Marce, New England Traditional Jazz Plus,
33 Birmingham Court, Milford MA 01757
— Passionate about Dixieland and Traditional Jazz, and other Jazz that touches your soul. My purpose is to let you know where to find it in New England. You can help by sending information on Bands and Venues that play our kind of music!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marce.enright
Eli and The Hot Six at Marce’s surprise birthday at Primavera(6/25/2015)–Bo Winiker trumpet/flugelhorn, Ted Casher clarinet/tenor and soprano sax, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter piano, Eli Newberger tuba, Carolyn Newberger washboard. (Jimmy Mazzy was on his way to the Olympia WA Festival.) This was all about ME ME ME! Surprise … Continue reading →
Thursday Jazz Is Pleased to Present
Jazz at Primavera Ristorante www.primav.com/ 20 Pleasant St. Millis MA 02054
Reservations (508) 376-2026 7:00 to 9:30pm Admission $12
American Jazz from the Roaring 1920’s through the Swing Era of the 1940’s. Come Enjoy Hot and Authentic Dixieland, New Orleans,Chicago style and Big Band music for listening and dancing.
$12 admission will be collected in cash by the hostess seating you. We apologize but we cannot charge the admission to your credit card. Resv. (508) 376-2026
All arranged by Ellen McDonald. Thank you, Ellen!!
Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Bates ‘62; Tom Boates trombone, U. Mass ‘73; John Bucher cornet, Amherst ‘52 …and Williams classmates: John Halsey ‘59, piano (pro in NYC); Bob Kingsbury ‘58, clarinet and Fred Clifford tuba ‘58.
The Williams Reunion Jazz Band played another fantastic Jazz Brunch at The Winsor House Inn, 390 Washington St. Duxbury MA on Sunday, May 27th 2018. They were here this weekend for the Duxbury Bay Maritime School’s Opening of the Bay. http://dbms.org/
The Williams Reunion Jazz Band was born on New England College campuses in 1954 when Dixieland was alive and well and “runnin’ wild”. Three of them from Williams College were here, with John Bucher Amherst ’52, and two of their permanent guest stars, playing the music they have cherished – the music of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Bix Beiderbecke and Hoagie Carmichael. The music of Classical Jazz.
John Bucher
The Band started with a wild Just a While to Stay Here, Jazz Me Blues (Bix tune from 20’s). It’s so good to hear John Bucher’s Bix type stylings again.
Keeping in the Bucher family, a tune he played with the Woody Allen Band at Michael’s Pub, Keeping Out ofMischief Now, Jimmy vocal. These two are the heart and soul of the band, Bucher the heart, Jimmy the soul. They played a duet, cornet and banjo, on As Long As I Live.
John Halsey and Tom Boates
Tom Boates, Director of Music at Guilford High School in Guilford, CT, kept the band jumping. with John Halsey behind him on keyboard. There was an on again off again problem with the keyboard, so it was difficult to hear John’s fingers flying across the keyboard! He’s still playing creatively at Arthur’s Tavern in NY.
At The Jazz Band Ball, is an ODJB original. They closed the first set with a medley of two hot ones: China Boy and China Town. WOW!
Bob Kingsbury
They returned with the 1902 Bill Baily. Rose Room – mellow, rich clarinet by Kingsbury. Then a grand ol’ tune they never played before, C.C.Ryder, Jim vocal, fabulous muted trombone by Boates.
Fred Clifford
Fred Clifford’s tuba makes up for the lack of drum, with his turbo-charged oompah beat. Next came one of Fred’s favorites, Running Wild, with Jim on vocal, backed by Fred’s tuba. He also backed his banjo on the 1926 Deed I Do. Amazing duo!
Carrie Mazzy, their ‘Den Mother’, came up for a duet with Jimmy, with a nice tune by Jabbo Smith, Love.
Jimmy Mazzy
Jimmy Mazzy is featured playing banjo and singing many of the tunes. He played the intro to a tune from the Rhythm Kings, From Monday On. Banjo and Trombone teamed up again for I’m Confessing That I Love You.
Ice Cream:
The crowd was feeding off the band, and the band was feeding off the crowds energy!! Bob Kingsbury thanked the attentive audience – a full house – saying “You brought out the best in these guys!”
The Williams Reunion Jazz Band ended as wild as they started, with their theme song, Swing That Music.
Jim Mazzy and Fred Clifford join The Dukes of Winsor’s who play a monthly Sunday jazz brunch at The Winsor House Inn from September thru June that includes Jeff Hughes on cornet, Stan Vincent on trombone, Pete Collins on clarinet, Herb Gardner on piano and Mark Endresen on guitar.
We’ll see the Williams Reunion Jazz Band again next year; they are here annually for the Duxbury Opening of the Bay on Memorial Day Weekend. If you can’t wait, get their CDs – check out http://www.siterrific.com/WRJB/
ATTLEBORO, Ma. — As a noted big band era musician and arranger, multi-million album-selling orchestra and chorus leader and Grammy winner, the late Ray Conniff stands alone among musical greats who got their start in the Jewelry City.
Beloved by audiences from Rio to St. Petersburg, Russia, Conniff blazed a musical trail through the 1950s and 60s and received a Grammy Award for his version of “Somewhere My Love” (Lara’s Theme) from the movie blockbuster Dr. Zhivago. He also orchestrated hits for many of the postwar era’s brightest stars and played a major role in launching the career of Johnny Mathis.
Now, Conniff lovers will get a chance to celebrate what would have been the great bandleader’s 100th year with a free outdoor concert 2 p.m. Sunday, July 17 at Capron Park.
Back by popular demand this year will be trombonist-bandleader Dan Gabel and the Abletones Dectet playing big band hits associated with Conniff and his contemporaries. The knowledgeable Gabel will also flesh out the story of the young Conniff whose musical career started with a band made up of his Attleboro High School classmates and rose to the pinnacle of stardom.
Born in Attleboro in 1916, Conniff became a mainstay of the swing era playing with bands ranging from Bunny Berigan to Bob Crosby and Artie Shaw. After service in World War II, he became a noted arranger, orchestra leader and hit-maker who ultimately sold an incredible 70 million records as leader of his orchestra and chorus.
Dan Gabel and The Abletones have blazed their own trail to the height of musical excellence, having played for Gov. Charlie Baker’s inauguration, former Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as well as countless concerts, town commons and special occasions.
The once-a-year free Ray Conniff Memorial Concert is funded by a generous anonymous donation and held with the cooperation of the Attleboro Park Commission.
NOVEL JAZZ RETURNS TO SKIDOMPHA LIBRARY-
Novel Jazz will be performing classic jazz at Skidompha Public Library, 184 Main St., Damariscotta, ME, on Thursday 19 May, 2016, 7PM to 9:30PM. Michael Mitchell (pictured right) of Novel Jazz plays on a jazz riff. The performance will also feature Barney Balch (trombone), Bryan Jones (alto saxophone), Herb Maine (acoustic bass), David Clarke (guitar), Mickey Felder (piano) and special guest, Chris Rogers (drums) This evening will be the third Skidompha Novel Jazz evening of their 2016 season, their 12th year at Skidompha. If you have never attended, come check them out to see why the Novel Jazz evenings at Skidompha have been so popular for so long! Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $6 for young adults 12-18, under 12 accompanied by a parent go free. For more info, call 207-563-5513 or point your web browser to http://www.skidompha.org/ or the band’s web site www.mainejazz.net.
Novel Jazz will be back at the Skidompha Public Library atrium on Thursday, 19 May 2016, from 7-9:30 PM, Damariscotta, for an evening of music from the Great American Songbook. The musicians of this group have been playing straight-ahead jazz for audiences throughout Maine (and beyond) for several decades. Collectively, they share over two centuries of experience in the jazz idiom.
This month includes the birthday of legendary jazz trumpeter, Miles Davis, so Novel will do some extra featuring of their own trumpeter-extraordinaire, Michael Mitchell. Michael is a great practitioner of Miles’s style; he has been playing jazz trumpet in Maine for over thirty years with a number of groups. Mike studied at the University of Maine at Augusta jazz program as well as the University of Miami jazz studies program. He brings his love of jazz, together with his soulful trumpet style and many jazz compositions that he contributes to the group.
The band will also be welcoming guest drummer, Chris Rogers. Chris Rogers has been performing in Maine for more than 40 years. He is a versatile drummer, playing a myriad of different styles; he has toured throughout New England, Canada and overseas to England. Chris’s music is his vocation and he strives for simplicity, purity, and precision in his playing. He has two major label recordings to his credit, and is a requested studio player. The rest of the group performing on 19 May will be Herb Maine (bass), Mickey Felder (piano), David Clark (Guitar), Bryan Jones (alto), and Barney Balch (trombone).
Novel Jazz events at Skidompha began with the observation that lovers of books often are lovers of jazz. The superb acoustics of Skidompha’s atrium, plus the seating “in the round”, make it a superior place to see and hear jazz, all in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. It was while performing at Skidompha that the band decided to forge deeper into the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Trombonist Barney Balch began regular visits to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. to work in the Duke Ellington collection, digging out gems by both Ellington and Strayhorn, bringing them back to life in summer time concerts.
Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $6 for young adults 12-18, under 12 accompanied by a parent go free. We encourage parents to bring their children, the future of this art form. The library is located at 184 Main Street in downtown Damariscotta. Call207-563-5513 during business hours for more information. For more info, point your web browser to http://www.skidompha.org/ or the band’s web site www.mainejazz.net .
This promises to be a special night of jazz as the band continues their twelfth year of performances at Skidompha. If you have never attended a Novel Jazz event at Skidompha, check them out on 19 May and see why the Novel Jazz evenings at the library have been so popular for so long. Join Novel Jazz and let them warm-up your toes (indeed your soul), this cool Maine spring!
NOVEL JAZZ RETURNS TO SKIDOMPHA LIBRARY FOR A WINTER EVENING OF HOT JAZZ
Novel Jazz Septet
NOVEL JAZZ RETURNS TO SKIDOMPHA LIBRARY- Novel Jazz Septet will be performing classic jazz at Skidompha Public Library, 184 Main St., Damariscotta, ME, on Thursday 21 January, 2016, 7PM to 9:30PM. The performance will feature Barney Balch (trombone), Dave Clarke (guitar), Mickey Felder (piano), Bryan Jones (Alto Saxophone), Herb Maine (acoustic bass), Michael Mitchell (trumpet) plus Bill Manning (drums) This evening will be the first Skidompha Novel Jazz evening of their 2016 season, beginning their 12th year at Skidompha. If you have never attended and are curious, come check them out to see why the Novel Jazz evenings at Skidompha have been so popular for so long! Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $6 for young adults 12-18, under 12 accompanied by a parent go free. For more info, call 207-563-5513 or point your web browser tohttp://www.skidompha.org/ or the band’s web site —–www.mainejazz.net . (Photo by Tara Mitchell).
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After a busy year of concerts featuring Ellington and Strayhorn compositions during the Strayhorn centennial, the Novel Jazz Septet begins their 2016 season at the Skidompha Public Library atrium, 184 Main Street, Damariscotta, Maine, on Thursday, 21 January 2016, from 7-9:30 PM, for an evening of music from the Great American Songbook. These events began with the observation that lovers of books often are lovers of jazz. The superb acoustics of Skidompha’s atrium, plus the seating “in the round”, make it a superior place to see and hear jazz, all in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. It was while performing at Skidompha that the band decided to forge deeper into the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Trombonist Barney Balch began visiting the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. to work in their Ellington collection, digging out gems of these musical geniuses and bringing them back to life in summer time concerts.
The musicians of this group have been playing straight-ahead jazz for audiences throughout Maine (and beyond) for several decades. Collectively, they share over two centuries of experience in the jazz idiom. Performing this evening will be Barney Balch (trombone), David Clarke (guitar), Mickey Felder (piano), Mike Mitchell (trumpet), Bryan Jones (alto), Herb Maine (bass) and Bill Manning (drums).
Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, $6 for young adults 12-18, under 12 accompanied by a parent go free. We encourage parents to bring their children, the future of this art form. The library is located at 184 Main Street in downtown Damariscotta. Call 207-563-5513 during business hours for more information. Note, if there is any question about weather, please call the Skidompha Library during business hours. Skidompha’s winter closure policy is that of the local school district (AOS 93); if the schools are closed, so is the library. For more info, point your web browser to http://www.skidompha.org/ or the band’s web site www.mainejazz.net .
This promises to be a very special night of jazz as the band celebrates the beginning of their twelfth year of performances at Skidompha. If you have never attended a Novel Jazz event and are curious, check them out and see why the Novel Jazz evenings at Skidompha have been so popular for so long. Come to Skidompha on 21 January… music to keep both your soul and toes warm during this cold winter season!
Jeff Hughes (dubbed “Mr. Melody” by Ray Smith) has made a name for himself as a Bix-styled cornet player and disciple of Bunny Berigan in the Boston area with the Wolverine Jazz Band, Dave Whitney Orchestra, Dan Gabel and the Abletones, and numerous other groups. By day, he is a mild-mannered marine biologist, but by night he is the leader of many bands:
The audience never knew what they were going to hear because the Bands didn’t know what they were going to play, until they read the ‘instructions’ on Jeff’s lists for each session of the House Party. This music never gets dull!
Sunday started HOT with Fred Vigorito, Dan Levinson, Jim Fryer, Joel, Brian Nalepka, on Lil Armstrong’s 1923 Strutting With Some Barbecue. Fred and Jeff surprised us singing the parts of Gary Crosby and Louis Armstrong.
Fred is Gary Crosby, Jeff is Louis Armstrong on Louis Armstrong’s Struttin’ With Some Barbecue
Jim Fryer led the band on a stomping Stevedore Stomp.
Dan Levinson in charge, picked Johnny Long’s Shanty In Old Shanty Town, with Joel Schiavone singing, and everyone joining in.
Change of crew – Donn Trenner, Noel, Scotty, Tom, Gen and Kevin on Beale St. Blues, fine trombone with Tom Boates singing the vocal. Gen’s chordal subtleties created an extraordinary exchange with Tom’s sonorous trombone.
Tom Boates
Genieve Rose leader, same group on My Heart, with Jeff at piano. Creative exchange between Tom and Noel, followed by an energetic solo by Genevieve Rose.
Donn Trenner and Jeff Barnhart
Donn Trenner congratulated Jeff and Joel for their incredible accomplishment. He said “I feel inadequate here. This isn’t the music I grew up with; I don’t know the tunes. I started a family late, have a daughter who is 23 years old. She had the advantage of being at Guilford High School with the Music Director, Tom Boates.”
Trenner was marvelous on solo with one of his favorites, Michel Legrand’s If I Live Forever I Will Wait For You. Donn can be seen leading the 18-piece Hartford Jazz Orchestra every Monday at the Arch St. Tavern in Hartford. He inherited this wonderful orchestra from “Chick” Cicchetti, a celebrated trombonist, pianist, and arranger who died in 2000 at age 82. Donn played Chick’s arrangement of More Than You Know.
It was Sunday, and time for a soulful message, provided by our vocalist, Molly Ryan, with Dan Levinson on tenor sax, Scott Philbrick on guitar, Jim Lawlor drums, Brian Nalepka on tuba, Jeff Barnhart on piano. Molly sang a tune originally written by Cannonball Adderly in 1956, and borrowed by many musicians afterwards, Sermonette.
Still in a Sunday mood, Jim Fryer was called up for a Benny Goodman tune, Get Rhythm in Your Feet, and Music in Your Soul.
Molly Ryan backed by Genevieve Rose
Molly Ryan singing with Gen Rose on string bass, eliminated the ‘testosterone’ on stage, with a marvelous version of a song made popular by Dinah Shore, Far Away Places.
Trombone feature, Ory’s Creole Trombone, was wild, with Tom, Jim, Fred, Noel, Jeff, Brian, Kevin.
Trombone Feature with Ory’s Creole Trombone, of course.
They continued with Brian Nalepka on tuba with Lu Watter’s Big Bear Stomp.
Two cornets
Two cornet feature with Fred and Scott on a barn-burning Swing That Music.
Joel came up with the same group singing, Row, Row, Row. He said “they don’t write them like that anymore.”
The Boss sings.
After that, it was time for a mellow tune, featuring Dan Levinson on gut-wrenching tenor sax, with Donn, Gen, Lawlor, the 1947 Gone With The Wind.
Dan fabulous on tenor sax
Dan and Donn make beautiful music together. Molly on guitar, Scotty cornet, Lover Come Back To Me.
Lover Come Back To Me
Molly took over, singing the last four vocals, Ain’t Misbehaving, with Scott, Fred, Gen, Donn, Lawlor. Travellin’ All Night Long. Taking a chance on love, Right Key but the wrong keyhole.
Sharon and Ed Ohr
Half the fun at being at a Festival or House Party is running into old friends. It’s the only time we get to see marvelous folks like Sharon and Ed Orr, and make new friends like Don Trenner.
“The weekend ended with a rousing version of ‘Joe Avery’s Piece’ and then the grand finale with all the musicians playing – drum roll please – ‘High Society’ with Noel & Dan doing the famous Alphonse Picou clarinet solo. This was followed with a reprise of ‘We’ll Meet Again’ which Jeff and Dan sang earlier – very nostalgic and, as always, nobody wanted it to be over……………..” Sue Finn
Everyone posed for the Finale of another marvelous Jeff and Joel House Party!!
The 7th JJHP is scheduled for October 7-9, 2016 and trust me, it will SELL OUT! Half the tickets are already sold because Jeff and Joel are bringing us The Paris Washboard that we loved so much at the Connecticut festivals. 3-session tickets are $225, with Paris Washboard Friday night for $25 until July 1st. Get your TICKETS now.
Phil Person trumpet, Stan McDonald soprano sax and clarinet, John Kafalas trombone, Gerry Gagnon tuba, Jack Soref guitar, Steve Taddeo drums
Stan began on soprano sax with I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me, guitar intro to What Is This Thing Called Love; an old chestnut rarely done, It Had To Be You.
Stan moved to clarinet for My Gal Sal, taking the vocal.
Tijuana was HOT!
Steve Taddeo plays softly too!
Baby, Ain’t I Good To You.. Taddeo was playing like Baby Dodds, varying his drum patterns with accents and flourishes; keeping the beat with the bass drum while playing buzz rolls on the snare.
Phil Person, Berklee College of Music
Rose of Rio Grande, melody was established by Phil’s marvelous trumpet. We’re fortunate to have him. He is friendly and easygoing, humorous, a straight ahead trumpeter.
He’s played with the Artie Shaw Orchestra, White Heat Swing Orchestra, Swing Legacy, and Duke Belaire Jazz Orchestra. Phil teaches ear training at Berklee.
John Kafalas trombone and Gerry Gagnon Tuba
An upbeat Lover Come Back To Me, with Phil starting on muted trumpet was incredible, with Gerry Gagnon playing that monstrous tuba in double time!
John Kafalas played trombone with feeling and skill making this truly a tour de force.
Jack Soref, Django-style guitarist
Our favorite Gypsy Jazz guitarist, Jack Soref, provided an expert rhythm beat along with drum and tuba.
At breaktime, Jack played Django Rheinhardt’s Nuage, softly backed by tuba, then joined by Stan McDonald on soprano sax. Beautiful!
Stan McDonald does Bechet on soprano sax
Leader Stan McDonald’s forte has always been Sidney Bechet. He played a genuinely heartfelt Si Tu Vois Ma Mere with warm melodic lines.
They wrapped the evening up with a fascinating Dardanella, at one point with the tuba backed only by guitar, and ended it with a joyous romp.
These musicians are a treasure; we hope they’ll all return with The Blue Horizon Jazz Band in 2016. Many thanks to Ellen McDonald, who has provided us with fantastic jazz every week for the last 20 years!
Eli and The Hot Six at Marce’s surprise birthday at Primavera (6/25/2015) – Bo Winiker trumpet/flugelhorn, Ted Casher clarinet/tenor and soprano sax, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter piano, Eli Newberger tuba, Carolyn Newberger washboard. (Jimmy Mazzy was on his way to the Olympia WA Festival.) This was all about ME ME ME! Surprise … Continue reading 
