by   Marce

Bo Winiker leader/trumpet, flugelhorn, Phil Person  trumpet, Ted Casher clarinet/tenor sax, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Zac Casher drums, also Bill Winiker on drums and various vocalists

Bo Winiker was leader of Eli and The Hot Six this Thursday because Eli and Carolyn Newberger were vacationing in Vietnam and Cambodia.  Bill Winiker was also here, and brought their Mom, Annette.  The Winiker Band played at the legendary Parker House in Cambridge Square for 28 years.  That’s where the ‘boys’ grew up; but they lived in Millis, MA, so the Primavera Music Room was full!

 

 

 

It was such a pleasure to meet Annette Winiker, still spry at age 92!

Bill took a picture of her with Ted Casher’s wife, Velma.

 

 

 

Bo had the band playing toe-tapping Traditional Jazz for the whole first set before moving to vocalists and swing!  It was a great night, with hot solos and delightful counterpoint.

 

 

The first set started with an instrumental South, then Jimmy singing Basin St. Blues, and scatting in Strutting With Some Barbecue. .

 

 

 

 

 

Phil Person’s warm, sweet trumpet was featured with Do Nothing ‘Till you Hear From Me.  Phil is a skillful interpreter of the melody, as well as muted trumpet commentary  behind vocals.

 

 

 

 

Sweet Sue from New Orleans, Jimmy Mazzy’s unique interpretation, with energetic interchange between The Dynamic Duo – Ted and Zac Casher.

 

 

 

 

Nat Coolidge sang with Eli and The Hot Six at the Fundraiser for Windrush Farms recently.  He’s been involved with it for 40  years; It serves special needs kids, helping them ride horseback – and they even have a horse riding Olympics.  They really enjoy it!  Tonight Nat sang Hoagie Carmichael’s Georgia on my mind, adding some Jimmy Durante lyrics – sounding like Vaudeville!

 

 

 

 

Bill and Bo Winiker made a Cd for their 50^th anniversary in Jazz.  The title track was Getting Some Fun Out of Life.  Bill Winiker took over the drums and they played it now, dedicated to their late Father, Ed, who had started the Winiker Band in 1962 where  Annette played string bass.

 

 

 

 

Set two had  two young vocalists named Zoe.  The first Zoe Musmon sang the beautiful waltz, Che Sera Sera.

She connected with the audience, singing to each of us, with Benny Goodman’s Stomping at the Savoy.

 

 

Bo called on Bob Winter to play a tune that describes him perfectly – The Piano Man.  He loves to play the piano, and was with the Boston Pops for over 30 years.

Surprise! Elaine Wu walked in – she was at another program, but left early to be here! That’s dedication – We call her our “Dr. Jazz”.  She took over, beginning with the verse on I’m Old Fashioned, backed by Ted Casher on tenor sax.  She led the band – continuing with Blame It On My Youth, and Oscar & Hammerstein’s Nobody Else But Me, explaining that “That’s about an adolescent, who wants to be anybody else, until she falls in love”.  The Band gave her a grand finale!

Nat was back with They Can’t Take That Away From Me, and Rodgers & Hart’s The Lady Is A Tramp.

 

Next came the second Zoe – Zoe Stewart, from Milford MA who sang After You’ve Gone by Henry Creamer and Turner Layton.  She already has her own special timing, took the band by surprise by modulating her voice. She will be going to college in the fall for Musical Theatre.

 

 

 

 

Jimmy Mazzy returned, singing  Swing That Music and Stars Fell on Alabama.

 

 

 

Moving quickly along towards the finale,, Zoe Musman came back with Cole Porters’ Night and Day and Cheek to Cheek, Bo on smoky flugelhorn.

 

 

This evening flew by so fast!  We could hardly believe it was already over!
Bo kept it moving pressing these amazing musicians, and just having fun being the leader.

He closed it with You’re a Lucky Guy.          (please excuse my shaking – Marce)

Eli and The Hot Six are at Primavera Ristorante on the 3^rd Thursday of every month (except December.)  We hope you’ll join us next month on November 15^thfor more fantastic Jazz!