Stan McDonald soprano sax, Phil Person trumpet, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Jack Soref guitar, Stu Gunn double bass, Rich Malcolm drums
The Blue Horizon Jazz Band played uplifting and foot-tapping Traditional Jazz Thursday night at Primavera Ristaurant, with Stan and Phil taking turns on the melody or improvising around it, Gerry’s smooth (or growling) trombone, Jack’s marvelous gypsy guitar, Stu’s artful string bass supporting Rich’s one-beat drum-rolls behind the fine solos.
They played many of our favorite tunes: Set 1
I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me
Georgia On My Mind
Blue Turning Gray Over You
My Gal Sal
Tijuana
Set 2
Some Sweet Day
Bechet’s Fantasy
Spreading Joy
Lotus Blossom
Out of Nowhere
All By Myself in the Morning
Set 3
Nuages
Dear Old Southland
When I Leave The World Behind
I Remember When
After You’ve Gone
Le Marchand de Poisson
Stan McDonald
Phil Person
Gerry Gagnon
Stu Gunn
Rich Malcolm
Jack Soref
Stan McDonald and Phil Person
The Blue Horizon Jazz Band will return on the next first Thursday of the month, October 6th.
Thank you Stan and Ellen McDonald for keeping this art form alive!
Trombone
Leader Dan Gabel, also vocals & megaphone
Saxes/Clarinet
Austin Yancey tenor sax
John Clark alto
Richard Garcia alto
Trumpets
Adam Mejaour
Kai Sandoval
Keyboard
Herb Gardner
Rhythm:
Bill Doyle guitar/banjo
Rick MacWilliams tuba
Steve Taddeo drums
Dan Gabel brought his upligting Ten-piece High Society Orchestra to Primavera Ristorante for a rehearsal on Thursday, relaxed, without the usual mandatory suits and ties. They were challenged by Dan, though, with the sight-reading of charts and arrangements they have never seen before. They read charts like we read books – they were amazing! It was a wonderful evening of dance music played during the depression of the 20’s and 30’s; way before their time!
In a 1927 tune that Bix did with Whitman, From Monday On, John Clark’s alto sax traded fours with Dan Gabel’s trombone . Marvelous! They sounded just like the Paul Whitman Band!
Rolling Along With The Breeze was breathtaking with the three clarinets
Three clarinets, Austin Yancey, John Clark, Richard Garcia
The orchestra played a lovely Irving Berlin medley, all doing second endings on a nice waltz, Marie and Coquette. Gabel says he’s known as “The Waltz King”. We agree.
Tuba and trombone were in sync for Frank Skinner’s Big City Blues.
Bill Doyle
There was a dance craze in the 1920’s, called The Baltimore, with a tune by the same name.
Rhythm guitarist Bill Doyle was great on banjo.
Clark likes arranger Archie Bleyer. They played both up and down parts on Up a Lazy River, with none of the usual stops – georgeous!
Dan on megaphone.
Dan took out the megaphone for a rousing vocal on an early Bing Crosby tune, Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella.
Upbeat – especially great banjo!
He also sang ‘Leven Thirty Saturday Night.
The saxes were featured on Sax Appeal. Fletcher Henderson’s Sugar – I Call My Baby My Sugar, was crisp and very fast, John Clark featured on alto sax.
Austin Yancey tenor, John Clark alto, Richard Garcia alto
I Surrender Dear (Bing Crosby) featured Adam Mejaour’s open, expressive trumpet, with Dan pushing out high notes on fine trombone.
The trombone and trumpets really got into the Big Band feeling, swaying back and forth, onPlease.
Kai Sandoval and Adam Mejaour on trumpet
There was a request for Take The A Train, piano intro, featuring Richard Garcia on alto sax.
Dan Gabel is President of the American Big Band Preservation Society, which gives him access to about 1500 arrangements. He gave them a medley of really old tunes:
The Bowery, Sidewalks of New York, Little Girls in Blue, Maizie, Daisie Bell, Comrades, Little Annie Rooney, She May Have Seen Better Days, The Band Played On, After The Ball is Over. We couldn’t believe our music coming out of young musicians, some still in Berklee and The Conservatory! Dan says he did this because he loves this music. So do we, Thank You, Dan!!
They closed with a WILD Archie Bleyer arrangement of China Boy.
There were three familiar faces on rhythm, newcomers to this orchestra:
Herb Gardner
Rick MacWilliams
Steve Taddeo
Dan Gabel’s High Society Orchestra was very busy this summer, handsome in their fine crisp uniforms, consistently playing for sell-out crowds, especially for young people and dancers. This kind of music is in good hands with them!
Eli and Hot Five, (Plus Four) at Primavera August 18, 2016 by Marce
Ted Casher clarinet/tenor sax, Bo Winiker trumpet, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter keys, Eli Newberger tuba, Bob Tamagni drums, Carolyn Newberger washboard, and special guests Elaine Woo, Sarah (Gardner) Nova, and Watson Reid on vocals.
Eli and The Hot Five are a Powerhouse group of accomplished musicians, playing music like you will hear nowhere else. Relaxed and with honest camaraderie, they thoroughly enjoy themselves, and so inspire the audience.
An upbeat Jazz Me Blues started the evening, then leader Eli Newberger immediately asked individual musicians to play tunes of their choice.
Bob Winter
Bob Winter tore into a joyous romp on Margie, reaching down and creating music with almost a classical approach to the melody (but with elegant, surprising harmonic choices beneath).
Herb Gardner
Herb played superb trombone and sang It’s Almost Like Being In Love, with Ted supporting on clarinet and Bo on flugelhorn.
He later returned for one of his favorites Hoagie Carmichael’s Old Rocking Chair”
There is free interplay in this amazing front line; they inspire one another, and are backed by brilliant rhythm accompaniment.
Front Line
Eli called on Elaine Woo for her choice of songs. She took over the band for an inspiring Body and Soul. She is vibrant bundle of energy, (She is also an MD in Internal Medicine.)
Elaine Woo
Watson Reid
There was another MD in the audience, an internist and a psychiatrist who retired from medicine after 29 years to pursue his love of music full time. Watson Reid joined the band singing Ain’t She Sweet.
Just for the fun of it, the vocalists formed a quartet and resuscitated an oldie, You Are My Sunshine.
Quartet has a conference on what song they will sing.
Bob Winter’s keyboard introduced one of our favorites, an instrumental on Limehouse Blues.
Bob Tamagni
Bob Tamagni, a Professor at Berklee, puts heart and soul into it. He articulates and phrases drumming with the same expression as any other instrument. Eli said“He’s one of the most musical drummers in the world!”.
Carolyn Newberger joined the band on washboard with a bouncy Miami Rhumba that had the audience swaying in their seats. The energy was far from flagging!
Elaine returned with Taking a Chance on Love. The two came together for a foot stomping Darktown Strutters’ Ball.
Carolyn Newberger and Elaine Woo make a great team!
Route 66 started with a tuba line, then Elaine on vocal. Eli could not resist joining Bob for Four Handed Piano. They do have fun!
Bob Winter and Eli Newberger play four-handed piano
Sarah Nova’s warm voice caresses the melody and lyrics
Sarah Nova’s deep feeling takes us inside each song, I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter and Everybody Loves My Baby. She writes and sings songs for Babies and Children and has many CDs – passing on good life lessons.
Principle vocalist Elaine Woo also sang Sentimental Journey, Embraceable You, and Getting Some Fun Out Of Life, (good motto for a life lesson), .
Bo does Louis Armstrong
Bo was featured with soaring trumpet on Louis’s Hello Dolly. He dedicated When You’re Smiling to a member in the audience, Matt Robino, who went to High School with him – they haven’t met since 1970!
Eli Newberger solo tuba
Eli was featured, alone on Somewhere Over The Rainbow, an incredible, awesome solo on tuba.
There was more instrumentals, Midnight in Moscow, Muscat Ramble, Savoy – with Ted on tenor sax. Wow!
Carolyn was sketching away throughout the evening. . (She is also a Dr. and clinical and research psychologist, artist, musician, and essayist. Maybe we’ll see some of them.)
They closed with a sensational Strutting With Some Barbecue.
Nowhere else will you hear such accomplished musicians relaxed and having fun playing classic, contemporary jazz and swing. They are here at Primavera on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Next one will be September 15th – come see abd hear for yourself!
“Ragtime Jack” came to Primavera solo for the first time, to give us a history and samples of Ragtime Piano, but interjected many fabulous tunes of the 1920’s.
He began with a vocal on W.C. Handy’s St. Louis Blues.
He said that noted musicologist and Morton biographer Alan Lomax first wrote that Jelly Roll Morton claimed to invent jazz.
“JRM played at Tipitina’s in New Orleans. He wrote Sweet Substitute, “ Jack’s fingers floating over the keyboard. He just returned from New Orleans and said “Tipitina’s has reopened”. http://www.tipitinas.com/
He began Up a Lazy River in a slow tempo, moving into triple time, then back to slow.
“Andy Razaf wrote lyrics for Fats. S’posin’ he wrote himself. “ Radcliffe interjected a ‘vocal trombone’ into the piece.
Jack talked about Andy Razaff when he was here previously, backing Bonnie.
He continues:
“Billy Strayhorn was a 19 year old country boy, living in Iowa, when he was asked to join Duke Ellington. On his way to New York, he wrote the lyrics to Take The A Train. “
Jack wanted to do something in French, adding some French lyrics (in a perfect accent ) to Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans.
Going back to ragtime, he played Scott Joplin’s Easy Winners, one of Joplin’s most popular works.
He explained the fingering on Boogie Woogie, saying “The left hand played the rhythmic ‘Boogie’, while the right hand played ‘the Woogie’. “
He sang the verse to Georgia, holding an elongated note on vocal that seemed to take forever!
Back Home Again in Indiana was played instrumental – making the keyboard yell for Help!
“Richmond, Indiana was the birthplace of Glenn Miller. “ Radcliffe gave us his beautiful version of Sentimental Journey.
“Lazy Bones was written at a time when it was too, too hot to go fishing. “
He closed with the 1924 Andy Razaf’s Porter’s Love Song to a Chamber Maid.
This was an interesting evening, filling in blanks on our knowledge of Jazz History, and backing it up with fine playing. Then he got away back to Newport, where he moved recently.
Phil Person trumpet, Stan McDonald soprano sax, Gerry Gagnon trombone, Stu Gunn string bass, Jack Soref guitar, Rich Malcolm drums
The Blue Horizon Jazz Band revived the passionate style and exuberant melodies of the New Orleans musicians of the 20’s and 30’s with tightly arranged solos and fine ensemble. They played many Sidney Bechet compositions, brought to life by leader Stan McDonald on the instrument that Bechet made famous, the soprano saxophone.
They began with I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me, followed by a guitar intro to Georgia On My Mind, with fine ensemble and solid rhythm.
Phil Person
Phil Person played powerful trumpet on Blue Turning Gray Over You. He and McDonald took turns taking the lead. Phil is a true gentleman, listens carefully, and plays with a light touch – until the tune calls for a powerful trumpet, then look out!
My Gal Sal showcased the band’s fine ensemble. Some Sweet Day was a rabble rouser!
Gerry Gagnon growling trombone
Bechet’s Blues In The Air brought out Gerry Gagnon’s growling trombone. Gerry has been with this band for about 17 years. An essential part of the front line, his trombone also fills in the “holes” in a tune with extensive use of the slide.
Jack Soref plays the same round hole guitar with very high action as Django Reinhardt.
It was great to have Jack Soref back from his Colorado tour with the Future Rhythm Quartet.
Jack was featured on Ochi Chernye (Dark Eyes), a Russian Folk Song.
Our Birthday Girl, Tina Cass, 80 years old today, surprised the band with the lyrics in Russian.
Stan said that Irving Berlin summed up Life with All By Myself, and did the vocal. He was featured on Bechet’s Petite Fleur, ending it in a flourish!
Stan McDonald featured on Petite Fleur with Stu Gunn and Jack Soref
Stu Gunn also plays classical music in local Symphonies.
T
Stu Gunn’s very deep, rich, “woody” sounding tone on string bass gives the music support and maintains that solid Traditional Jazz Beat. He played a superb solo on Dear Old Southland. His bass is always in sync with Rich Malcolm’s drum.
Rich Malcolm
Rich is the new drummer with The Blue Horizon Jazz Band, though he has played with the band in the past. He understands this music.
He gave Tijuana a sweet Latin beat. Steve Straus of the Riverboat Stompers says “You feel the rhythm rather than hear the drum beats by Rich Malcom”.
They played one of Malcom’s favorites, When I Leave The World Behind.
Stan’s soprano sax took the intro to Bechet’s I Remember When (Si Tu Vois Ma Mere). Beautiful!
There was a slow beginning on After You’ve Gone, then with a 4-bar drum pulse, the band went WILD! The distinctive front line and strong heartbeat of the bass and drums supported by Jack’s guitar prompted Jeannine, a ‘regular’, to say “This is the best I’ve ever heard this band play!”
The Blue Horizon Jazz Band plays at Primavera Ristorante on the first Thursday of every month; next one will be July 7th. Join us!
Ron L’Herault – MC – Vocals & Trombone
Carl Gerhard – Trumpet, Vocals – Music Director
Paul Peterson – Saxophone ( Soprano & Tenor )
Bill Kiesewetter – Keyboard
Chris Wadsworth – Tenor Banjo
Steve Shaw – Tuba
Lorrie Inglis – Drums
(absent) Bill Dube – Clarinet & Tenor Sax
The Dixie Diehards made their first appearence at Primavery Ristorante, delivering a heady dose of New Orleans traditional jazz, second line street parade music and early jazz classics. They played many New Orleans Chestnuts, Royal Garden Blues, Avalon, Bill Bailey, Basin St. Blues, San, Struttin’ With Some Barbecue, Curse of An Aching Heart, The Sheik.
Carl and Ron took first vocal
Carl and Ron kicked it off with a duet on Bourbon Street Parade.
Ron plays trombone into metal bowler hat mute
Ron L’Herault first played with Jack Phelan’s Scollay Square Stompers in the 80s, Now he leads the Dixie All Stars and subs with the Canobie Lake Park Dixieland bands, the Bay State Stompers, and the New New Orleans Jazz Band.
He sneaked in a snippet of When You’re In Love on trombone when The Diehards played an old favorite, Bill Bailey. It’s based on “Over The Waves;” He heard a recording of a New Orleans trombonist do it.
Ron sang many vocals; an especially nice one on Spencer Williams’ Basin St. Blues. Carl’s trumpet was resonant with feeling and warmth, with only Chris Wadsworth backing him on banjo.
Carl Gerhard has an extensive musical background
Carl Gerhard is an amazing trumpet player. He recently retired from the U.S. Navy after 30 years of service. He was the Director and Bandmaster of bands in Norfolk, VA, Yokosuka Japan, and Commander of the Navy Band – Northeast Region. His true love, however is playing traditional jazz in the New Orleans style.
Carl did a fine vocal on a ballad from 1928, originally sung by Adelade Hall in “Blackbirds of 1928, Ain’t She Sweet. He took the intro on I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, with Paul on tenor sax; (Ron sang this one using a megaphone!)
Dixie Diehards Front Line
Paul Peterson has been teaching music in the Bridgewater–Raynham School District for the last 34 years. He has been a member of many bands (too many to list), and plays regularly with the Downtown Players, a blues band from Bridgewater.
Bill Kiesewetter
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 spends winters in Florida where he leads the Flamingo All-Stars Jazz Band based in the Naples area.
A silent movie era film starring Rudolph Valentino inspired the next tune. They have the original lyrics and some updated ones as well, The Sheik.
The indispensable Rhythm Section……
Rhythm Section, Chris Wadsworth, Steve Shaw, Lorri Inglis
Chris Wadsworth, banjo, was one of Jeanne Kelly’s friends who played at the Colonial Inn in Concord on Tuesday night’s traditional jazz (before Jimmy Mazzy’s time.) Before that he played in New York with Buffalo Banjo Band the Scajaquada Creek Stompers. He’s part of the Stone Street Stummers. Chris gets the spotlight on a tune from 1913 written by “Al” Piantadosi, The Curse of an Aching Heart.
Steve Shaw tuba, was featured on Midnight in Moscow. He’s been their Tuba / String Bass player since 2008. He has been a member of the South Shore Circus Band since 1966, and the United Brass Band (South shore area) since 1978. Since 1995 he’s been a member of the Marion Town Concert Band during the summers, and free lances on the string bass and tuba with many musical theatre productions throughout New England. Steve is also a member of the Peasante Brass, a tuba quartet.
Lorri Inglis has been playing professionally since 1982. She owns her own drum store and recording studio. Her energy and enthusiasm help keep the band going; it’s obvious she’s having the time of her life playing with the Dixie Diehards. In her words, “This music is fantastic!”. She attacked the drums on a tune made famous by Marian Harris in 1918, After You’ve Gone, but used discreet cross sticking on snare drum for Louis’s Strutting With Some Barbecue.
They went back a few years to 1922 for the next piece, Way Down Yonder in New Orleans. Ron conjured up Al Jolson again for this next tune, also from 1922 and first performed in a stage musical by William Frawley, Carolina in the Morning.
Lorrie was featured on their last 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 Bistu Schoen.
The Diehards have a full schedule planned for this summer, most of them private. The next public appearance is Sweetberry Farm, Middletown, RI, July 19, at 6:00 PM.
Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark clarinet/alto and bari sax, Herb Gardener keys, Hunter Burgamy guitar, Craig Ball (Obediah Schwank) clarinet/tenor sax, Steve Taddeo drums, Sarah Nova vocals
The sextet kicked off with their theme song, a resolutely cheerful, My Lucky Day. It’s always a Lucky Day for us when these good natured musicians come to Primavera Ristorante and speak to us through their music. They are a joy, playing the music of the 1910’s to 1930’s, with their old school musicality, camaraderie and a lot of fun.
They were joined by amiable Sarah Nova, beginning with Everybody Loves My Baby. Everybody loves Sarah! She was joined by John on alto sax and Craig clarinet on a peppy, upbeat You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To. She resurrected memories of Billie Holiday with Miss Brown To You.
Sara Nova
Sarah is muti-talented, preserving our jazz for future generations by writing and producing CDs for Little Jumpers and Babes. She sang one of our favorites, It’s Raining Cats and Dogs (and the frogs are angry!) She keeps toddlers jumping and swinging at many local libraries.
Herb Gardner, multi-instrumentalist
Her Dad is Herb Gardner, a rock solid, all around player, whose style on piano or keys is between Dick Hyman and Teddy Wilson. He has played with just about everybody from here to New York. Herb is also first call on trombone. With the Jazz Jesters he’s both front line and rhythm.
Craig Ball
The Jazz Jesters sounded like a New Orleans Street Band with Peter Bocage and Armand Piron’s 1914 Bouncing Around. Fabulous!
Paducah is always a rabbel-rousing favorite. We don’t hear Walter Donaldson’s Little White Lies very often. The band sizzled on Deep Henderson with John and Craig on alto and tenor sax, then the two changed with John on smoking bari sax and Craig on clarinet hitting the stratosphere!
Hunter Burgamy is now the youngest member of the band.
Hunter Burgamy’s guitar presence was felt in every tune that the Jazz Jesters played. He’s a student at Berklee. His solos were impeccable, and he adds to the solid rhythm section with Bernard, Taddeo and Gardner, all complementing each other.
Benny Moten’s Jones Law Blues was sung by Annette Hanshaw, an American Jazz Age singer and one of the most popular radio stars of the 1930s. This was a first for us.
There was breathtaking ensemble on Blame It On The Blues, arrangement by Robin Verdier. He was the Paramount Jazz Band’s pianist and arranger, and the Jazz Jesters play many Paramount tunes.
Jeff Hughes plays fabulous Bix
Bix wrote a Debussyian piano piece in a tribute to his home town, Davenport Iowa. John Clark arranged this one, Davenport Blues. Excellent trumpet, piano and guitar.
Time for a spiritual, remembering Louis with Dear Old Southland (based on Deep River.) Jeff took the first chorus playing solemn trumpet, then the whole band entered, with both reeds on clarinet. Fine solos on tuba and guitar.
John Clark sings Zonky
Black Maria, a quintessential Clark arrangement, was a WILD one!
He sang another of his arrangements, Duke’s Zonky. Marvelous! This was the first time we ever heard the words.
Jeff said his Dad loved Empty Saddles in the Old Corral, a classic American cowboy song written by Billy Hill. It became widely known to the public in July 1936, when Big Crosby sang it. Herb on keys and Steve on drum provided the Cowboy ‘clip, clop’.
Steve Taddeo on new set of Slingerland Drums
Steve Taddeo is well known as a slam-bang Gene Krupa drummer, but he has adapted to the early 30’s drumming made famous by Krupa, Vic Berton, and Stan King.
He keeps time tapping rims, the cow bell or wood block, choking cymbals and playing press rolls.
Sarah returned with another Billie traditional, My Mother’s Son-in-Law, with the backing of her Dad. She followed with Billie’s Me, Myself and I, with John’s soulful bari sax.
Sarah Nova, Hunter Burgamy, Herb Gardner (hidden behind him) and John Clark on bari sax
Al Bernard pushes the band with his large tuba
They closed with a live-wire tune, ‘Leven Thirty Saturday Night, followed by Albie’s tuba sneaking in a departing snippet of the theme from The Little Rascals, Good Old Days.
The Jazz Jesters originated when the General Manager at Public Radio WGBH asked Jeff Hughes to recreate tunes similar to the late Ray Smith’s Paramount Jazz Band. Ray played Traditional Jazz every Sunday night on WGBH, and his tapes are still streaming. The Jesters have since created their own sound, without losing the exciting optimism of the Roaring 20’s. The joy is contagious!
They will return sometime on the last Thursday of the month at Primavera Ristorante. That particular month is committed to Jeff Hughes and any one of his many bands! Check our Calendars!
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’.
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
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!
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!
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 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
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 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 Didriksen knows his Traditional Jazz Beat
Rick MacWilliams pushes the chords.
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.
Bo Winiker trumpet/flugelhorn, Ted Casher clarinet, tenor and soprano sax, Herb Gardner back on trombone, Bob Winter keys, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba, Bob Tamagni drums.
by Marce
Eli and The Hot Six presented a delightful evening of great Jazz, introducing new tunes with inspired playfulness and skill, making it up as they went along. They enjoyed it as much as the appreciative audience. Eli included two fine vocalists, Elaine Woo and Sarah Nova, and Carolyn Newberger on washboard.
Honoring Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa, Bob Tamagni introduced Swing, Swing, Swing, His unique methods of maintaining the Trad beat on drums are priceless! After the intro, the Hot Six went WILD!
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, Bo moved from trumpet to flugelhorn, Jimmy scatting, trombone and tuba trading 4’s.
Poor Papa, written by Hoagie Carmichael, was new with Jim singing the sad vocal, backed by tuba.
Mama’s got shoes, Mama’s got clothes
Mama’s got these and Mama’s got those
But poor Papa, poor Papa, he’s got nothin’ at all
The mood changed with a roaring take off of Alexander’s Ragtime Band
Bob Winter
Bob took a solo on Ida, with stunning harmonies and sudden key changes that took our breath away. He would suddenly pause, leaving all of us anticipating the next note.
He loves playing with this band!
Eli introduced Elaine Woo, another Doctor, who is a Primary Physician in Geriatrics. She captivated the audience with It’s All Right To Me, and reading the lyrics to Body and Soul off a telephone without missing a beat!
Carolyn was a vital spark on washboard, She joined Elaine on an upbeat Darktown Strutters’ Ball. What an amazing duo! They returned with the band for an exilarating Route 66.
Carolyn Newberger and Elaine Woo – two captivating ladies!
Artist Carolyn Newberger keeps busy sketching the musicians, when she’s not performing. Her drawings, paintings and collage have achieved recognition and awards in juried and solo exhibition. Here’s Jimmy:
Everyone was having fun! But we had more surprises.
Eli joined Elaine on vocal!!
Eli and Elaine got together for
I Can Give You Everything But Love. (No mistake in the title.)
Who knew Eli could sing, too?
Vocalist Sarah (Gardner) Nova teaches Jazz for kids at libraries and Kindergardens all over New England. She has several CD’s, Jazz for Lil Jumpers and Jazz For Babies;Its Raining Cats & Dogs!
Having been raised with this music, she has an intuitive grasp of musical dynamics, The band backed her in stop time with the warning, Keep Your Hands Off It! Sarah was invited to stay on for another tune, Me Myself & I, with Dad backing her on trombone.
Father and daughter make a great Jazz combination!
Herb was featured on the Platters’ Only You, singing, and playing rich, burnished tone on trombone..
Eli and The Hot Six continued with a rip-roaring Instrumental, Dinah, with Ted on tenor sax, and Bob Winter playing astounding keyboard. This was pure joy!
Bo Winiker conjures up Louis Armstrong
Bo Winiker was featured on What a Wonderful World, playing trumpet and evoking Louis Armstrong with his vocal.
Ted and his new moose clarinet
Ted took the breaks on clarinet with a new addition – an actual piece of moose horn that gives it a distinctive sound – as if he needed it!
Bob hides the tambourine.
Our favorite was a lullaby that Eubie Blake wrote for his wife, Good Night Angeline. Jimmy puts heart and soul into this melody, like no other. We could hear a soft dinging in the background. It took some time to realize that Bob Tamagni was softly tapping an unseen tambourine on his bass drum.
His drum set is comprised of two drums and a hi hat (that he hardly used, except to tap the cymbal).
Jimmy Mazzy and Eli Newberger have played together for years.
Basin Street was an instrumental with marvelous tuba by Eli and Jimmy scatting throughout the whole song. The two are always in sync!
The repertoire and caliber of these musicians has made this a classic band. Fortunately for us, Eli and The Hot Six will be here regularly at Primavera on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Spread the word and mark your calendars!
Bo Winiker trumpet/flugelhorn, Ted Casher clarinet/tenor and soprano sax, Kenny Wenzel trombone, Bob Winter keyboard, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba, Elaine Woo vocals
The Hot Six were full of surprises last month! Substitutes tend to make changes in the sound of a band; even one sub makes a difference. But we had two subs and a delightful addition this evening! Bob Tamagni was on drums for Jeff Guthery. Herb Gardner was out with a broken hip so trombonist Kenny Wenzel filled in.
The delightful addition was vocalist, Elaine Woo (another Doctor) who immediately captured us, picking just the right tempo and interacting with the audience.
The band started with a Bossa Nova on Muskrat Ramble, setting the mood for an evening of delectable, hot music.Their livewire ensembles were spontaneous and creative!
Elaine Woo
Eli introduced Elaine Woo, who is a Primary Care Physician in Geriatrics.She was a joy! She seemed delighted to be here and her pleasure came through, captivating us with fine vocal on Who Could Ask For Anything More, Embraceable You; with Ted on tenor sax and Bo on flugel horn. This was a killer! Elaine couldn’t stand still, and was dancing and quietly humming along behind the soloists.
I
Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me featured Bo playing warm melodic lines on muted trumpet, Bob Winter playing rich tones on keyboard, with soft drumming by Tamagni. Winter suddenly jumped the beat, setting the band into breakneck tempo!
Jimmy sings C’est çi Bon
They slowed the pace Jimmy singing a beautiful ballad made famous by Eartha Kitt, C’est çi Bon.
Elaine returned with Just in Time, picking up just the right tempo. She was softly humming behind soloists, and ended it with expert scat singing. She continued with Cole Porter’s It’s All Right With Me, with Tamagni softly slapping a tambourine in the background.
Bob’s drum set is very sparse; bass, snare, small tom and one cymbal. But his drumming and expressions are priceless! He says drums are just as musical as any other instrument, and demonstrated by playing melody on drums on San.
Kenny on trombone and Bo on trumpet played an amazing duet on Limehouse Blues.
Jeannine James birthday surprise.
The tune was cut short so they could play Happy Birthday for Jeannine James, who was celebrating here with her daughter. and some friends.
Jeannine is one of the ‘regulars’, here every Thursday at Primavera.
Ted Casher has to be the busiest musician in New England – he’s playing almost every night! He was at his best tonight playing a breathtaking solo on Stardust, with Kenny Wenzel on trombone.
Stardust
Kenny Wenzel is at Martini’s in Plymouth every Tuesday.
Bob Winter loves to play piano.
For the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day, Bob Winter played Little Town in the Old County Down.
Bob loves to play piano (or in this instance, keyboard) and takes absolute rapture in making music. He followed with When Irish Eyes Are Smiling with everyone joining in singing.
Medium-fast, Get Happy, his keyboard was backed by tambourine; smooth flugelhorn, with Tamagni taking a romping drum solo. Eli closed it with a curt tuba phrase: “Shave and a haircut, two bits.”
Bo was on smokey flugelhorn again on Errol Garner’s Misty, with trombone and tenor sax playing harmony, followed by Jimmy’s inimitable vocal. We never get tired of listening to Jimmy sing ballads.
With time running out, Eli surprised us on Royal Garden Blues, with a rousing tuba solo backed only by the front line playing in stop time.
Hot Six front line, Ted Casher, Bo Winiker and Kenny Wenzel
All of these seasoned veterans have the expertise gained from years of experience. They have a special passion for the music, respectfully listening and supporting each other – playing as much for each other as for the fans.
They returned April 14th, and it was even more fun! We’re working on that one now.
They will be at Primavera regularly for your listening pleasure on the 3rd Thursday of every month – next one is May 19th. Come join us for some matchless, timeless music!
