wolves played it in Dixieland style like the Halfway House orchestra in 1927. (They were named after a dance hall called the Halfway House that was halfway between New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.)

Robin’s Nest was in remembrance of Sir Charles Thompson, a jazz pianist of supple power who bridged the swing and bebop eras.  He died June 16 at age 98.

John at mic

John Clark sings too

 

 

 

John sang a rambunctious Happy Feet, from the 1929 King Of Jazz (named for Paul Whitman.)

 

 

 

 

eyes closed, head back, singing

Tom Boates gives it 150%

 

 

 

 

Tom sings on the new CD, Now & Then, Hello Central, Give Me Dr. Jazz, with Jeff adding some cornet vibrato.

 

 

 

Jeff uses large wine glass for ute

Jeff uses strange mute

 

 

 

A slow bluesy blues had many names, they stuck with Audrey, banjo intro, tenor sax, trombone, cornet muted with a wine glass.

 

 

 

looking down at piano

Ross Petot, widely known and respected pianist

 

 

Ross Petot is an essential part of this band, playing his excellent stride piano.  He was featured on a WILD Birmingham Breakdown.  John on bari sax.   CineDevine recorded it at the 2013 Hot Steamed Jazz Festival.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iabyXz3ODM

 

 

John blew us away on bari sax!

John blew us away on bari sax!

John returned to tenor sax with Jimmy Singing September in The Rain, Tom’s trombone sneaking in a bit of In My Solitude.  They inspire each other; when they get together it’s magic!!

Band with John on tenor

They closed with dynamic solos on an exciting, freewheeling, Strutting With Some Barbecue.  Fabulous!

The Wolverine Jazz Band and its individual members will be kept busy next year, including many festivals.    We try to keep up with them, but it isn’t easy!!  Their Gatsby Weekend on Star Island off Portsmouth NH Aug 27-28 is sold out!
Keep an eye out for them on our Calendars at nejazz.com.

Their new CD, Now & Then is out.  Number 14?  It has some tunes they recorded in the past, including a couple from 1998!

picture of old wind up grammaphone

Now & Then

CD tunes

You can get them wherever John or the Wolverines appear, or at their website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For their appearances, keep an eye on our Calendars at www.nejazz.com.

Wolverine Jazz Band at Primavera April 21, 2016

by Marce

Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark clarinet/baritone sax, Tom Boates trombone, Ross Petot keys, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums.

There was never a dull moment with the Wolves at Primavera Ristorante preparing for the Capital City Jazz Fest in Wisconsin next weekend. The audience fed off the energy of the band and the band was invigorated by the responsive crowd.  The band was so HOT it even provoked the infamous Mazzy ‘holler’.

four fans at front table (minus me) listening to Band

Fans treasure The Wolverine Jazz Band!

They started with a roaring take off on Shake It And Break It, then immediately changed the mood with a nice dance tune King Oliver released in 1923 Mabel’s Dream.

Jimmy Mazzy was featured with a sublime melody, When. Then John asked Jim what he wanted to do next – dangerous move; he has an enormous array of old tunes embedded in the recesses of his brain.  You never know what he’ll come up with!  He picked away at the banjo until they finally recognized River, Stay Away From My Door, and the band joined him.

John Clark on baritone sax

John Clark on baritone sax

 

 

They practiced Sunset Café Stomp, a great tune  of Chicago Jazz,  It was as much of a show stopper as Louis’s Hot Five!  Tuba intro, each instrument accenting with one note, and then they soared!   Clark injects highlights with bari sax.  This is real camaraderie and classic musicianship.

 

 

 

Tom Boates demonstated his singing prowess on With Plenty of Money and You, from Gold Diggers of 1937,  backed by Jimmy on banjo,  Dave Didriksen softly tapping the cymbal with brushes.

John Clark creates many of their arrangements, taken from the original charts.  He’s been playing a great deal of swing with Dan Gabel’s Abletones Big Band for young dancers from the Greater Boston Vintage Society.   (GBVS – they will keep our music alive way into the future with their Lindy Hops and Swing Dancing!)

How High The Moon was a real swinger!  It will be on their next CD – the 15th?   Jim on vocal, he knows them all!  The band engaged in more superb ensemble.  Prepare those dance floors!

trombone, trumpet, Jimmy banjo and Clark clarinet

Once in a While (not the ballad) was a barn burner, with hot clarinet and the Front Line in outstanding polyphonic ensemble

Betty Weaver,  #1 Jazz Fan from the Band’s inception, has been pushing John Clark to sing for years.  He followed through with My Gal Sal and a nice, bluesy 1911  Oceana Roll, about the ragtime player Jimmy McCoy on the Confederate Navy Sloop Alabama during the Civil War.  There are innumerable stanzas; John had ALL the lyrics memorized!

Jimmy introduced another heartwarming ballad, That’s My Desire, made famous by Frankie Laine.  Jimmy’s ballads are uniquely emotional and touching!

A good ol’ good one – Panama, was incredible!  Jeff was playing a hand crafted, beautifully engraved trumpet by Joe Marcinkiewicz out of Chicago. From soft and mellow jazz to screaming lead, he pushed the band into a new high.  Fans in Wisconsin will love this!

All band playing high energy

The Wolves soar on Panama!

They had to break after that one, and took the time to chat with their New England fans.  They returned with a barn-burning High Society with Tom on growling trombone that had everyone paying attention!

Tom plays trombone with funnel mute

Tom Boates

 

She’s Crying For Me was written by a trombone player.   Tom enhanced it with  a funnel mute.

Like Jack Teagarden, he has the ability to interject a blues feeling into virtually any piece of music.

 

Jeff Hughes on new (for him) engraved trumpet

Jeff Hughes on new (for him) engraved trumpet

 

 

 

Bix Beiderbecke did San Antonio Shout on cornet when he was with Frankie Trumbauer.  Our Bix ‘shouted’ on trumpet.

There was a marvelous exchange between trumpet and clarinet trading fours and twos on a peppy There’ll Come a Time.

 

 

Tom was featured on a tune they learned from banjo player Bob Barta, Here Comes The Hot Tamale Man.  Original Jelly Roll Blues was a slow bluesy number that Morton wrote in 1903.  John started it on low register clarinet, then the band charged it with explosive ensemble!

Ross on keyboard

Ross Petot, extraordinary pianist

 

 

Ross was featured on Sing You Sinners; Lillian Roth introduced it in the 1930 film “Honey”.   His amazing notes and  harmonies are all his own.

Ross detests playing keyboard. (It really doesn’t do him justice!)

The rhythm boys backed him with Dave tapping on cymbal and snare drum for accents.  Jim took the vocal with Jeff backing on muted trumpet.   Ross was appeased.  He’ll be glad to have a real piano in Wisconsin!

Dynamic Rhythmic Duo:

Dave tapping snare drum and smiling

Dave Didriksen knows his Traditional Jazz Beat

Rick behind big Tuba set on chair between his thighs

Rick MacWilliams pushes the chords.

 

Jim playing banjo and singing backed by tuba

Jimmy lets out the “Mazzy Holler” with Rick MacWilliams behind him.

 

 

The Wolverines will be playing the Sunday morning service at the Capital City Jazz Fest, so they practiced a pious spiritual, This Train is Meant For Glory.  Jimmy got carried away, invoking the famous Mazzy shriek that we haven’t heard in a long time!

 

 

 

Fans from the Midwest will relish this septet of brilliant players, playing cherished tunes from the 1920’s.  They closed with stirring solos on a song done by Albert Brunies and the Halfway House Orchestra in 1928, Let Your Lips Touch My Lips.

It was a splendid evening.  Fans of Traditional Jazz were not disappointed.  We wish them a successful weekend in Wisconsin – please take care of our guys!  We need them back because May 15th, 4-7pm, The Wolverine Jazz Band will be at Ken’s Steakhouse, 95 Worcester Road, (Rt. 9 W) in Framingham, Massachusetts.

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

7 pc Trad Jazz/Swing Band

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 on trombone

Tom Boates

Jeff Hughes on cornet

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 on drums

Dave Didriksen

Rick behind huge tuba

Rick MacWilliams

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

banjo, cornet, trombone, clarinet

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 on piano

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 on banjo and vocals

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

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 dancing by herself, jacket flowing

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!

8 pc trad jazz band

Wolverine Jazz Band with Sarah Spencer

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

Swing Times Five will be at Ken’s Steak House February 21st, 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.

Wolverine Jazz Band on FIRE at Primavera Ristorante on June 18, 2015

7 piece Trad Jazz Band

Wolverine Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante

Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark clarinet/bari sax, Tom Boates trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Ross Petot keyboard, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums

The Wolves were on FIRE at Primavera, playing hot freewheeling Traditional  Jazz  to an erudite, attentive audience.    This was Joy of music with a Bang!   John Clark selected tunes from their 13 CDs in preparation for their performance at the end of June at  America’s Dixieland Festival, Olympia, WA  http://www.olyjazz.com/.   We were privileged to participate!!

They meant business, bringing heavy equipment, Jeff on flugelhorn and a 1927 limited edition Vintage Bach Stradivarius trumpet, dating back to the first quarter of the 20th century.   John Clark with his clarinet, alto and bariitone sax.

Tom on trombone with funnel mute

Tom Boates

 

 

Tom Boates usually drives two hours from Connecticut to get here.  But Tom was already in the neighborhood for his son’s wedding, and raring to go, with his whole family here to support him.   His zealous tailgate trombone elevated the whole band to another plane!

It was a beautiful  June Night, and that tune set off this fantastic evening, followed by  a captivating Memphis Blues.  

 

Ross on keyboard

Ross Petot, extraordinary stride pianist

 

Ross Petot is back now that school is out.  He is a teacher, composer and arranger.

He was featured on complex, rhythmic, stride piano on Don’t Be Late.

 

 

 

John Clark’s clarinet on Cushion Foot Stomp from their Street Beat CD was phenomenal.  A  Good ol’ good one, a swinging Let Me Call You Sweetheart.  Jimmy vocal with Dave Didriksen simply tapping on a clutched cymbal.

Jimmy thinking of a tune

Jimmy Mazzy picks one of his umpteen tunes

 

 

They gave Jimmy a choice, which is always dangerous with his familiarity with millions of tunes from 1919 to the 30s; the members never heard some of them.  He chose a relatively late one, If I Didn’t Care, a tune made popular by the Ink Spots in 1939; the band eased in behind him.

 

 

They honored  the late Banjo Bob Sundstrom  with  Elmer Schoebel’s  Prnce of Wails. Tom took a vocal on the 1920’s Here Comes The Hot Tamale Band,

John Clark on baritone sax

John Clark on baritone sax

 

 

 

John Clark’s baritone sax was spellbinding on  Sidney Bechet’s Passport to Paradise.

This was their maiden voyage for this tune.

 

 

 

Dixieland: they challenged the ODJB  with The Original Dixieland One Step that is on their 13th CD – Baker’s Dozen.  It’s their latest and available now.  (Their first CD was The Wolverine Jazz Band Live, recorded by Ed Williams in 1999 at the Sherborn Inn.

Rick MacWilliams hidden behind monstrous tuba

Rick MacWilliams hidden behind monstrous tuba

 

 

Rick played the poignant melody on tuba with his drum colleague keeping time tapping on woodblock.

 

 

 

Jelly Roll Morton was well represented with Original Jelly Roll Blues.  FrankieTrumbauer’s on There’ll Come a Time, from their  Michigander Blues CD, featured Tom’s virtuosic trombone.

John Clark has been singing more tunes (at the insistence of his #1 fan, Betty Weaver).  He  sang all the verses of  Oceana Roll from memory!   Dr. Jazz verse sung by Tom,  with exciting exchange between trombone and banjo, and Tom scatting to the end.

Jeff Hughes on flugelhorn

Jeff Hughes on flugelhorn

 

 

Jeff played a full, rich, smoky flugelhorn for Don Redman’s Save It Pretty Mama.

Ross played the chimes on piano on King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band Chimes Blues, followed by another K.O. with Jimmy scatting on  a lively Shake It and Break It. 

 

Drummer Dave Didriksen sparks the band by providing solid support every note of the way.

Dave on drums

Dave Didriksen keeps the beat

There was never a dull moment; the crowd was feeding off the energy of the band and the band was feeding off the responsive crowd!  (Be prepared, Washington!)

They calmed down with Jimmy singing an Elvis tune, Love Me Tender, with each musician taking a solo between Jimmy’s many smoldering stanzas.  They finally closed with On The Mall, from their CD of the same name – trombone and clarinet connected, trombone going wild!   Fans left elated!

On the following Saturday,, on a warm and sunny June afternoon,  the Greater Boston Vintage Society featured The Wolverine Quintet  on the S. S. Samuel Clemens, a reproduction of a 3-deck riverboat at Rowe’s Wharf; on a 3-hour Boston Harbor Cruise.  It  was their first Dixieland Jazz Boat, and filled with Swing Dancers.  We had a ball!!

We’lll have many chances to hear this top Traditional Jazz Band again, when it returns from Washington, as John noted in his email:

“We will be heading out to the West Coast to do America’s Dixieland Festival in Olympia, WA for the last weekend in June, but we have quite a few concerts when we get back:

Sherborn Town Concert  Weds 7/1 630-8 (weather permitting)
Willows at Westboro  Weds 7/8  7-830
Wayside Inn Tues 7/14  (info and tickets at  http://www.wayside.org/node/286)
Bar Harbor Summer Music Sunday 7/19 8-10pm (info and tickets at http://barharbormusicfestival.org/2010_calendar.html
Weston Town Concert Weds 7/22 7-830 (weather permitting)
St, Matthew’s in Acton Sunday 8/2 6pm
West Boyleston Town Concert  Sunday 8/9  5-7pm (weather permitting)
Natick Senior Center, Thursday 8/20
Stark Park, Manchester, NH  Sunday 8/23 2-4pm (weather permitting)
Walpole Town Concert Tues 8/25  6-8pm (weather permitting)”


You can join John’s once-a-month emails at jazzbnd@aol.com
and purchase many of their 13 albums here.


NE Trad Jazz May 2015

This has been a busy Spring!  I’ll be 80 years young next month; there’s no way I can keep up  with all the wonderful Jazz we’ve had in this area since the last newsletter April 15th.  But I do try.

Neville looking to the left and smiling

Neville Dickie

 

 

Highlight of this month (so far) was the annual visit of Neville Dickie on May 12th at the Bella Costa Restaurant in Framingham, MA.

 

 

This year Neville was joined by Stan McDonald soprano sax, Jeff Hughes trumpet, and Steve Taddeo drums.

drum, trumpet, piano, soprano sax

Neville Dickie Quartet,

The Quartet rotated with a duet of Neville and Steve, with the irrepressible Dickie pushing Taddeo to the max!

Steve slam-baning drums while Neville plays piano and laughs

Neville challenges Steve to keep up with him – he did!

They ended the evening as always with four-handed piano when Neville is joined by our own stride master, Ross Petot. They obviously enjoy this duet!

both laughing

Neville pauses as Ross goes into full stride.

Neville Dickie will return next year, for his 15th Annual sojourn to New England.  He always begins here with Stan McDonald, before performing all over the country. Then he’ll  return to Surrey, England.


April 16th Wolverine Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante, 20 Pleasant St. Millis MA

7pc Trad Jazz Band

Wolverine Jazz Band

Dave Didriksen drums, Dan Gabel trombone,Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Jeff Hughes trumpet, Rick MacWilliams tuba, John Clark leader/clarinet/bari sax, Herb Gardner keyboard.
With their intricate New Orleans Polyphony and glorious horn solos, the Wolves are one of the most popular Dixieland Jazz Bands in this area and at Festivals.  They are now celebrating their 20th Anniversary, and played many tunes from their upcoming CD, their 13th,  that should be issued sometime next month.  Don’t miss them!!
Dan Gabel subbed for regular trombonist Tom Boates.  Tom is the Music Department Chair at Guilford CT High School, and accompanied the Guilford High School Chorus at Disney World.  (He’s forgiven for not being here!)

Tuesday, MAY 19, 7-9:30pm, The Wolves will be at the Sheraton/Needham. $10 cover – They will hopefully have their new CD ready to go for that day! They aren’t taking reservations, so just show up anyway! Sheraton Needham, 100 Cabot St, Needham, MA 02494 Phone:(781) 444-1110 .


April 24th High Society Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante

High Society Jazz Orchestra with Elise Roth

High Society Jazz Orchestra with Elise Roth

Elise Roth

Elise Roth

Personnel:
Dan Gabel: trombone, Elise Roth: vocals
Clarinets/Saxes: Tyler Burchfield, John Clark,
Richard Garcia
Trumpets: Pat Stout and Jeff Hughes
Piano: Ross Petot
Guitar/Banjo: Bill Doyle
Tuba: Rick MacWilliams
Drums: Steve Taddeo
Jazz, Big Band, and swing are American musical art forms that are being perpetuated by a young musician, and we are extremely grateful!!  Dan Gabel  brought his High Society Jazz Orchestra to Primavera Ristorante on April 24th, with Vocalist Elise Roth lending her expert talents on vocal numbers of the era, bringing back rarely heard verses and a classic vintage singing style.  Dan Gabel and John Clark are experts at adapting original arrangements that were created in the early 20’s and 30’s.  They played Ellington’s The Mooche, made famous at the Cotton Club, Irving Berlin’s Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Pat Stout trumpet was heard on St. Louis Shuffle by Fats Waller. Bill Doyle, manager and guitar, was featured on Glad Rag Doll by Milton Ager.  Reeds played a stomping arrangement of Putting on the Ritz; Hughes trumpet was featured on  Stardust that just went right through you!  It was a fantastic evening of Jazz, Big Band, and Swing – and we’re looking forward to hearing much more from this band. Check them out at www.facebook.com/highsocietyorchestra.

 


April 30th Eli and The Hot Six celebrated International Jazz Day at Primavera Ristorante.  Click on photos to enlarge.

Eli and The Hot Six

Eli and The Hot Six

Bob Winter keyboard, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba, Jeff Guthery drums, Herb Gardner trombone, Bo Winiker trumpet/flugelhorn, Ted Casher clarinet and tenor sax

April 30th was International Jazz Day, spectacularly celebrated by Eli and The Hot Six at Primavera Ristorante.  They began with The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise, featuring tunes form many countries.  Eartha Kitt’s C’est çi Bon,  Irish Black Bottom, (which is really authentic American Jazz), Hindustan, Ted Casher sang Bei Mir Bis Du Schoen in Yiddish, playing authentic Klezmer clarinet.

Bo holds handkerchief, and smiles like Louis

Bo sings Louis’s Wonderful World

 

 

Bo put heart and soul into Louis’s Wonderful World.

 

 

 

 

Jeff Guthery recalled the 20’s and 30’s drumming, tapping on graduated temple blocks befitting that early jazz.   You’ve never heard Oh By Jingo played like Bob Winter, with blazing runs up and down the keyboard!  Thanks to Kathy Wittman, we have a video of it back at the Sherborn Inn.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvWIIwCU-jg

Eli and The Hot Six will be joined by renowned pianist Butch Thompson at Sculler’s Jazz Club on May 21st for their CD release of Eli & The Hot Six LIVE, Contemporary Classic Jazz.


May 3rd Wolverine Jazz Band started a new monthly series at Ken’s Steak House, Rt. 9 Framingham, MA.  We had Tom Boates back from Disney World!  Please read the fine REVIEW by Myron Idelson!  It was a great success!

7 pc Trad Jazz Band

Wolverine Jazz Band at Ken’s Steak House, on a Sunday afternoon

Tom Boates trombone (he’s back!) Dave Didriksen drums, Jeff Hughes trumpet, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Ross Petot piano, John Clark clarinet/bari sax.


May 7th Blue Horizon Jazz Band played the first Thursday of the month at Primavera Ristorante

Blue Horizon Jazz Band

Blue Horizon Jazz Band

Steve Taddeo drums, John Kefalas trombone, Gerry Gagnon tuba, Jeff Hughes trumpet, Dave MacMillan guitar, Stan McDonald soprano leader/sax/vocals.
This is fine Traditional Jazz!  Jeff’s trumpet took the melodic lead, with Stan flitting around the melody with  embellishments, and John’s trombone filling in the “holes” with extensive use of the slide.  The solos were filled with exemplary improvisations,  Gerry Gagnon is one of the finest tuba players in this area; he coordinated with Steve on his 1938 Slingerland Drums, tapping on a tiny Grecko cymbal attached to the bass drum, keeping perfect time.  It was great to have Dave MacMillan back on rhythm guitar after a long recovery from an accident.  Welcome back, Dave!!


May 9th Seacoast Stompers Quartet at ACT III in Littleton, MA
ACT IV in Lowell ran into another bureaucratic headache and could not open.
Thank you Gwenn and Josely for your immeasurable patience!!  Seacoast Stompers had to trim down to a Quartet to play in ACT III in Littleton.

Frank Stadler piano, Jeff Hughes trumpet, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Al Bernard tuba.

Cornet, Banjo, Piano, Tuba

Seacoast Stompers Quartet

Jeff Hughes has many faces, Bix Beiderbecke, Bunny Berigan, Joe ‘King’ Oliver, Buddy Bolden, with his lyrical style and melody-based improvisations.  He and Jimmy Mazzy are brothers at heart, having played together since the 1980’s, especially with Ray Smith’s Paramount Jazz Band.  Frank Stadler’s piano set them free to exchange riffs, play intricate melodies and counterpoint, and Albie Bernard provided the perfect  bass lines.  It was a memorable afternoon!!
Act III is a small venue, but has a bar and serves a fine assortment of Mediterranean cuisine.   When Act IV in Lowell is finally allowed to open, the full 7-piece band will play on the 2nd Saturday of the month from 2-5pm.  We hope!


In the meantime, we are all extremely grateful to these wonderful musicians for making this a great life for ALL ages!!

Marce

Wolverine Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante, April 16, 2015

7 pc Trad Jazz Band

Wolverine Jazz Band with Dan Gabel and Herb Gardner

Jeff Hughes cornet, John Clark clarinet and bari sax, Dan Gabel trombone, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Herb Gardner keyboard, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums

Wolverines are a favorite, not only in New England, but across the country.   They had a couple of substitutes this evening.   Dan Gabel was on trombone, subbing for Tom Boates, whose High School Jazz Band was on stage at the Epcot Center.

Herb Gardner has been ‘pianist of choice’ here since Ross Petot teaches on Thursday evenings.  John Clark spent about 30 seconds explaining arrangements to the two substitutes, and then they all fell in together and soared.

It was the day after tax day, so they began with an upbeat We’re In The Money, from their 1st CD.  They took When My Dreamboat Comes Home  from The Paramount Jazz Band, who took it from the Jim Cullum Jazz Band, with Jimmy doing the vocals as he did with Paramount.  From the 1920’s, Dardanella, fine tuned duet between cornet and clarinet, tuba pushing the beat, Jimmy took it out on banjo..

Jimmy singing and playing banjo

Jimmy is always Jimmy, remarkable!

 

 

Jimmy Mazzy was featured on a Muddy Water’s tune, playing himself, incredible as usual, with a little bit of support from cornet and clarinet.

 

 

 

 

Some Rogers and Hart was on the docket.  Bless That Mountain Greenery was recorded by Jabbo Smith.  It will be on the Wolves’ upcoming CD,  #13. (They don’t really count No 1 because there was no trombone.)

Rick took a tuba solo on a dreamy, bluesy Michigander Blues, with the three on the front line slipping into a deep glissando slide.  They finished with smiles on all their faces; it must have been signaled at the last minute and played on the fly!

Jim and Jeff alone.

Jim Mazzy and Jeff Hughes play Sleepy Lagoon.

Jimmy Blythe’s Oriental Man is Chicago jazz,  with Clark playing hot Johnny Dodds clarinet.  I Want to Linger was done by Rosy McHargue and his Dixieland Band as well as the Andrew Sisters.  John  Clark did the vocal with Hughes playing soulful vibrato on his Olds Recording cornet, vintage 1953. It looks like new with offset ergonomic valves and trigger slide, it plays excellent and has a wonderful sound.  But then any instrument in Hughes’ hands has an excellent sound.

Jeff and Jimmy played a song for the late Jim Enright – his favorite, Sleepy Lagoon.  Thank you both for remembering Jim!

Jimmy Mazzy’s choice – he has a million of them in that genius head of his, but this was a relatively new one.  The front line followed with inventive solos. The You and Me That Used to Be was voted Best Record of the Year in 1972, and Jimmy Rushing voted Best Male Singer in the Down Beat music poll.

Jeff’s favorite, After You’ve Gone, recorded by Johnny Dodds’ Black Bottom Stompers, realased in 1927, was a nice danceable tune, melodic and lyrical clarinet with trombone playing harmony, and Jimmy singing,

Dip Your Brush In The Sunshine, Ted Lewis 1931,  Uplifting and warm with Jim vocal and Jeff responding.

Rick and tuba in back of the band

Rick MacWilliams pushes the band on tuba

 

 

 

Rick MacWilliams let go on a fine tuba solo on Johnny St. Cyr’s Oriental Strut.  He provides a cushion of solid beat with the right chords supporting the band every note of the way.

 

 

 

Stomping at The Savoy swings from beginning to end; you never heard anything like it!  Pity no one was recording.  They haven’t played Blues in My Heart in a long time,  Sweet.

full band

Band played a unique Stomping at the SavoyA

Jerry Wadness requested Herb play trombone.  Herb joined Dan in a hot fiery duet backed by the buoyant rhythm section on Harry Warren’s Lulu’s Back in Town, with Herb also singing it.  They are a combustible combination!

Dan and Herb on trombone

Rose of The Rio Grande, high spirited playing with Dave Didriksen tapping on wood block and hi hat, then he let go with excited commentaries; crashes and rolls.  Jeff followed on cornet with John on clarinet for an exciting duet, with Dan responding with short bursts on trombone.

Didriksen on drms

Dave Didriksen keeps a fine beat

Lawrence Brown wrote another Jim Enright favorite, Memories of You, played by piano and clarinet. Superb. Jimmy singing with Jeff support, as they used to do with the Paramount Jazz Band.   This will be on their 13th CD.

Time for one more.  What, already??

John Clark on bari sax

He’s dangerous on that baritone sax.

 

 

They closed with a special version of Dinah with a soft 16 bar intro on cornet.  John Clark’s full-throated lower register on baritone sax caught us right in the solar plexus!

 

 

 

 

Dan Gabel’s exuberant trombone followed, Herb’s fingers flying over the keyboard, Jimmy was carried away with his infamous holler. Dave’s drum cymbal rolled into the final ensemble chorus, with a closing cymbal crash for a WILD finale!.  We were left breathless!

Where do we go from here??

Herb Gardner at keyboard

Herb Gardner keeps busy

Herb Gardmer keeps busy. The following week, after the usual Wednesday night at Swing 46 in Manhattan NY, Friday the 24th he’s playing with the Black Eagle Jazz Band at Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham. Saturday he’s on trombone for a Benny Goodman ’38 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert tribute at Merrimac College in North Andover. Then Sunday down to Piermont, NY for two shows with Red Molly at The Turning Point. He says “Who has as much fun as us jazz musicians?”

Dan Gabel

Dan Gabel is always phenomenal.  He teaches at Holy Cross College in Worcester, barely makes it here on time and always arrives hungry.  He wolfs down a fine Italian dinner during the first ten-minute break.

Extending the slide to its maximum length, he’s constantly improvising, sometimes being forced to, as when playing trombone to a saxophone chart (not with the Wolves).  Here he was given the chart to the wrong tune, but still performed with such passion that we never knew.  His High Society Orchestra will be here at Primavera April 24th, 7pm.

 

As for the Wolverine Jazz Band, mark your calendars.  They will be at Ken’s Steak House, Framingham MA on May 3rd, 4-7pm FLYER and the Sheraton Needham May 19th, 7pm, a new venue at 100 Cabot St, Needham, MA.  Come hear the Wolves in a beautiful new setting – great menu, easy parking.  On June 18th they’ll be back at Primavera, 7pm.  John Clark keeps their site update!  www.wolverinejazzband.com.

Wolverine Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante, February 19, 2015

Trad Jazz Septet

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 on trumpet, wearing black shirt and paper-boy's cap

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

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

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 with head back and mouth wide open

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 with tuba on lap

Rick MacWilliams

Dave on drums

Dave Didriksen

Tom on trombone

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 in red shirt, singing and playing banjo

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

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 on keyboard.  Primavera has no piano.

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.

Wolverine Jazz Band at the Sherborn Inn, November 4, 2014

Terrific 7-pc Traditional Jazz Band

John Clark’s Wolverine Jazz Band

Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark reeds, Tom Boates trombone, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums

The Wolves were in rare form, back from a six-hour recording the previous day on their latest CD, #13.  They’re on their way to the Arizona Jazz Classic Festival this weekend.  They practiced on us, playing early New Orleans music with fiery enthusiasm – How LUCKY are WE????   They were asked to play King Oliver tunes at the Arizona Jazz Classic Festival, and we heard many of them, plus other tunes from the 20’s and 30’s, with original arrangements by John Clark.

They started Hot and Heavy with Michigander Blues, and a joyous New Orleans Stomp.  A tune Bix Beiderbecke did with Frankie Trumbauer, There’ll Come a Time. 

Tom Boates was featured on Snake Rag, a King Oliver tune that is always a big request.  We only get to hear Tom once a month – the lucky folks at Bill’s Seafood in Westbrook Connecticut hear him every Friday with the Bill’s Seafood All-Stars.  Boates sang the vocal on St. James Infirmary Blues, alternating choruses with each of the musicians.  Nice touch.  He closed with a growling trombone and drawn-out flourish.

Trombone, trumpet, and clarinet

Front line, featuring Tom Boates, with Jeff Hughes trumpet and John Clark clarinet

Jimmy on banjo and singing

Jimmy Mazzy doesn’t use arrangements.

 

 

Jimmy had many vocals (We never get enough of them!) All from memory.  Just Pretending, which is seldom played by any other band.  The Halfway House Orchestra did some self-loathing tunes, I Hate Myself for Loving You and I Hate Myself For Being So Mean To You.   John took out the baritone for that one.

 

 

 

Mother and Daughter dancing

Rita Brochu and Kathleen Howland

Another King Oliver tune, Olga, nice dance tune, then a romping New Orleans tune Buddy’s Habit.   Another K.O. tune that Louis played with his Hot Five, Sunset Café Stomp, got Kathleen Howland up and dancing with her Mom, Rita Brochu.   It was Kathleen’s birthday.  Dr. Howland is a teacher of Music Therapy, both in private practice and at several schools, and plays one heck of a baritone sax!   Special request for Kathleen, one of Jimmy’s favorite depression songs, Dip Your Brush in the Sunshine had everybody up dancing.

 

Betty Weaver requested a song from John Clark, and he obliged with The Oceana Roll, a popular RagTime tune written in 1911 about the U.S. Navy and the USS Alabama:
“Billy Mccoy was a musical boy
On the Cruiser Alabama he was there at the piana
Like a fish down in the sea, he would rattle off some harmony.”    Never gets dull!!

Clark singing with trumpet and piano in backgrund

John Clark sings The Oceana Roll

Jimmy was asked to lead on a K.O. tune, I’m Lonesome Sweetheart, powerful trombone pushing the band.   Someday Sweetheart, another Jimmy vocal, gave Rick MacWilliams a chance to shine on tuba.   We haven’t heard Chimes Blues in ten years, it was fabulous, with Ross Petot playing the chimes on piano.

tuba and piano

Rick MacWilliams and Ross Petot, fabulous rhythm section

Excellent drummer Dave Didriksen completes the rhythm section, keeping time with rim tapping on snare drum and cymbals.

Dave tapping on snare drum rims

Dave Didriksen

Their final tune, a sizzling Panama, was recorded by Kid Ory’s Creole Jazz Band.  The Sherborn Inn furnished some Pyrotechnics:

We’ve been so fortunate to listen to this dynamic Wolverine Jazz Band from its inception,  They celebrate their 19th anniversary next month.

We don’t mind sharing them with the folks in Arizona!  Enjoy!