Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Cafe February 2, 2013

Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Cafe

With guests Dave Whitney and Billy Novick

February 2, 2013

Videos by Harold McAleer

4-pc front line

Billy Novick reeds, Dave Whitney trumpet, Scott Philbrick cornet/vocals, Lee Prager trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Frank Stadler piano, Al Bernard sousaphone, Bobby Reardon drums

This was a new record audience for the Seacoast Stompers at the Acton Jazz Cafe – SRO! The band has played 250 different tunes in the 4 ½ years they’ve performed here, on the first Saturday of the month.

This afternoon there were eight players onstage, performing Traditional Jazz with a solid beat. Former string bass player Bob McHenry was in the audience, enjoying every sound. (You can catch a glimpse of him on the left on the 1st video.)

The guys were in rare form after the Holiday Hiatus! Billy Novick was already playing somewhere up on the North Shore, so there was only a 3-man front line when they began.

Leader Frank Stadler always has a prepared list of tunes, but there are several band leaders in the group, so he judiciously let them direct the ‘mode of operations’.

They picked a marvelous collection of fine tunes, many from Bix Beiderbecke.

With Dave Whitney, joining the front line, four brass, no reeds, they warmed up with a soundcheck, Oh Baby, before kicking it off with their usual Jazz Band Ball. The front line took turns picking tunes – Whitney first with trumpet and vocal on a tune composed by Carmen Lombardo in 1928, Sweethearts on Parade.

3 piece front line

Jimmy on banjo, Al on Sousaphone behind him

The band went into breakneck tempo, tight ensemble on Three Little Words, with Jimmy on vocal.

His scatting on Apex Blues was backed by Prager's fantastic, warbling, wa-wa trombone.

After You’ve Gone, another of Jimmy's unique vocals, backed by Albie's robust sousaphone and Lee's trombone.

Whitney's rousing vocal style on Mama’s Gone, Goodbye, was followed by cornet and trumpet intensely trading twos, backed by Albie.

Frank introduced Limehouse Blues, Scott playing countless notes. He may play too many notes for some people, but they’re all the right notes!

Billy Novick finally popped in after a 75-mile ride from another gig, clarinet in hand, just in time for the ending. (He's a busy full-time musician.)

I Would Do Most Anything for you:

Bye Bye Blackbird, Scotty was in fine voice, backed by Billy on clarinet. The audience even started singing along.

This is an astute audience, they are really listening and become totally engaged with the band - and vice versa.

Sweet Lorraine, Scotty vocal backed by alto sax, with Albie barely noticeable in background playing rhythmic tuba.

Billy Novick is renowned on Alto Sax.

The effervescent mix of alto sax and tuba set sparks flying on Chinatown.

He gets exciting sounds out of that Selmer Mark VI, the Cadillac of saxophones, on Body and Soul.

Members of this four-piece front line are musical soul mates, working together, improvising, they just enjoy making music.

Bye, Bye Blues

Somebody Stole My Gal.

Drummer Bobby Reardon's
technique and timing drive the band,

Billy and Lee, with Scotty listening in the middle

Trombone and clarinet duet traded fours on a mellifluous Singing The Blues.

There was another very special guest here this afternoon, Jack Phelan, pianist for the New Liberty Jazz Band. His beloved wife of 70 years, Eleanor Phelan, left us recently after a long illness.

Doc Phelan requested Ain't She Sweet, and Carrie Mazzy was happy to oblige.

Jimmy's sweet Louisiana Fairy Tale brought back fond memories of Ray Smith and The Paramount Jazz Band.

A rabble-rousing New York, New York:

They closed with the prophetic - It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing, with Billy's swinging alto, and Jimmy's wild scatting.

There were many compliments for the band and the brass in particular. Eva Balazs, pianist for the New New Orleans Jazz Band, had compliments for the pianist.

This afternoon worked so well that Dave Whitney, New England's Dean of Trumpets, has agreed to join the Seacoast Stompers on a continuing basis. An eight-piece band!

The Seacoast Stompers will return to the Acton Jazz Cafe on March 2^nd at 2pm and we’ll all be here!

Billy Novick and Guy Van Duser will be at the Sherborn Inn Tuesday, February 18th.

By Marce, Updated February 2013