Suggesting a taste of spring, after our rough winter, they began with When You Wore a Tulip. This band starts and ends with great polyphony, and never disappoints, the musicians flawlessly working together and playing off each other. 

They played many songs from their new CD, The Wolverine Jazz Band 15th Anniversary Edition (recorded LIVE at the University of New Hampshire, with pictures by Marce & Holly.)

Jimmy was also featured on vocal on Walter Donaldson 1930 tune recorded by Cab Callaway, Sweet Jennie Lee. Fast from the very beginning,  Jeff sneaking in a snippet of 'Won't You Play a Simple Melody' on cornet, and John on bari sax.

One good Donaldson song deserves another, this one recorded in1929 by Jimmy Noone, Love Me or Leave Me.

Then a song associated with banjo bands, Alabama Jubilee, with Taddeo rim-tapping behind pyrotechnician Ross Petot on piano; Boates using an oil funnel for mute. Rick had a chance to get in a fine tuba solo.

Then it was Swing time, featuring swing drummer Steve Taddeo on Don't Be That Way. He surprised everyone on his solo with a series of machine gun taps,16th notes on the snare drum, just like Gene Krupa. 

There was a special request for a Tom Boates' vocal - a mournful love ballad, St. James Infirmary.

The Original Dixieland Jazz Band One Step, (not on this CD) was a real rabble rouser, with all seven players getting a solo.  The front line guys started goofing off and jumping on one leg while playing.   They hadn't been together for a month and were enjoying this reunion - Taddeo backing them with rim taps, then letting loose!

Wolverine Blues and Caravan are on the new CD.  Caravan featured Ross Petot, with the front line adding a bit of discord, then musical soulmates Jeff and John trading 4's on cornet and clarinet, Ross's piano ending in a bold flourish.

For Milt's 87th birthday, Jeff replicated Harry James intro to I Can't Get Started, filling the dance floor.  Boates quickly interpolating "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me' into King Oliver's 1923 Buddy's Habits, not easy.  Rick's Tuba solo was backed by Taddeo tapping on the bell.

From an earlier CD, John wanted to play  I Want to Linger that he had learned from the Cracker Jack Jazz Band.  He turned to give the band some pointers.  (Ross started tinkering with Love is a Many Splendered Thing to fill in the silence.)  Satisfied that everyone was on board, John used Rosy McHargue's arrangement of Linger, accompanied by Jeff's hard-driving, lyrical style.   John was coerced into doing the vocal - we are just discovering that he sings well too. 

Jeff was featured on his special arrangement of a tune passed down from generation to generation - Down By The Old Mill Stream. Now the guys started getting schmaltzy, clowning around with a bizarre intro, while Jeff was trying to play it straight.  (I'm sorry Great-Grandma, but It's time they retired that tune!)

They closed with High Society, with the guys still clowning around, Jeff and Tom hugging each other while Clark executed the mandatory Alphonse Picou's soliloquy. But with all that fooling around, they still finished with a barn-burning polyphony!