Eli and The Hot Six at Primavera, January 14, 2016

Posted on January 14, 2016 by admin

Eli and The Hot Six

Phil Person trumpet, Ted Casher clarinet, soprano, and tenor sax, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter keyboard, Jim Mazzy banjo, Eli Newberger tuba, Bob Tamagni drums

Eli Newberger integrated a lively group of Berklee Professors into his Hot Six and put them through their paces playing Dixieland Jazz. (Bob Winter, piano, Phil Person, ear training, and Bob Tamagni, percussion.) Their fiery enthusiasm captivated the audience!

They opened with a stunning Sheik of Araby, Jimmy singing with uncontrolled Mazzy passion. Phil Person followed with on trumpet, then Ted on clarinet, then Herb trombone, the soloists playing for each other as much as the people out front. Bobby Tamagni had only one drum, playing Traditional Jazz by tapping the snare drum or hitting drum sticks together. Eli directed them, then just sat back smiling, listening, enjoying every second. Jimmy ended it shouting scat choruses. This was going to be one exciting evening!

Phil Person

None of the musicians knew what they were going to do – they’ve never played together as a band. Eli asked Phil if he knew Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me. Phil answered, “I wrote it!”, took the lead and ran with it!

Phil Person performed all through the session with beautifully simple phrasing, deep understanding of the emotions of the music, and respect for the other players. He’s a true gentleman, who always listens and plays with a light touch.

Bob Winter does amazing things with Traditional Jazz!

Eli looked for a Trad Jazz War Horse and settled on Royal Garden Blues. Jimmy and Tamagni trading fours, then Bobby playing a vast range of dynamics on his one snare drum.

Winter playfully demonstrated his energetic musicality with Tamagni tapping a tambourine on his hip. Eli took a masterful tuba solo. It was never ending with each one taking a solo, sharing their joy in making music.

Henry Red Allen was a New Orleans visionary with a sound all his own. He recorded a tune that Eli gave to Herb Gardner, playing trombone and singing Who Cares. Ira Gershwin went over the top with the lyrics: Who cares if the sun cares to fall in the sea? Who cares what banks failed in Yonkers? As long as you’ve got a kiss that conquers!

Herb Gardner featured on Who Cares? with vocal and trombone

Next was Ted Casher featured on gut-wrenching, smoldering tenor sax with Blue and Sentimental. Pure rapture and euphoria! We can’t hear it often enough! We needed a breather after that one.

Eli said “This is a great country – we’ve got to hold it together” and called for a Patriotic tune, Gershwin’s masterpiece Of Thee I Sing, played solo, by Bob Winter, with great feeling and delight.

Eli upstanding befpre the audience playing fabulous tuba

Eli ……

Back to The Big Easy, a fine New Orleans anthem with Jimmy taking the intro on Basin St. Blues with banjo and song as only he can. Bob Winter played it light and airy. Eli came up with the tuba hitting high and low, low, low. Jimmy finished it off singing heartfelt blues.

Bob Tamagni rim tapping on drum

The World is Waiting For The Sunrise, an anthem of hope – the banjo player’s national anthem, was introduced by Jimmy rapidly picking banjo, of course, Tamagni taking rim shots on snare drum!

Ted singing, Jimmy playing banjo, Phil and ? listening.

Ted Casher makes up his own vocals on the MTA. Velma Coffey photo.

Ted was featured again with a special vocal all his own, with all of us joining in the chorus, Charlie on The MTA. Ted had some choice words making up new verses about all the problems we’ve been having with the MBTA. Bob Winter was laughing and enjoying the whole scene.

Eli asked Sarah (Gardner) Nova to come up for a vocal. (That’s one very musical family!) She sang a commanding Keep Your Hands Off It. Sarah has an intuitive grasp of musical dynamics. She has created several CDs that teach children the joy of music – especially Jazz.

Sarah singing, with full band behind her

Sarah Nova sings Keep Your Hands Off It!

Carrie Sings with Jimmy and Eli backing

Carrie Mazzy was called up next, looking lovingly at Jimmy, singing When I Fall In Love. They have been married for close to 30 years. Seems like yesterday!

Carolyn Newberger plays washboard to Miami Rumba (file photo)

Carolyn Newberger put down her scratch pad and picked up an old washboard for one of my favorites, Miami Rumba. Her fervor fascinates the audience!
The whole band joined in, with snare drum in rumba beat.

(Check her sketches below.)

Tough act to follow; Jimmy played and sang a gripping, emotional, Georgia On My Mind.

Eli completely changed the mood with another barn-burning Dixieland tune, At The Jazz Band Ball, with the band going WILD with ultra-tight all star intensity! Ted pushed it on hot soprano sax, drum interacting with tuba. Fantastic!

Everyone needed a break!

Jimmy came up with a breathtaking St. James Infirmary Blues, with lyrics by Josh White. “I want 6 crapshooters to be my pallbearers, three pretty women to sing a song, Stick a jazz band on my hearse wagon, Raise hell as I stroll along.” Bobby Tamagni was enjoying himself beating the snare drum with his hands.

It was already closing time. The band finished with livewire ensemble; outgoing and infectious on a New Orleans tune – wait for it – When The Saints Go Marching In!

Eli and The Hot Six’s videos are now available, from their recent performance celebrating his 75th birthday at Sculler’s Jazz Club: https://www.youtube.com/user/EliNewberger . That rare traditional jazz concert was covered by the Boston Globe:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/2015/12/28/tuba-hand-acclaimed-physician-eli-newberger-delights-his-first-passion/Bw3NRBiZpquTRTH3wtGXlK/story.html

But here is even more….
Carolyn Newberger never stops. She kept busy as usual with pencil and sketchbook, getting lost in the fabulous Trad and Swing and drawing across both pages! She shared some of her marvelous artwork with us:

Eli on tuba sketch goes across both pages of the sketch book

Eli Newberger

Jimmy and banjo sketch goes across both pages too

Jimmy Mazzy

Bob playing on snare drum. single page. Nice nustache!

Bob Tamagni

This was indeed a fascinating evening. Berklee professors can actually play Traditional Jazz, and play this happy, foot-stomping music with cheerful enthusiasm!

My apologies for the quality of the photos –
I borrowed my son’s camera and didn’t
know how to use it. Many thanks to Sarah
for her help in making it useable!! Marce

Eli’s Hot Six celebrate his 75th Birthday at Scullers

Posted on December 17, 2015 by admin

Eli Newberger

Eli & The Hot 6 celebrated Eli’s upcoming 75^th Birthday with style at Sculler’s Jazz Club on December 17, 2015. The 8pm show sold out in no time and they had to add another at 10pm. The music at Scullers was up to their best,

The Boston Globe published an article December 29th by Bella English: “Tuba in hand, acclaimed physician Dr. Eli Newberger delights in his first passion.”

© Photos by Eric Antoniou www.ericantoniou.com/

The Hot Six feature some of Boston’s finest, legendary musicians: Eli Newberger on tuba, Bob Winter on piano, Herb Gardner on trombone, Bo Winiker on trumpet and flugelhorn, Ted Casher on clarinet, soprano and tenor saxes, Jimmy Mazzy on banjo and vocals, Carolyn Newberger on washboard, Jeff Guthery on drums, Rebecca Sullivan vocals.

Eli and The Hot Six with Rebecca Sullivan

Eli & The Hot Six’s approach honors the New Orleans tradition of ensemble improvising while featuring the solo brilliance of its distinctive, contemporary musical personalities.

Videos of Eli and The Hot Six with Rebecca Sullivan at Sculler’s Jazz Club are on Eli Newberger’s You Tube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/user/EliNewberger.

Eli wrote:
“The music is stunningly beautiful and swings like mad. Everyone is both at ease and acutely tuned in, projecting emotional pinpoints and delivering delightful surprises.

Rebecca’s treatment of Ira Gershwin’s verses is unbelievably touching. Bob is like an Impressionist painter, deploying the whole piano as his palette, mixing stunning new colors and inventing heavenly harmonic washes in his solos. Herb’s punchy singing of “You Cares” sounds like he’s channeling Henry “Red” Allen, especially in his ironic take on Ira’s immortal line, “Who cares if banks are failing in Yonkers, when it’s your kiss that conquers?”

Ted, Jimmy, and Bo are so focused the ensemble — and vice versa– that even their brilliant solos (and there are too many to count) weave new threads into the gorgeous fabric of improvising:

Ted, for example, quotes Count Basie’s “Lil’ Darling” and Bob tosses it all over 3 choruses later in his pianistic evocation of the whole Basie band, even as Jeff does his best Jo Jones. Bo performs 2 “stop choruses” that ignite lightening storms — with flashes of instrumental accents through the remaining portions of those songs.

Jimmy shouts 3 fantastic final choruses on “St. Louis Blues,” (ending with an exalting Mazzy scream of “I love that gal like a schoolboy loves his pie, like a Kentucky colonel loves his rock and rye!” that Frank Cunningham was obliged to compress — because Jimmy almost lifted the track off the mixing board). This makes Ted into a Texas tenor and transforms Herb into a tailgate tiger. (Programming note: I included this W.C. Handy song both because he so influenced Gershwin, but because the “Summertime” melody uncannily resembles Handy’s second, minor, strain. And in real time at Scullers, I asked Rebecca to sing “Summertime” next (and did she ever!), but I refrained from pointing this out, so as not to shatter the mood.”

Ted Casher, Bo Winiker, Herb Gardner

Rebecca Sullivan

Jazz singer Rebecca Sullivan added an additional instrumental voice to the ensemble, in addition to her own deeply-felt interpretations of iconic vocal masterpieces.

Eli tuba, Jimmy singing, Jeff in back on drums

Jimmy Mazzy and Eli Newberger have been together for years

Bob Winter, master improviser

Caroline playing old washboard around her neck with spoons

Carolyn Newberger

Washboard Artist Carolyn Newberger Strikes Up The Band on washboard.

Carolyn and Rebecca chortling after Bob Winter’s and Carolyn’s humorous piano-washboard “conversation” on “Strike Up the Band!” It was one of the high points of the first set at Scullers!

Bo Winiker

Ted Casher

Herb Gardner

Jeff Guthery

Eli joined Bob for 4-hand piano on “St. Louis Blues.”

Bob shares piano with Eli

Eli and The Hot Six forthcoming public performances are all at Ristorante Primavera, 20 Pleasant St. Millis, MA 7 to 9:30 as always.

January 14

March 19

April 14

Professional Photographer Eric Antoniou caught beautiful photos despite the low light. Frank Cunningham’s preliminary CD cuts are nearly all top notch, so a Hot Six Gershwin CD is going to happen, soon! Stay tuned.

Eli and The Hot Six at Primavera, November 19, 2015

Posted on November 24, 2015 by admin

Eli and The Hot Six – Bob Winter, Eli Newberger, Jimmy Mazzy, Jeff Guthery, Ted Casher, Bo Winiker, Herb Gardner © Ray Drueke

Photos © Ray Drueke, Austin Lane Studios
Videos by Marce

This was the last Jazz Concert of 2015 at Primavera, and a very worthwhile one. The Hot Six reached deep down playing their hearts out creating beautiful music. They just love playing Jazz!

Herb Gardner ©

This was Herb Gardner’s evening, bringing old school musicality to vocals and on trombone with Ain’t She Sweet, and The Sheik of Araby – with the band members responding: ‘Without No Pants On’.

He started another vocal on Basin St. Blues, then turned it over to Jimmy with a trombone intro, the band playing in stop time behind him. Herb ended with a rambunctious trombone flourish.

Eli Newberger ©

Eli Newberger, celebrated tuba virtuoso and keyboardist, leads the band, pointing at whoever gets to play next. This is Jazz, no charts.

He plays tuba with a deep, sonorous tone, maintaining that contemporary classic beat and managing difficult straight four/four notes by circular breathing.

They paid tribute to the French with Ted’s sweet arrangement of Petite Fleur on clarinet. Lovely! This was also the hundredth anniversary of Sidney Bechet.

Jimmy Mazzy ©

Jimmy sings with sensitivity, Someone To Watch Over Me, changing the words from: “Although he may not be the man some girls think of as handsome, to my heart he carries the key.” to “Although she may not be the Squaw some boys think of as awesome, to my heart she carries the key.”

We’re thrilled to have Jimmy back with the Hot Six; he’s been travelling. He changed moods with Our Love is Here to Stay. He is also in The Tuber Trio with Eli and Ted Casher. We hope he’s here to stay.

Bob Winter ©

Bob Winter finesses amazing sounds out of that keyboard, starting with soft melodic single-note piano lines on Some Of These Days, gradually rising to an astounding variety of piano styles.

He is the pianist for the Boston Pops, but also loves this music and plays skillful, soft commentary behind the soloists and vocals.

In Memoriam: We lost Jimmy Enright 28 years ago today. The Hot Six played Everybody Loves My Baby, with Jimmy Mazzy’s passionate voice rising to the infamous Jimmy “Holler’.

Bo Winiker on flugelhorn

Jimmy continued with C’Est Si Bon, backed by Ted’s clarinet, with Bo on flugelhorn. Bo’s rhythmic annotations on trumpet and flugelhorn lift the whole band.

Sizzling 12th Street Rag

Carolyn Newberger ©

Carolyn Newberger arrived and dug out the washboard. The band played a tune that her Mother used to play for her growing up, fairly soft and subtle, Tico Tico.

Bob and Carolyn always connect and inspire each other; their duets are sparkling and exciting!

Ted Casher ©

Ted plays gut-wrenching saxophone on Blue and Sentimental. There were no lights on the band so my videos were really dark. Ray Drueke came to the rescue and lightened them somewhat. Just close your eyes and listen to Ted play a dreamy Coleman Hawkins tenor sax.

Jeff with a big smile looking to his right

Jeff Guthery, drums ©

Eli had everyone clapping in time to a fiery Limehouse Blues. Jeff Guthery let loose on drums. He is the youngest member of the band, and recently had his recital at Berklee College of Music.

This was one of those never ending tunes, with Eli giving each musician a turn on the final verse.

Sarah Nova ©

Herb Gardner’s daughter, Sarah Nova was in the audience – a fine songstress in her own right. Sarah teaches jazz to young children with her CD, Jazz For Lil’ Jumpers. She gave us a lively version of Them There Eyes.

Eli and The Hot Six closed this evening of great jazz with Bo on flugel horn and Jimmy singing Louis’s Sleepy Time Down South. This was the Primavera Finale for the year 2015. Jazz will return to Primavera Ristorante on January 7th, 2016.

Eli and The Hot Six with Rebecca Sullivan will be at Sculler’s Jazz Club on December 17th – celebrating Eli’s 75th birthday!

Professional photographer taking pictures

Ray Drueke, Austin Lane Studios

Photos Copyrighted by Ray Drueke, Austin Lane Studios (401) 635-0163.

30 High-resolution photos available for sale.

Eli and The Hot Six at Primavera, August 20, 2015

Posted on August 26, 2015 by admin

Eli and The Hot Six, with Dave Burdette

Bob Winter keyboard, Eli Newberger tuba, Jeff Guthery drums, Ted Casher reeds, Dave Burdette trumpet, Herb Gardner trombone/vocals, last set: Caroline Newberger washboard.

The band was still wrapped in the glow of their full house and reception at the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, MA at the Berkshire Theatre Festival. They were relaxed and jovial; there wasn’t even a set list. Everyone was featured! They played a game – “Let’s stump the trumpet player” – with Bo Winiker’s substitute, Dave Burdette.

But Dave Burdette is one of the most in-demand trumpet players in the country and can play jazz, classical and everything in between. The Dave Burdette orchestra played for 10 years at Boston’s Ritz Carlton Hotel Roof Top.

They began with Do Nothing ‘till You Hear From Me, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Limehouse Blues tore the house down!

Everyone had a chance to solo. There was no amplification whatsoever, but that didn’t stop Herb from singing; Wonderful World, special request for Bill Bailey. They began with the verse, front line magnificent, with Dave on muted trumpet, Jeff reverberating the tuba on the hi hat. It was a never-ending tune, with Eli pointing to each musician to give it a final blast.

Bob Winter, pianist for the Boston Pops, enjoys being part of this band

Bob Winter picked a solo that we haven’t heard for a long time, Rhode Island is Famous For You.
Astounding piano!!

Caroline Newberger arrived, with washboard, for what they called “Tap dancing routine #1” for Tea for Two and Perdido. Caroline added to the rhythm section for the whole last set. She was featured on her special, and one of our favorites, Miami Rumba, accompanied by piano. (Dave’s trumpet sounded like Herb Alpert in the Tijuana Brass.) Jeff maintained the rumba rhythm on temple blocks.

Caroline Newberger on washboard

The combined talents of this front line are remarkable!

Ted Casher, Dave Burdette, Herb Gardner

Eli plays Polka Dots and Moonbeams

With Eli’s prowess on the tuba, he was able to reach low, low and ended up high on Polka Dots and Moonbeams. This brought back fond memories!

Dave Burdette

Dave’s version of Stardust was absolutely haunting, subtly backed by rhythm. Beautiful!

Ted couldn’t resist this tune, came in with clarinet ending with a note that hit the stratosphere!

At The Jazz Band Ball started at a pretty good clip, with fine polyphony. Dave played trumpet softly then with passion, slipping in a bit of ‘Stumbling’.

Herb Gardner sang many tunes as well as playing trombone

Herb sang many tunes, and his marvelous trombone was featured on Rose Room.

Jeff was let loose on Alexander’s Ragtime Band; he enjoys tapping on those variegated temple blocks!

Jeff is expert on temple blocks

Ben Pilch wrote:

“It was my second time seeing the group, Eli & the hot 6 concert on Thursday at Primavera. I enjoyed the concert very much. The group members are obviously excellent jazz musicians who are technically sound and very good improvisers. In addition, they have an obvious camaraderie, joie de vivre, and love of what they’re doing that is charming and infectious.”

“Another facet of their performance that I enjoyed was their spontaneity. Rather than clinging to a set playlist, they seemed often to decide on the spur of the moment what would be a good tune to perform at that moment. This allowed them to easily accept requests, and at this concert there were two, Bill Bailey and Alexander’s Ragtime Band. I enjoyed these performances a great deal, and I was delighted to hear the verses to these songs, less commonly heard than the more familiar choruses. A lovely atmospheric rendition of Stardust was, I thought, another high point. A great show! Ben Pilch (fan and audience member)

Eli and The Hot Seven

We’re declaring Dave Burdette winner of the “Let’s stump the trumpet player” game! The Hot Six +1 closed with Louis’s Sleepy Time Down South.

They’ll be back at Primavera on September 10th and October 15th, September 20th. They are at the FREE family-friendly Autumnal Equinox celebration – 12th Annual Revels RiverSing at Harvard Square’s Winthrop Park. They will be at Ken’s Steak House. They’re also looking forward to their 2nd appearance at Sculler’s Jazz Club on December 17^th. Stay tuned.

Eli & The Hot Six + Rebecca Sullivan at Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield

Posted on April 17, 2015 by admin

Barrington Stage Company Presents

SWINGIN’ GERSHWIN
with
Eli & The Hot Six + Rebecca Sullivan
Bob Winter, Bo Winiker, Jimmy Mazzy,
Ted Casher, Herb Gardner & Jeff Guthery
Monday, June 22, 2015 | 8:00 pm

Pittsfield, MA–Barrington Stage Company will present Swingin’ Gershwin with Eli & The Hot Six + Rebecca Sullivan on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, Monday, June 22 at 8:00 pm. Eli & The Hot Six are a fabulous jazz group just formed by the world-renowned tuba player and keyboardist, Eli Newberger and the band has a superb new CD, titled Eli & The Hot Six LIVE Contemporary Classic Jazz.

The group’s approach honors the New Orleans tradition of ensemble improvising while featuring the solo brilliance of its distinctive, contemporary musical personalities. Jazz singer Rebecca Sullivan adds an additional instrumental voice to the ensemble, in addition to her own deeply-felt interpretations of iconic vocal masterpieces, from “Honeysuckle Rose” to “Perdido.” The new disc and show at Scullers also feature some of Boston’s finest, legendary musicians: Eli Newberger on tuba, Bob Winter on piano, Herb Gardner on trombone, Bo Winiker on trumpet, Ted Casher on clarinet, soprano and tenor saxes, Jimmy Mazzy on banjo and vocals and Jeff Guthery on drums.

Barrington Stage Company and its Boyd-Quinson Mainstage is located at 30 Union Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201. Tickets at $45 and $35 go on sale now at www.BarringtonStageCo.org or call 413-236-8888.

Eli Newberger is a famed musician. Classically trained at Juilliard and Yale, he is a virtuoso jazz tuba and keyboard player who has cut more than 40 records with the New Black Eagle Jazz Band, which he co-founded in 1970. Dr. Newberger also won three national readers’ polls for best jazz tuba player! Often with banjo player/singer Jimmy Mazzy, he delights his audiences with musically illustrated lectures on character building.

Eli Newberger is also a highly-lauded and world-renowned pediatrician affiliated with Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital in Boston. Known for his ability to apply good sense and up-to-date science to unresolved issues of family life, he has been a pioneer in identifying and treating child abuse and family violence. He is often called to testify in legal cases and is a high profile media personality, having appeared nationally on The Today Show, ABC World NewsTonight, CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, Nightline, CNN News, The Oprah Winfrey Show, 60 Minutes and National Public Radio programs such as Here and Now. In the Boston market, he has appeared on The Connection and Radio Open Source with Christopher Lydon, CBS News Boston, WCVB 5 News, 7News Boston, NECN News, NECN’s Broadside with Jim Braude, Boston Public Radio, Greater Boston with Emily Rooney, WBUR FM’s Radio Boston, WCVB TV’s Chronicle among others.

With girlish sophistication, gleaming intelligence and three-octave range, jazz singer Rebecca Sullivan, a Pennsylvania native, is at 31 already a full-blown original—someone who stands apart from all the standards singers now crowding the field not only with her distinctive style, but also her eagerness to take risks. Rebecca received her Masters of Music Degree in Contemporary Improvisation and Voice from New England Conservatory of Music in May 2014. In a quirk of circumstance, she and Eli Newberger were assigned to one another as mentee and mentor. After sitting in with his band in 2012 at their gig at the Sherborn Inn, the Hot Six and fans wanted her back! She’s now based in New York, works in the offices of the Metropolitan Opera and shows up in Boston for gigs with the Hot Six. Rebecca has a fine website,http://www.rebeccasullivanjazz.com.

Bob Winter, unassailable dean of Boston jazz pianists, is a veteran performer in all manner of musical situations and styles, in solo, duo, trio and small group settings. Since 1980, Bob has been the pianist with the Boston Pops and Pops Esplanade Orchestras, with Keith Lockhart and John Williams, conducting at Symphony Hall and for many tours and recordings. Bob joined the faculty of Berklee College of Music in 1972, where he is still a professor of piano.

Bo Winiker, a graduate of New England Conservatory, plays trumpet, flugelhorn and vibraphone. Bo recently fulfilled his lifelong dream of conducting and soloing at Boston Symphony Hall, where he led the Boston Pops Swing Orchestra during the opening night of both the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 Symphony Orchestra seasons as well as the sold out 2013 and 2014 New Year’s Eve galas. He toured worldwide with the NEC’s Grammy® Award-winning Ragtime Ensemble, under the direction of Gunther Schuller as well as with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. In addition, Bo has appeared as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic and the Cleveland Orchestra and has also recorded on the movie soundtrack A League of Their Own with Billy Joel. Bo performed at the White House for President Ford and at two Presidential Inaugurations, for Presidents Carter and Clinton.

One of the busiest jazzmen in New England, clarinetist and saxophonist Ted Casher grew up in Skowhegan, Maine in a family of musicians. Ted’s career spans studying and teaching at the Berklee College of Music, clarinet performances with front-rank traditional jazz stars like Louis Armstrong, starring as solo clarinetist in bands that revive the legacies of Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw and playing tenor sax in big bands from the legendary Duke Delaire Big Band at Bovi’s Tavern in East Providence and Peter Duchin’s Orchestra performing everywhere at society dances. Ted is renowned for his fluent improvisations, exquisite sound, klezmer inflections and boffo sense of humor.

Jimmy Mazzy enjoys iconic status as both a banjoist and vocalist on the American jazz scene. For more than forty years, this consummate musician has delighted followers of traditional jazz with his uniquely lyrical banjo style and his wonderfully haunting vocals. He is featured on more than 30 albums, many of them on the famous Stomp Off label including the Paramount Jazz Band and his own Jimmy Mazzy & Friends. In a New York Times review of Jimmy and Eli’s Stomp Off recording, Shake It Down, critic John S. Wilson wrote: “Mr. Mazzy sings with husky-voiced intensity and a sentimental enthusiasm that sometimes suggests a cross between Ted Lewis and Clancy Hayes. His banjo-playing is relaxed and flowing, providing light lines that help the tuba rise up and shuffle around.”

Drummer Jeff Guthery won the “fastest hands” division of the World’s Fastest Drummer competition at the Anaheim Winter NAMM Show in 2007. He has been playing drums for ten years and performed traditional and bebop jazz in Kyrgyzstan and South Korea for five years prior to coming to Boston, where he is currently a student at Berklee College of Music’s Percussion Department, majoring in Jazz Drum Set Performance.

Soon after moving to New York in 1963, trombonist Herb Gardner began touring with Wild Bill Davison, Kenny Davern and Dick Wellstood as well as becoming a regular at the Metropole, Jimmy Ryan’s and Eddie Condon’s nightclubs. During the ‘60s and ’70s, he appeared with virtually all of the classic jazz musicians in the New York City area such as Roy Eldridge, Gene Krupa, Henry “Red” Allen, Bobby Hackett, Jimmy Rushing, Doc Cheatham, Max Kaminsky and even Wingy Manone.

Swingin’ Gershwin
Eli & The Hot Six + Rebecca Sullivan
Barrington Stage Company’s
Boyd-Quinson Mainstage
30 Union Street,
Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201
Monday, June 22 at 8:00 pm
Tickets: $45 and $35
BarringtonStageCo.org
Call: 413-236-8888

Media Contacts:

For Eli Newberger:
Sue Auclair, Sue Auclair Promotions
617-522-1394 | jazzwoman@earthlink.net
www.sueauclair.com

For Barrington Stage:
Charlie Siedenburg, BSC Press Director
551-655-0968 | charlie_siedenburg@yahoo.com
www.barringtonstageco.org

Media materials & musical sample here: http://sueauclairpromotions.com/Sue_Auclair_Promotions/Eli_%26_The_Hot_Six_On_The_Road.html

Eli & The Hot Six with Rebecca Sullivan at Primavera Ristorante February 26, 2015

Posted on March 2, 2015 by admin

Eli & The Hot Six

Bo Winiker trumpet/flugelhorn, Rebecca Sullivan vocals, Ted Casher cllarinet/tenor sax, Herb Gardner trombone, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Bob Winter keyboard, Eli Newberger leader/tuba, Jeff Guthery drums.

by Marce

Eli & The Hot Six is a powerhouse group of accomplished musicians playing music to warm the heart and melt the snows! They are spontaneous, inspiring one another, weaving around each other, with gentle sparkplug Bob Winter of the Boston Pops on keyboard, Jim Mazzy banjo and Jeff Guthery’s masterful drumming.

This was a celebration of the release of their first CD. It is extraordinary in that it contained sketches of each musician by Carolyn Newberger. Fans bought them quickly to obtain autographs of the musicians, at a special discounted price of $10.
Purchase here.
Oh, and the Contemporary Classic Jazz was incredible!

Muscat Ramble kicked off this evening, with Jeff Guthery playing a solo on graduated temple blocks.

Rebecca Sullivan

Rebecca Sullivan warmed the crowd with Gershwin’s Summertime, an upbeat I’ve Got Rhythm. Embraceable You, a tune from the new CD, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.
She drove from New York to get here, and returned afterwards to get to work in the morning at the NY Metropolitan Opera Guild!

Duke Ellington’s Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me, played very slowly, Bo leading with Ted’s clarinet and Herb’s trombone in the background.

Eli Newberger, the roaring tiger

The growl of the rip-roaring tuba-tiger on Tiger Rag. Eli’s dedication and devotion to this music are apparent on his face!

He jumps up and leads the front line parading through the enthusiastic audience; they love this music and enjoyed becoming part of it.

Eli and front line parading through the audience

Parade of the Tigers

Carolyn Newberger is usually sitting quietly, drawing sketches of the musicians. They are works of art, and available with the CD. Tonight she let loose and joined the band on washboard for an energetic Miami Beach Rhumba – fun tune, and they all had fun playing it.

Carolyn standing, playing washboard hanging from her neck

Carolyn plays washboard

Jimmy Mazzy feels the pain

Jimmy agonizes with the blues, almost reading the words of a man who searched for his loved one and found her body at St. James Infirmary. The instrumental solos build powerfully, with Jimmy ending in heartbreaking a capella, sadly, mournfully.

Perdido: Eli says it all in his Notes on the CD: Eli & The Hot Six LIVE, Contemporary Classic JAZZ.
“Ted Casher’ eloquent solo tenor sax builds a rhythmic foundation for this splendid song written by Juan Tizol, a trombonist in the Ellington band. Rebecca jumps in almost as an instrumental voice, extending chorus after chorus of melodic variations, counter rhythms, and little conversations with clarinet, trumpet, and trombone. One can hear why Bob and the horn players, steeped in this music and, indeed, knowing the passing harmonies and final ensemble riffs like the backs of their hands, love her so much. “

Ted Casher, Bo Winiker, Herb Gardner

They closed with Bye Bye Blackbird, first recorded by Gene Austin in 1926. It’s not bye-bye for this band, just the beginning. They will return often, we hope, before their official CD release at Sculler’s Jazz Club on May 21^st. Hope to see you there??

Scullers Jazz Club at the Doubletree Suites by Hilton Boston-Cambridge,
400 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, MA 02134
May 21st – Show: $30, Show & Dinner: $70, Show Time: 8pm 617-562-4111

Eli & The Hot Six LIVE, Contemporary Classic JAZZ

Posted on February 24, 2015 by admin

Recorded live at the Sherborn Inn, Sherborn MA
December 2013 through May 2014

Honeysuckle Rose Rebecca Sullivan
St. James Infirmary Jimmy Mazzy
Oh By Jingo Bob Winter
Perdido Rebecca Sullivan
Chinatown, my Chinatown Jimmy Mazzy
Body and Soul Ted Casher
I Can’t Give You Anything… Rebecca Sullivan
Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen Ted Casher
Just Squeeze Me Rebecca Sullivan
Them There Eyes Rebecca Sullivan
Charlie on the MTA Ted Casher
Tiger Rag Randy Reinhart

TRACK LISTING

Eli’s All Stars at the Sherborn Inn, October 2, 2014 – Final for 2014

Posted on October 19, 2014 by admin

Eli’s All Stars

by Marce

Bo Winiker trumpet, Ted Casher reeds, Herb Gardner trombone/vocal, Bob Winter piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba, Carolyn Newberger washboard, Jeff Guthery drums,

This band touches my heart and spirit. I arrived tired and stressed, but as soon as the music began it all faded away! They kicked it off with Kid Ory’s Muscrat Ramble that had the walls vibrating, then moved to Gershwin’s The Man I Love with a duet of Bo Winiker’s pure crystal-clear trumpet and Bob Winter’s burning piano.

Ted evoked Eastern European expertise with Russian/Jewish music, Bei Mir Bist Du Schön (Secunda 1938) with a long joyful Klezmer verse on clarinet, and Jimmy singing the chorus.

Jimmy Mazzy feels the pain in the words when he sings.

Jimmy was featured, almost tearfully, on Irving Berlin’s How About Me? “It’s over, all over”. But not our music!

Caroline Newberger joined them on washboard for a tune they’ve never played here before, Washington and Lee Swing. It was sensational! Bob Winter joined Carolyn in a duet, with the front line playing stop time in the background – perfect!

Caroline on washboard, with tuba and drum in background

Carolyn Newberger featured on Washington and Lee Swing

Chinatown is always attention-grabbing, especially with Jimmy’s scatting. Winter’s piano solo Till We Meet Again was #1 song in 1915-16. A love ballad, he started semi-classical then moved into swing, riveting concerto, finishing in sweet ¾ time.

The meister’s piano has amazing depths and textures.

It’s hard to follow that!

Bo Winiker managed it well with Louis Armstrong’s late 20’s Cornet Chop Suey, arranged by Herb Gardner.

Frank John, Eli’s new mentoree.

At intermission, Frank John, a new student that Eli is now mentoring, picked up Eli’s tuba and began to play around with the keys.

Frank is a promising first year student of Mike Roylance’s at New England Conservatory. He hit a fortissimo pedal G that Eli has never played. That’s one note below the bottom of the piano keyboard! We’ll be hearing more from him!

Herb Gardner is a man of many talents!

Herb sang and played the Cole Porter tune about the way young boys cavorted in the 1920’s, Let’s Misbehave. How did he know?

Ted Casher is his own man – plays his version of Body & Soul, with hints of Coleman Hawkins. It get’s to me every time!

My attempt at video – unfortunately the camera was wrong side up; fix resulted in black edges.

We had to leave early – preparing for Jeff & Joel’s House Party in Connecticut the next day. It was very difficult pulling away. We hung in for Bo’s essence of Louis in his spectacular Potato Head Blues, and Bob Winter’s unique interpretation of Oh By Jingo. I was really sorry to miss the rest.

This was the band’s last performance here at the Sherborn Inn for this year, as the Thursday night Jazz has been discontinued due to too many holiday parties.

Hopefully we’ll all be back next year! I really need that invigorating Jazz Fix!

Eli Newberger

Jeff Guthery

Eli’s All-Stars at the Sherborn Inn, 4 September 2014

Posted on September 4, 2014 by admin

Eli’s All-Stars

Phil Person trumpet, Ted Casher clarinet, tenor and soprano sax, Herb Gardner trombone, vocal, Bob Winter piano, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba, Jeff Guthery drums,

Fresh from two sold-out performances with the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the All-Stars were raring to go. Trumpeter Phil Person completed an exciting front line, subbing for Bo Winiker.

front line, soprano sax, trumpet, trombone, sitting on high stools

Ted Casher, Phil Person, Herb Gardner

They started hot and heavy with Tijuana, a hot Latin tune. It set the tone for the rest of the evening with these world-class musicians. Herb Gardner’s trombone took the intro on Spencer Williams’ 1926 Basin St. Blues, Jim singing, followed by banjo and tuba.

Ted took center stage with a fiery Lady Be Good on tenor sax. The band followed with a brassy Twelfth St. Rag that resonated off the ceiling!

Ted in front of band blasting on tenor sax.

Ted suggests that the ladies be good.

This Jazz is pure pleasure! Always creative, Eli presented brand new material. They tried out differing duets on a Stan Rubin tune, Miss Ida Blue, first clarinet with piano, then banjo and trombone, backed by a soft ensemble. They tried three different endings until they found the one they liked.

Ted’s Harlem Nocturne on tenor sax was absolutely tantalizing; we never get enough of that wrenching tenor sax! Also can’t get enough of Jimmy Mazzy’s unique style of singing, Someone to Watch Over Me, S’Wonderful. He did a mournful, heartbreaking version of Al Jolson’s Swanee; the depth of his loneliness resounding in his voice. They don’t need any more vocalists!

Bob winter was featured in another piano solo with The Man I Love; fingers delicately floating over the piano, creating a masterpiece.

Bob Winter, pianist for the Boston Pops

Herb Gardner returned on trombone and singing Nice Work If You Can Get It.

Herb Gardner

Nice work! Herb keeps busy leading Stan Rubin’s Band at Swing 46 in Manhattan every Wednesday, backing the American powerhouse vocal trio, Red Molly, or playing piano for the New Black Eagle Jazz Band.

Phil Person was an apt substitute for Bo Winiker. Phil is an Assistant Professor at Berklee, and has performed with Al Grey, Buddy Defranco, Tony Bennett, Keely Smith, Jack Jones, Scott Hamilton, Dick Johnson, Phil Wilson, Kay Starr, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Margaret Whiting, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (directed by Buddy Morrow), Alan Dawson, Ricky Ford, Howard Johnson, and Ray Santisi, among others.

Phil Person was featured on Wait ‘til You Hear From Me, playing fluid, sweet trumpet. Remarkable talent!

Bob Winter played a cool piano intro to South, with Ted on pure soprano sax, Jeff tapping temple blocks.

Jeff tapping on temple blocks, Ted on Sop Sax

Jeff keeps Traditional Jazz Beat on graduated temple blocks

Jimmy on banjo, Eli on reverberating turbo-charged tuba. The two create synergetic magic.

It was one of the highlights of the evening!

Jimmy was featured on a tune that nobody else but Eli seemed to know, Tomorrow Night.

It’s obvious Bob enjoys playing with the All-Stars, and listening to Jimmy and Eli.

Ted Casher sang his signature song with gusto, supported by Phil’s trumpet, I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead You Rascal You. (He dedicated it to Arthur S. DeMoulas.) The tempo picked up with outstanding trumpet, piano, tuba – all building up to a WILD conclusion! What a way to close an afternoon of amazing Jazz here at the Sherborn Inn.

Where was Carolyn Newberger? Carolyn was sitting at the band table, sketching away as usual – she’ll have some great ones of the band.

One of her watercolors was recently accepted into the 14th Biennial North American Open Show of the New England Watercolor Society. The exhibition will be from October 15 to November 8 at the Plymouth MA Center for the Arts, 11 North St. Reception is October 18 from 2-4pm.

On September 13th Eli’s All-Stars kicked off Highland Jazz’s 32nd Concert Series in Newton, MA. They’ll be back again at the Sherborn Inn on Thursday, October 2nd. Don’t miss this one! November and December Thursdays have been cancelled because of too many Holiday Functions.

See you October 2nd??

Marce

Eli’s All-Stars at the Sherborn Inn, August 7, 2014

Posted on August 7, 2014 by admin

Bo Winiker trumpet, Ted Casher clarinet, tenor and soprano sax, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter piano, Jim Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger tuba, Jeff Guthery drums, Carolyn Newberger washboard

This was a superb evening, with the All-Stars’ driving classic jazz, enjoying each other’s company. They were playing for each other, as much as the people, but the audience couldn’t help participating. The band played a treasure trove of Louis Armstrong hits. Instead of featuring a single vocalist, leader Eli Newberger took advantage of the many fine voices in the band, especially Jimmy Mazzy. (We never tire of hearing Jimmy!)

Ted started with an aggressive clarinet on Muscat Ramble, written by Kid Ory and first recorded by Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five in 1926. Eli’s All Stars played it with explosive polyphonic ensemble!

Herb sings Old Rocking Chair.

Herb Gardner took the first vocal on Irving Berlin’s Old Rocking Chair. He was spellbinding! Rocking chair will never get him.

Bo Winiker’s trumpet spearheaded this tribute to Louis Armstrong. His passion is obvious on Louis’s Hello Dolly.

The one and only in the world.

The one and only Jimmy Mazzy sang many tunes, starting with a powerful vocal on an Armstrong rarity, Irish Black Bottom.

Only three of them were familiar with it, this was the first of several tunes that many of the band had never played before. There was some good natured bantering by the guys in the front line on how they would approach it. But great musicians can make it happen. The buoyant rhythm section was sparked by Guthery’s drums. Jeff has added something new to his Trad Jazz drum set – a set of four ancient temple blocks, putting them to good use.

snare drum, one tom, ride cymbal,cow bell, four ancient temple blocks

Jeff Guthery and his unique Traditional Jazz drums

Potato Head Blues was requested by a friend in the audience. There was a jovial discussion by the men in the front line on how to approach this. Bo gave it the Armstrong touch, concluding with a triumphant ride-out final chorus.

Jimmy dreamy ballad, Kiss to Build a Dream On, was backed by harmonically sophisticated ensemble.

Mosaic has just released the entire Louis collection that also contains tunes from Louis’s Hot 5 and Hot 7. One of the tunes, Cornet Chop Suey, influenced a 14-year old Eli Newberger to play this kind of music. Resourceful Herb Gardner created this arrangement, and played Trummy’s bright, energetic sound on trombone with the band’s tempestuous performance.

Change of pace – Jimmy started St James Infirmary in a melancholy tone (it’s someone lamenting the death of their loved one) when the band picked up the tempo. On impulse, Eli jumped up and joined Winter for four-handed piano. (Eli was the original piano player for the Black Eagle Jazz Band.)

Four-handed piano

Another tune most had never played before, Ol Miss, Ted lead on soprano sax, with Jimmy scatting. The energy level was so high the audience began clapping in time.

C’est Si Bon, an unqualified gem, they were really enjoying this. Bob’s piano sounded like a rippling waterfall. The front line took turns on various duets, trumpet and trombone, clarinet and drum, tuba and banjo. Nice!

Jim began another soft melodic vocal on Basin St. Blues. Bob changed the tempo into ¾ time on piano, before the band kicked it up into double time.

Eli called up Carolyn Newberger with an instrument usually associated with woman’s work, the washboard. But this woman is an accomplished, prize winning artist; she was busy sketching pictures of the band until now. At one time she was a First Grade teacher who put hubby Eli through Medical School.

The tune was Don’t Forget to Mess Around When You’re Doing the Charleston. (Mess Around was the name of a dance in the 20’s.)

Carolyn’s enthusiasm stirred Bob Winter into a piano/washboard duet. Nowhere else are you going to hear anything like this!!

Bo put heart and soul into his vocal into Louis’s Wonderful World, closing on trumpet with an exuberant high note.

The whole evening was such a pleasure no one wanted it to end, but we were already on overtime. They closed with a philosophical contemplation, with only Bob on piano and Jimmy banjo and vocal, You’ll Never Walk Alone.

They’ll be back again with another evening of Traditional jazz on the first Thursday of next month, September 4^th, just after Labor Day. Join us for some revitalizing Classic Jazz!

New England Traditional Jazz Plus

Swing, Traditional Jazz, Dixieland Jazz, Big Bands

Tag Archives: Eli Newberger

Eli and The Hot Six at Primavera, January 14, 2016

My apologies for the quality of the photos –
I borrowed my son’s camera and didn’t
know how to use it. Many thanks to Sarah
for her help in making it useable!! Marce

Eli’s Hot Six celebrate his 75th Birthday at Scullers

Eli and The Hot Six at Primavera, November 19, 2015

Eli and The Hot Six at Primavera, August 20, 2015

Eli & The Hot Six + Rebecca Sullivan at Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield

Eli & The Hot Six with Rebecca Sullivan at Primavera Ristorante February 26, 2015

Eli & The Hot Six LIVE, Contemporary Classic JAZZ

TRACK LISTING

Eli’s All Stars at the Sherborn Inn, October 2, 2014 – Final for 2014

Eli’s All-Stars at the Sherborn Inn, 4 September 2014

Eli’s All-Stars at the Sherborn Inn, August 7, 2014

My apologies for the quality of the photos – I borrowed my son’s camera and didn’t know how to use it. Many thanks to Sarah for her help in making it useable!! Marce

My apologies for the quality of the photos –
I borrowed my son’s camera and didn’t
know how to use it. Many thanks to Sarah
for her help in making it useable!! Marce