Jeff and Joel's House Party - Part 2
 Part   One    Two     Three

Guilford, Connecticut - February 11 & 12

15 guy musicians and Bria Skonberg on the steep 1804 staircase

 Part II

After a rowdy Big Bear Stomp, Jeff called Robin Verdier to the piano  because "he's more civilized and younger". 

Robin backed Band 7,  a nine-piece band, with Vince, Kevin, Lew Green, Freddy V. (two cornets!) Craig, Noel, Jimmy & Bob (two banjos) with some excellent West Coast Jazz with Lu Watter's Canal St. Blues.  Love that 2-beat Jazz!  (We don't hear enough of it here in the east since we danced to Bob Connors and his Yankee Rhythm Kings, with Dave Whitney trumpet and Paul Monat cornet.)

Lew, Freddy, Craig & Noel
 
Vince on tuba, Kevin drums Lew Green and Freddy Vigorito on cornet, Barta banjo

By now we're too engrossed in this joyful, vibrant music that we're losing track of the band numbers!  We had two cornets, now we have two clarinets, with Joe Midiri clarinet and Noel Kaletsky clarinet/soprano sax, Jeff back on piano, Barta, Vince & Tom on a spectacular China Boy.    Noel & Joe swapping with Tom for a WILD ending!
Tom Palinko drums, Vince tuba
Joan Boutelle photo

Another reed feature, a sweet, melodic tune, with Herb Gardner taking over the piano, Mazzy banjo/vocal , Palinko drums, Albie tuba, Vince playing softly on that monster bass saxophone. This time Midiri takes out the soprano sax, and Noel clarinet.
 

Tom, Vince on bass sax, Albie, Joe on soprano sax, Noel on clarinet

Herb piano, Joe Midiri soprano sax, Jimmy banjo & singing


Jimmy Mazzy was stuck behind a pole most of the time.

Midiri sits on the floor so people can SEE as well as hear Jimmy Mazzy's vocal on Exactly Like You.

This is what makes House Parties so special, no formality, no scripts, the musicians get to have fun, and it's contagious!

Tom, Vince, Albie and Herb all laughing and having a good time

It's time to bring Bria back.  This time with Herb Gardner on trombone, Joe Midiri soprano sax and clarinet, Robin Verdier on piano, and Vince Giordano slapping that string bass.  Joel Schiavone joined them on banjo. Tom Palinko's drum introduced Joe Avery's Piece, or Joe Avery's Blues, take your pick.  Bria's solo is superb! 

Part of the audience listening to Joe, Bria, and Herb on trombone  Joe watches Bria playing muted trumpet

Freddy led the next group in a rabble rousing Louisian-I-A with Jeff, Kevin, Vince, Craig, and Noel. Joel on banjo and vocal.   Schiavone and Kaletsky have a great duet on this one! 

Noel K. clarinet, Joel S. banjo, Jeff Barnhart standing with hands in his pocket, watching them with pride

Vince takes the lead with Ida, a tune done by Red Nichols and the Five Pennies. Vince started on bass sax, then switched to string bass, playing chords behind the cornet and clarinet.

Kevin drums, Vince bass sax Robin piano, Lew cornet, Barta banjo, Noel K. clarinet
 
Vince surrounded by his instruments, singing his heart out
http://vincegiordano.com/

Vince leads again, fabulous on bass sax, especially trading 4's with Kevin Dorn on drums, then switching to string bass for a vocal!

The man in charge - with the cheat sheet - Jeff Barnhart says he's "clearing out the riff-raff and leaving a maestro in charge, who will elucidate magic music"  meaning Robin Verdier, solo piano. 
Robin looking at audience and speaking into mike, with picture of naked lady behind him
Monte Carlo Jazz Ensemble

Robin explained that in 1902 there were two kinds of music, Ragtime and Cake Walk. 

There were unusual collaborations between Scott Joplin and other young composers, who had a better chance of selling their songs if Joplin's name appeared with theirs.

Swipsey Cakewalk was a collaboration with Arthur Marshall.  Robin performed it in his own impressive stride style

Jimmy Mazzy led the next tune with Jeff, Lew, Noel, and Albie, for a great Mazzy vocal, Breaking The Ice, ending in his own unique scat.

 

For over 40 years Jimmy has been keeping company with a joyous crowd of kindred spirits all dedicated to keeping alive the jazz traditions of the early 20th century.  Jimmy and his friends from Coast to Coast and in Europe have steeped themselves in the  music of jazz icons, Louis Armstrong, Henry Red Allen, Bix Beiderbecke and the many black and white dance bands of the period.  His recognition in the Trad music scene today is largely the result of that dedication and the love they all share for this music. 

Lew green comping on muted trumpet, Jimmy singing, Noel looking on

Jimmy also has the verse in the next tune, with How Can I Be Blue, with Bria, Robin, Joe, Albie.

Kevin, Albie's tuba, Bria, Freddy, naked lady, Noel, Craig

Jeff returns with a new compilation of musicians, and says "What's Going On In Guilford?"

"This Joint Is Jumpin' !!!"

What is better than  two cornets? Three cornets.  Bria, Lew, and Fred, with Vince on vocal for Crazy 'Bout My Baby.  Great with all three brass trading 4's with Midiri's clarinet; another 9-piece band with two banjos.

Herb Gardner led the next band, singing the vocal for Pennies From Heaven, with support from Bria trumpet, Robin piano, Noel K clarinet, Barta banjo, Tom on drums.

Herb singing, Bria on trumpet
http://www.herb-gardner.com/

Herb moves to piano for Fred's set with Bogalusa Strut.  Vince on bass sax, Joe Midiri clarinet, hitting those infamous high notes!

Lew Green chose a Tribute to Ernie Carson, cornet player who died recently, Washington & Lee Swing.

Bria duet with Jeff Barnhart on a compelling tune from Alice in Wonderland that she loved as she was growing up.  World of my Own. Bria said "Alice was in all sorts of situations. I feel as if I've gone down the rabbit hole!

Bria singing, looking at audience with impish grin

Next, Jeff allowed Bria "to do anything she wants!"  Fortunately for me, she picked my favorite, Limehouse Blues.  Thank you, Bria!  It's a tune she recorded with Jim Fryer.  Jeff had that piano crying for mercy!

Lew's next band paid a tribute to Bix Beiderbecke, with Robin on piano, Vince on bass sax, Mazzy on banjo for Bix's Singing The Blues.

The last tune before lunch was Joel's  Lu Lu's Back in Town with Joe on clarinet, Noel on soprano sax, Vince driving on tuba and bass sax.
 
Joe and Noel face-off on clarinet, being watched by Herb, Craig, and fans
 
the backs of Robin's and Jeff's heads - at the piano Kevin standing hitting cymbal, and Tom sitting at drum, laughing, Vince on bass sax in back
Joan Boutelle photo

All the musicians participated, which was a dilemma. 4-handed piano was easy, but drums were a problem.  Kevin hit the cymbals, Tom the drums. Problem solved.

All took a well-deserved break for a fine lunch provided by Carol and Glen Ott and served by volunteers.

Robin Lewis, from Milford, Connecticut says,  “What could be better that this!  You could spend more money on a Broadway show for only 2 hours.  This is 2 days, 12 to 15 hours of music and 3 delicious meals for less money!!!” 

Jeff & Joel's House Party,  Part  One    Two    Three

By Marce, Updated Feb. 2012

 

 

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