Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante, September 6, 2018

6 pc Trad Jazz Band, no banjo or piano

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band

Stan McDonald soprano sax, Phil Person trumpet, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Jack Soref guitar, Stu Gunn double bass, Rich Malcolm drums

Stan playing soprano sax with guitar and bass players behind him

Stan McDonald

 

They started with a cheery Spreading Joy.  It was going to be a great night!

Then Stan took off on soprano sax on Sidney Bechet’s Lotus Blossom;  Bechet was his role model.

 

He led the band on All By Myself, and What Is This Thing Called Love – with Gerry using his hand for a mute. A fast and furious  Everybody Loves My Baby began with the verse, then played with energy and syncopation.  That closed the first set.

Birthday Time: The Band played Happy Birthday for both Stan and Ellen McDonald, whose birthdays were at the end of August, and also for fans Jerry Wadness (same as Ellen) and Bob Sickle whose birthday was today.

 

Gerry on muted trombone

Gerry Gagnon took leadership at the second set, continuing with a fast  In The Shade Of The Old Apple Tree, with Stu Gunn playing melody on his double bass.

Gerry said they would play a “song of revenge”; and surprised us with Who’s Sorry Now?

 

 

 

 

This band is pushed by the fantastic rhythm trio.  Jack Soref was featured on his favorite Gypsy Guitar with Whispering, with only Stu and Rich..

Jack on guitat with only bass and drum players

Jack Soref feature

Rich playing drums softly

Rich Malcolm

 

 

Rich Malcolm is a tasteful drummer, not overtaking the band, but always listening to the players, and adding a tap on drum or cymbal  here and there for emphasis…and always keeping that indispensable beat.

 

 

 

 

My Blue Heaven  with Rich getting some solo drumming.

Stu on bass looking up to ceiling

Stu Gunn

 

 

 

 

Stu Gunn gets carried away, sashaying back and forth with the beat;

 

 

 

Sweet Sue

 

Phil playing trumpet

Phil Person

 

 

Phil Person takes the lead with wonderful open bell trumpet, trombone playing harmony on one of our favorites, Tin Roof Blues. 

 

 

 

 

I’m Confessing That I Love You was dedicated to us, their faithful fans.  The feeling is mutual!!    Sunny Side of The Street  continued with fine ensemble – pals sharing favorite tunes.  Nat King Cole’s usually sweet Mona Lisa was a surprise, with a Louis Prima Shuffle – who knew??  Hot and Fabulous!

Playing off the cuff, there was a discussion on what to do next.  Somebody wanted a Fats Waller tune; they decided on Fats Waller and Harry Link’s I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Fallin.  Fabulous, freewheeling,  supporting each other, listening to the others’ invented lines, then adding their own improvisations.

Continued upbeat – Girl of My Dreams, Gerry Gagnon sang with heart and soul, emotional power!.  Another surprise!

He sent us home humming  Sweet Coquette.

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band will return on the first Thursday of next month, October 5th.  Join us for more Sidney Bechet – and many more surprises!

Jack Soref Trio at Primavera Ristorante August 23, 2018

Jack Soref Trio

Jack Soref guitar, Jim Guttman bass, Jameson Stewart guitar,

The last decade has seen a flowering of Django Reinhardt’s legacy, with bands and festivals popping up internationally.  The Jack Soref Trio is an exciting gypsy jazz ensemble. Reaching both forward and back in time, it pays homage to the music of Django Reinhardt, while simultaneously enriching the tradition with its own compositions, arrangements and swinging improvisations.

Jack on o-hole guitar

Jack Soref

 

Jack is one of the pillars upon which Boston’s considerable gypsy jazz scene rests.  A Wisconsinite, graduated from Berklee, started hanging with European itinerants, moved to France in order to live and play with them. (He still wears their weird pointed shoes.) He has performed with such gypsy jazz luminaries as Adrien Moignard, Gonzalo Bergara, violinist Tim Kliphius and the great German Sinto musician Titi Bamberger.

 

 

 

also on o-hole gypsy guitar

Jameson Stewart

 

Jameson Stewart is originally from California, but has been performing on the East Coast in many different musical styles, on many different instruments, for the last 8 years. When Jameson’s not on the road, he can be found playing Django style guitar with Jack on Tuesdays at The Burren in Somerville. Just about every other night of the week, he can be found playing Upright bass, bass guitar, Tenor Banjo, mandolin, or guitar, somewhere in New England.

 

 

 

 

Jim bowing string bass

Jim Guttman

 

Bassist Jim Guttmann has played everything from klezmer to classical — and most styles in between.  He’s been with the Klezmer Conservatory Band (KCB) for 38 years. The KCB was almost single-handedly responsible for launching the modern klezmer music revival. Guttmann has remained with the group ever since, appearing on all ten of their recordings; touring Europe, Australia, and America; and performing and recording with Joel Grey and Itzhak Perlman.

 

 

 

The Band kicked off the first set with “Rosetta”-

Rosetta

They also played tunes by modern Django Style guitarists like “When I was a Boy” written by Spanish guitarist Biel Ballester, or “For Sephora” a composed by Sinti (the gypsy tribe Django comes from), virtuoso Stochelo Rosenberg

Each set included many of Jack Soref’s original compositions like the moody, “Rain on the Terrace” about the  Memorial Union Terrace in Madison Wisconsin.

Swing numbers like “It Might be True”, and it’s sister tune “Some Things Are”
His high energy waltzes “Valse Jacek” “Valse Kilsyth” or the uptempo, minor key, romp “Stompin at Atwood’s”

Guitarist Jameson Stewart was featured playing the lead on the band’s arrangements of
“It Had to be You” by Jones, & Kahn and Django Reinhardt’s “Artillerie Lourde”

When he plays at the Primavera, Jack always likes to dedicate a tune associated with Sidney Bechet, to Stan and Ellen McDonald. Tonight, it was “Georgia Cabin”

The band also played some sweet, classic tunes like “Me, Myself, and I” by Gordon, Roberts, and Kaufman (on which Jack sang in front of an audience for the first time)
“I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling” by T. ‘Fats’ Waller and “Hummin’ to Myself” by Fain, Magidson, and Siegel.

Jack is here at Primavera on the 1st Thursday of every month with The Blue Horizon Jazz Band.  Join us September 6th?

Videos and pictures by Marce

Eli and The Hot Six at Primavera Ristorante, Millis MA August 16, 2018

Keyboard, tuba, drum, clarinet, two trumpets

Eli and The Hot Six

Bo Winiker trumpet, flugelhorn; Phil Person trumpet; Ted Casher clarinet, tenor and soprano sax, Bob Winter piano, Eli Newberger tuba, Bob Tamagni drums; plus Elaine Wu vocals, Carolyn Newberger washboard.  (Missing: Herb Gardner and Jimmy Mazzy)

This is a group of superb musicians who meet here once a month under the guidance of leader Eli Newberger, because they enjoy playing together!  There was no set theme, so each musician played what was in his heart, resulting in amiable ensemble improvisations and rousing counterpoint.

The Hot Six played Memories of You in a tribute to Aretha Franklin, that phenomenal vocalist who died the day before.  Eli was eager to inform us that she played tuba in a band, way back when she was in High School!  It was a fine tribute, ending in a tuba fanfare

Eli up front on tuba

Eli Newberger tribute to Aretha Franklin

.

tall, slim, blonde in white dress

Belinda Barhbone

 

 

Elaine Wu joined the band with a Leonard Bernstein song from On The Town, We’ll Catch Up Some Other Time.

She introduced Belinda Rathbone who sang No Moon At All and Just In Time; Bob Tamagni playing the melody on drums.

 

 

 

drummer grimmacing in rapture

Bob Tamagni

 

 

 

Bob makes a lot of music with a very simple drum set – snare drum, small bass drum, cymbal.  He doesn’t need anything more – he can do anything with it!

 

 

 

Elaine Wu sang a riveting Route 66, special request from “Regulars” Despine and Bill Gray. Eli took the intro, with Ted Casher on tenor sax.

Phil on muted trumpet

Phil Person

 

 

Not usually a Jazz tune – the Band played Gone With The Wind, straight from the heart, with inspired solos.  Phil was amazing on muted trumpet.

 

Caroline on washboard, Eli standing on tuba, Bob Winter keyboard

Carolyn Newberger, washboard wizard

 

 

The evening was full of surprises.  Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom Time was played in the Perez Prado style, with Carolyn Newberger joining them on washboard.  It was a riot!

 

 

 

Bo holds trumpet in right hand, mic in left hand, singing

Bo Winiker

 

 

Bo Winiker sang a Billie Holiday tune, Getting Some Fun Out of Life, which they certainly do!  He also sang a song about Bob Winter – That Piano Man, with fabulous duet by Bo and Phil on trumpet

 

 

 

two trumpets unrestricked

Bo Winiker and Phil Person freewheeling

 

 

With no trombone or banjo, the two trumpets had unrestrained freewheeling on many tunes including In The Good Old Summertime and At The Jazz Band Ball.  They were wild!

dentist playing harmonica

Dr. Melvin Gluskin

 

 

 

 

Another surprise guest – Bob Winter’s dentist, Dr. Melvin Gluskin, came up and played fine harmonica on Moon River slipping in a bit of Over The Rainbow.

Ted blowing tenor sax

Ted Casher

 

 

 

 

 

Ted Casher was featured on smokey tenor sax – with I’ve Got Rhythm.  Beloved by all his students, the man has rhythm, and fluid command of the jazz language.

 

 

 

 

There was a full house, including Elaine Wu’s sisters who were vising from California.  Elaine dedicated her last set to her first grandchild, a beautiful baby girl, Shandra, singing from The Bells’s of St. Mary’s, Aren’t You Glad You’re You, Carol Hall’s Jenny Rebecca, and Love – and celebrating the everlasting love a Grandma has for her Grandchild.  Welcome to the world, Shandra!

large picture of Elaine backed by Eli and Bob Winter

Elaine Wu sings to new granddaughter

At The Jazz Band Ball was a barn-burner!  Followed by an upbeat Just You, Just Me.

They closed with Strike Up The Band,

When these musicians get together it’s magic!
We vowed to be back here next month on September 20th for more of Eli and The Hot Six!

“The Big 5” at Bemis Hall, August 12, 2018

Midiri Brothers with Jeff Barnhart, Steve Taddeo and Marilyn Griep

Steve Taddeo’s Big 5

Joe Midiri clarinet, soprano & alto sax, Paul Midiri vibes, Jeff Barnhart piano, Steve Taddeo drums, Caroline Griep vocals                                videos by Harold McAleer

Jeff smiling at crowd

Jeff Barnhart

 

 

Jeff Barnhart was excited to appear with The Midiri Brothers at Bemis Hall.

They were brought together by Steve Taddeo, with Caroline Griep vocals.

 

 

 

 

The Big 5 started early, practicing Ding Dong Daddy even before the crowd arrived.  They were prepared!

Joe on soprano sax

Joe Midiri

 

 

 

Joe Midiri was fantastic on clarinet (Nagasaki), soprano sax (Nuages) and alto sax.

 

 

 

 

Nagasaki

Paul on vibraphone

Paul Midiri    Photo by Tina Cass

 

 

 

His identical twin brother Paul stayed with Vibraphone this evening, keeping a miraculously fast pace.

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t Be That Way

Brunette, short hair, black dress

Caroline Griep

 

 

Caroline Griep was a match for them with her natural warmth and easy swing.  She kept up with Barnhart’s jesting between songs; and when he called on her on the spur-of-the-moment, she was prepared.

 

 

Taddeo kept up the beat, playing brushes behind many of them. He let go in the finale, his theme song – Dinah.

 

Note:  The Midiri Brothers and Jeff Barnhart may return sometime next June – stay tuned to our calendars.

side view of Caroline, Paul, Joe and Steve Taddeo

The Big 5 at Bemis Halll                  Photo by Tina Cass

Excellent videos by Harold McAleer, who also had a birthday this week. Thank you, Harold – Happy Birthday!

 

Marce

 

Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders at Bemis Hall, June 8, 2018

7 pc Swing Band with 2 guitars

Steve Taddeo’s Swing Senders

Photos by Jason Towne

Pat Stout trumpet, Craig Ball clarinet, Herb Gardner piano, John Turner string bass, Steve Taddeo drums,  Billl Doyle rhythm guitar, Debbie Nordyke vocals, featuring Eric Baldwin guitar.

Taddeo kicked it off with an upbeat Don’t Be That Way with two guitars, trumpet and clarinet – great start to a fine afternoon of propulsive Rhythm and Swing!

smiling Vocalist with long blonde hair

Debbie Nordyke

 

 

 

Steve wasted no time Introducing former Broadway actress and vocalist Debbie Nordyke, singing Blue Skies, and from Brigadoon – It’s Almost Like Being In Love.

 

 

 

Bill Doyle on rhythm guitar

Bill Doyle on rhythm guitar

 

 

 

Bill Doyle’s guitar adds perfect rhythm to the band’s beat!

 

 

 

Craig Ball and Eric Baldwin teamed up for Count Basie’s Air Mail Special. 

Eric Baldwin was featured on  Seven Come Eleven, with help from bassist John Turner:

Debbie returned with Duke’s 1943 Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me, and How About You.

playing clarinet

Craig Ball

 

 

 

Craig Ball played a Memorial for a dear friend and drummer, Bobby Reardon, who passed recently,  I Would Do Anything For You.  Taddeo emphasizing drums.

 

 

 

playing trumpet in front of drums

Pat Stout

 

Debbie Nordyk actually worked on stage with Lorna Luft, Judy Garland’s daughter, bringing back memories with the ’39 Harold Arlen ballad, Somewhere Over The Rainbow.  Pat Stout’s open bell trumpet soared!

 

 

Debbie continued with S’Wonderful  and the Gerschwin’s tune from Funny Face, Our Love Is Here To Stay.  It was the last musical composition George Gershwin completed before his death on July 11, 1937.  His brother Ira published it later.

full band with Debbie singing

 

Herb on Bemis's grand piano

Herb Gardner

 

 

 

With a mood of creativity, Herb Gardner approaches tunes with a spirit essential to this kind of music.

 

 

 

 

A hot sextet tells us The  World Is Waiting For The Sunrise

6 pc band

Sextet

 

Found a New Baby was WILD, with Taddeo’s famous ten-minute drum solo and walk-around.

Debbie calmed everyone down with a tune from Gerschwin’s Porgy & Bess, reminding us it was finally Summertime!  and Just in Time.

clarinet and trumpet

Craig Ball and Pat Stout

 

 

 

Honeysuckle Rose, with the Craig and Pat duet, was a barn-burner.

 

 

 

They closed with a WILD instrumental, Sweet Sue, with improvised solos pushed by the drum & bass.

Another version of the Swing Senders will be appearing at Primavera Ristorante at 7pm on Thursday, June 28th.  20 Pleasant St. Millis MA.  Come join us for a fantastic evening of Rhythm and Swing!

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante June 7, 2018

6 piece Trad Jazz Band, no trombone or piano

Blue Horizon Jazz Band

Stan McDonald soprano sax, Andy Moore clarinet, Phil Person trumpet, Jack Soref guitar, Stu Gunn string bass, Richard Malcolm drums

Stan McDonald is a staunch supporter of Traditional Jazz.  The Blue Horizon Jazz Band is one of the few bands left who will satisfy us Trad Jazz fans!  Gerry Gagnon (tuba/trombone) couldn’t be here tonight, but his chair was filled with a fine clarinet player, Andy Moore, a friend and cohort of Jack Soref.

They began June with the welcome June Night, then sang a Happy Birthday to Stan’s son, Andy, who was sitting in the audience – he was 51 the day before.

Lilting energy on Four or Five Times,  

All of Me.  I’ll Never Be The Same – Andy and Stan playing spontaneous counterpoint to Phil Person’s sweet trumpet.

Andy Moore and Stan McDonald play counterpoint.

Rosetta, one of our favorites, closed the first set.   Stan McDonald stepped out.

with long white pony tail, playing fine trumpet

Phil Person

 

 

 

Phil Person took over lead of the band – his sweet trumpet taking on a more powerful tone.

 

 

 

 

Jack on Django guitar

Jack Soref

 

 

 

Jack Soref Manouch guitar was featured with Django’s Nuage.  Never get tired of hearing this!

 

 

 

 

Ron L’Herault, trombone from the Dixie Diehards, joined them for the rest of the evening.

playing drums. head thrown back

Richard Malcolm

 

 

Basin Street Blues was a request from drummer Rich Malcolm.  Andy Moore playing  low register clarinet.  They were in sync, fantastic solos backed by superb rhythm section.

 

 

 

 

After some conversation on the chords (this is a democratic band),  I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me began with celestial ensemble.

Jelly Roll Morton’s Honeysuckle Rose

head thrown back, singing

Andy Moore

We learned that Andy is also a fine singer, lending his voice to I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love With Me,  You Took Advantage of Me, and I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling.

Guitar took the intro on I’ve Got a Right To Sing The Blues, with  the front line each taking a full chorus.

Ron L’Herault took the vocal on Sweethearts on Parade.

Whispering

playing muted trombone

Ron L’Herault

 

 

 

They closed with Ron playing New Orleans tailgate trombone and singing Big Butter and Egg Man.

 

 

 

 

It was a fine evening, hearing Trad Jazz and getting re-acquainted with Andy Moore’s clarinet.  He and Jack Soref are both in the Sinti Rhythm Band, playing mostly private gigs all over New England.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band plays here at Primavera Ristorante on the first Thursday of every month.   Join us for some fine Jazz!!

Dixie Diehards Dixieland Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante 24 May 2018

7 piece Dixieland Jazz Band

Dixie Diehards Dixiland Jazz Band

Ron L’Herault – MC – Vocals & Trombone
Carl Gerhard – Trumpet, Vocals – Music Director
Paul Peterson – Soprano Saxophone
Bill Kiesewetter – Keyboard
Jimmy Mazzy – Banjo/vocals
Bill Kass – Tuba
Dale Ellenberg – Drums

The Diehards opened with a rip-roaring South Bourbon St. Parade, moving to another hot one, the ODJB Royal Garden Blues.  Trumpeter Carl Gerhard effortlessly holding a long note.  Set everyone at the edge of their seats.

Carl on trumpet, I think

Carl Gerhard

 

Carl Gerhard’s trumpet is resonant with feeling and warmth.  He was the Director and Bandmaster of Navy bands, retiring  after 30 years of service.  His true love is playing traditional jazz in the New Orleans style.  He took a fine vocal on the Ain’t She Sweet, the 1927 song that sold a million copies of sheet music!.

 

 

 

playing soprano sax

Paul Peterson

 

Paul Peterson played soft soprano sax on the Andy Raszof Eubie Blake tune, Memories of you.  Paul has been teaching music in the Bridgewater–Raynham School District, and executes dramatic and remarkable solos on the soprano sax.

 

 

Ron holding trombone and singing

Ron L’Herault

 

 

Ron L’Herault MC’d, played tail-gait trombone, and sang many vocals; Five Foot Two, Sweet Sue, South Basin Street Blues. He sang a tune which started its life in a Yiddish Musical comedy production, “I Would If I Could.” In English it’s called “To Me You Are Beautiful,” but we all know it by its Yiddish title, Bei Mir Bis Tu Schoen.  

 

 

 

Avalon

 

Jim plays banjo and sings with tuba backup

Jimmy Mazzy

 

 

Jimmy Mazzy was featured on Up a Lazy River – you could have heard a pin drop.  They give him a lot of room to play and sing, Darktown Strutter’s Ball, Give Me Your Telephone Number, Up a Lazy River,
Struttin’ With Some Barbecue

 

 

 

looking at camera with a big smile

Bill Keiswetter

 

Bill KIesewetter plays excellent stride piano; he was influenced by Fats  Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Floyd Cramer and the Dukes of Dixieland.  Bill is retired from many years in the computer industry, and happy to be playing full time.

 

 

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

playing tuba and reading script

Bill Kass

 

 

 

Bill Kass’s tuba provided chords and a strong, steady, beat.  Check out his solo again on Struttin’ With Some Barbecue!

 

 

 

 

Playing drum set with no large bass drum

Dale Ellenberg

 

 

Dale Ellenberg maintained that important Dixieland beat.  He introduced  Spencer Williams’  Everybody Loves My Baby, with Jimmy taking the vocal.

 

 

 

 

 

They closed this fantastic evening with the ubiquitous Closer Walk and The Saints:

The Diehards have a full schedule planned for this summer, most of them private.  The next public appearance is July 18, 7-9pm at The Old Stone Church
1st. Congregational Church, 785 South Main St, Raynham MA. 02767
508-822-6177

Eli and The Hot Six at Primavera Ristorante April 19, 2018

8 pc Hot Band, two trumpets

Eli and The Hot Six

Bo Winiker and Phil Person trumpet, Ted Casher clarinet and tenor sax, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba, Bob Tamagni drums, Elaine Wu vocals

Eli playing tuba at the front of the band

Eli Newberger

 

This band is never dull!  On this cold and rainy day, Jimmy opened on his renowned one-string banjo singing April Showers. But it soon got HOT in here with two trumpets and clarinet, Eli strolling up front playing tuba.

 

 

 

Eli says  “I can’t get over the excitement that Phil  and Bo create, individually and together, and the band’s new energy.  Add Elaine and our vocal themes and solos, including Bob Winter’s, and we’ve got a joyful evening, full of honest emotion and unexpected brilliance, every single performance.”

They continued with optimistic tunes for better weather.

Keyboard player sings. Bob plays with the Boston Pops.

Bob Winter Sings!

 

 

 

Hope For Better Days–  Surprise – Bob Winter Singing!!  Wonderful!   Followed by band ensemble on Look For The Silver Lining.

 

 

 

Bo Winiker

Bo Winiker playing flugelhorn

 

 

Speaking of Silver Linings, Elaine Wu was back with tunes that help people relate to each other – Carol King’s Music, Ellington’s In a Mellow Tone, and off to Rio for One Note Samba, with Bo on flugelhorn.

 

 

 

 

Phil on muted trumpet

Phil Person

 

 

 

Phil Person’s sweet trumpet was featured with Honeysuckle Rose, with Jimmy scatting.

 

 

 

Bob Winter continued in propulsive rhythm and fluid style on keyboard with Without You.

Caroline seeming in ecstasy with head thrown back, playing washboard.

Carolyn Newberger

 

 

Carolyn Newberger joined Jimmy singing Coney Island Washboard Rondelay.

Carolyn is usually sitting in the audience drawing pictures of the musicians.  She had a successful showing of her art this month at Galatea Fine Arts in Boston.

 

 

Elaine with left arm swung out, singing

Elaine Woo rules!

 

Elaine returned singing Too Marvelous For Words, then introduced a couple of friends to sing a song.  This whole evening was about friendships.  Belinda sang All The Things You Are, and Nat tried some Jimmy Durante on You Do Something To Me, and with a Jazz Waltz from the movie The Yearling, and I’m All Smiles.

 

 

Herb up front on trombone with Eli on tuba behind him

Herb Gardner

 

 

Herb Gardner was featured on trombone and vocals with ‘Till We Meet Again.

 

 

 

Jimmy playing banjo and singing

Jimmy Mazzy

 

 

 

Jimmy dove through his plethora of songs for a 1927 tune played by the  Jean Goldkette Orchestra, Slow River.

 

 

 

Ted on tenor sax

Ted Casher

 

 

 

Ted was featured on tenor sax with Squattee Roo.

 

 

 

Eli and Jimmy have been a team for many years. Eli backed him on a very slow If You Knew How Much I Love You.   The band ramped up with a real barn-burner, South Rampart St. Parade.

Bob, with eyes closed and head thrown back, playing snare drum.

Bob Tomagni

 

 

Behind the band, always listening, adding emphasizing beats, keeping them in time, Bob Tomagni on drums.

 

 

This fine evening closed with Bo back on flugelhorn and Jimmy singing New Orleans.

The large, enthusiastic crowd clapped all night long! This was an exhilarating evening – we didn’t want it to end – but time was up.  But…Eli and The Hot Six, with Bo and Phil on  trumpet and Elaine and Carolyn will return on  May 17th   – Join us for an evening full of surprises!

Blue Horizon Jazz Band at Primavera Ristorante April 5, 2018

5 pc. Traditional Jazz Band, no banjo

Stan McDonald’s Blue Horizon Jazz Band

 

Stan McDonald soprano sax, Phil Person trumpet, John Kafalas trombone, Jack Soref guitar, Gerry Gagnon tuba.   The band’s drummer, Rich Malcolm, director of Audio/Visual at Berklee, was absent because he had to cover the class for a fellow employee who underwent surgery.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Bands plays every 1st Thursday of the month at Primavera, a fine Italian Restaurant family owned since 1989.  Great Traditional  Jazz in addition to fine Italian Cuisine at a fair price!

Stan on soprano saxophone

Stan McDonald

 

 

Stan McDonald played for the first set, opening on soprano sax with fine renditions of Swing That Music, Memphis Blues and Dardanella.  That was followed by Canal St. Blues.  Feet were tapping as they continued with Everybody Loves My Baby.   That closed the first set.

 

 

 

Gerry on tuba

Gerry Gagnon

 

Gerry Gagnon took over leadership of the band, but he gave everyone a say on what they would play and how they would play it.

The important job of keeping that Trad Beat was accomplished by Jack Soref on guitar, with help from Gerry playing 4/4 on a monstrous Conn 20J recording tuba with a deep, sonorous tone.

 

 

The band started the second set with a barn-burning version of Limehouse Blues, and I Would Do Most Anything For You (dedicated to the audience).  And they did!!

John on trombone

John Kafalas

 

 

John Kafalas fills in on trombone whenever Gerry moves to tuba.  John has been a part of this band for many years, improvising fine counterpoint harmony lines to the lead parts of the  trumpet player.

 

 

 

On the 85th Anniversary  of Louis Armstrong’s playing with King Oliver, they gave us Sugar Blues.

 

Phil on trumpet

Phil Person

 

 

They moved upbeat with Found a New Baby.  Phil Person took the lead on trumpet on Margie.   Phil plays a sweet, ‘pretty’ trumpet. He is an Assistant Professor of Ear Training at Berklee who helps students learn arranging, harmony, conducting, tonal harmony and counterpoint.

 

 

 

The band kept the tradition of New Orleans music of the 20’s to 50’s alive and vibrant.
That’s a Plenty.

 

Jack on 'Django' guitar

Jack Soref

 

 

 

They continued with a tune requested by “regular” Connie T.  It Had To Be you.  Jack Soref took the last 8, demonstrating what a  guitar solo should sound like!

 

 

 

China Boy, was a rouser!  They continued with The Mill’s Brothers’ When I Grow too Old to Dream, I’ll See You In My Dreams.

This Blue Horizon Jazz Band is a light-hearted, versatile band.  They closed with Just a Closer Walk With Thee.  a traditional gospel song that has been covered by many artists.

The Blue Horizon Jazz Band plays the 1st Thursday of every month here at Primavera Ristorante, 7pm.  They will be back May 3rd.     Consider joining us??

Marce

 

 

 

 

Billy Novick’s Blue Syncopators at Amazing Things Art Center March 9, 2018

7 pc band and vocalist

Blue Syncopators with Gabriela Martina

videos by Barbara Golder

Mike Peipman trumpet, John Clark and Billy Novick reeds, Dan Fox trombone, Ross Petot piano, Stu Gunn string bass and tuba, Bill Reynolds drums, Gabriela Martina vocals

“Gatsby” is a remarkable event, an evening of explosive, ticklish and swooning live Jazz.  It was brought to life in February 2010 with the Washington DC ballet by Septime Webre.  The score consisted of classics from the 1920’s, Ellington, Louis, Bix, as well as some music Billy wrote just for the ballet.

Timing is very important for the ballet, so this Jazz was carefully written, and not improvised like jazz.  Billy opened the Gatsby book with That’s a Plenty, narrating the story.

The ballet  begins with What’ll I Do?, a silky, melodic waltz, with Billy on soft, low register clarinet, and Ross’s haunting and elegant piano, then kicks it up with a flaming hot At The Jazz Band Ball.

The story enfolds, the rich and influential Gatsby falls in love with the very rich, the very elegant, and the very married Daisy.

An outstanding vocalist with a sense of phrasing that creates many moods, Garbriela scats Creole Love Call.

Garbriela and Billy’s poignant back-and-forth scatting on Wild Man Blues characterizes a touching,  emotional  telephone conversation between the two lovers.

Dance of the Ashes is remarkable, Garbriela  scats in her own effervescent style, while the whole band responds as one.

He May Be Your Man, But He Comes To See Me Sometimes.

Duke’s East St. Louis Toodle-oo features Mike Peipman’s fiery trumpet, with fine backing by Stu Gunn on string bass.

In Billy’s composition, Manhattan Thoroughfare, the instruments cunningly reproduce the haphazard cacophony of a busy New York thoroughfare.   In a tennis match scene, Billy’s drumming replicates the sound of tennis balls being batted back and forth.  Brilliant.

trumpet with drummer in background

Mike Peipman

 

A scene where a couple are dining at the Waldorf was portrayed by  Broadway Tango, with Mike on muted trumpet, backed by Ross’s supple fingers on piano and Stu on that massive B & S German tuba.

 

 

To fill in a gap in the action where 20 ballet dancers need to change from white into red tap shoes, Billy wrote Maids to Order.   Yellow Dog Blues and the Charleston recall some wild parties that were held in Myrtle’s apartment and Gatsby’s mansion.

two clarinets and double bass

John Clark, Stu Gunn, Billy Novick

In Tight Like That, Billy and John are both featured on alto sax, giving this small group a very big band sound!  John Clark had four of his instruments with him – clarinet, alto, tenor and bari sax. He played the the hefty baritone while he was following the score on The Sheik of Araby.

Ross off- beside the stage playing piano

Ross Petot

 

They did a very soft reprise of the Charleston, Billy on clarinet, with fine backing by Ross on piano.  Ross is quick and steadfast, with embellishments behind every solo

 

 

Billy Novick needed a wartime tune for a scene where somebody goes into the army, but had difficulties finding a recording of an American World War I march. Diligent probing paid off when he discovered a tune from an old vintage phonograph, We’re All Going Calling on the Kaiser.   (We’re going to make him wiser.)  He wrote a Sofa Dance and Pocket Dance, especially for the dancers.

In a lovely rendition of the heartrending What’ll I Do, Garbriela maintained a high range throughout the whole song, finishing the last verse in a  sultry, low voice.

She ignited the room with sassy and sensuous hinting of carnal content in Bessie Smith’s Put a Little Sugar in My Bowl!

Skip Dat Pop Dat represents the breakout of a fight in the city.   Trombonist Dan Fox took a great plunger solo on Exotique, which epitomized the scene where Daisy is killed by a hit and run driver and George is filled with grief and sorrow.  He suspects Gatsby.

Bill Reynolds has the final scene, the most dramatic moment in the ballet, where George is stalking Gatsby, his anger building with the drumming. The drum is the sole instrument in this whole ballet scene.  He finds him swimming in the pool; then comes the final single drum beat – the gun shot.

The ballet closes  with Billy Novick on clarinet and Ross piano, for a brief reprise, a tragic waltz, What’ll I Do.

Billy took the Blue Syncopators to San Diego the beginning of April to conduct and perform (for the 40th time!) his Great Gatsby score with the California Ballet.  Stay tuned – they will be back at the Homegrown Coffeehouse in Needham, MA on June 2nd.