Tag Archives: Jim Mazzy

Eli and The Hot Six at Primavera Ristorante, March 16, 2017

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7 piece contemporary classic jazz band

Eli and The Hot Six: Bo Winiker trumpet/flugelhorn, Ted Casher clarinet/tenor sax, Herb Gardner trombone, Bob Winter keys, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Eli Newberger leader/tuba, Bob Tamagni drums, Elaine Wu and Watson Reid vocals.

(by Marce. Click on pictures to see enlargements.)

The Hot Six play contemporary, classic jazz, joining the present with the glorious past. They kicked it off with sparkling spontaneity on At The Jazz Band Ball, a tune by Nick LaRocca, cornetist with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.  (They were the first to record a commercial jazz recording 100 years ago.)

Tiny Elaine looking up at Watson, both singing their hearts out

Elaine Wu and Watson Reid

 

 

Vocalists Watson Reid and Elaine Wu (two doctors, no waiting)  came up complaining about the weather with Baby, It’s Cold Outside.  

 

 

We never get enough of the heartfelt Jimmy Mazzy vocals and unique one-string banjo,  tonight singing You’re Nobody Sweetheart Now and There’ll Be Some Changes Made.

Jimmy with Eli and Tamagni

The Amazing Jimmy Mazzy – one of a kind – and we have him here!

Elaine singing, left hand up in the air, Ted on tenor sax

Elaine Wu with Ted Casher

 

Elaine sang Lullaby of Birdland with Ted backing her on tenor sax.  She also graced us with  I’ve Got You Under My Skin, and I’ve Got The World on a String – and she does.  She’ll be retiring from Medicine soon and singing full time!

 

 

 

Bob completely absorbed in playing keyboard

Bob Winter

 

 

 

Bob winter gets absorbed in Irving Berlin’s How Deep is the Ocean. He creates soaring melodies with much musical sophistication.

 

 

 

drummer has stick crossed above the snare drum, making a weird face

 

 

 

Ultra-tight all-star assembly on The Sheik of Araby, propelled by Bob Tamagni’s drumming.

 

Eli on antique engraved tuba

Eli Newberger

 

 

 

They continued with one of our favorites, Limehouse Blues.

Bob began it with an incredible piano intro, then a Herb & Bo duet moved it to double time, Bob Winter was amazing, backing them using only his left hand.

Eli added fine tuba solo.

Waitress holds cake while she blows out candles

Jeannine is surprised with a birthday cake.

 

 

 

 

Overtime, the Fans here have become one big Family.  Tonight there was a birthday cake for ‘regular’ Jeannine James.  It was a complete surprise.

 

 

 

Bo holding handkerchief and smiling like Louis Armstrong

Bo Winiker plays Louis. Sings in his own voice, not imitating Louis.

 

 

We welcomed Bo Winiker back with his powerful trumpet.  He grew up in Millis and many of his friends were here to welcome him back.  He dedicated Louis’s Wonderful World to the Harkey family.

 

 

 

Herb playing trombone with Ted on clarinet

Herb Gardner, back from playing hot spots in NY.

 

 

Herb was featured singing and playing You’re Driving Me Crazy,  nobody plays trombone like Herb Gardner!

 

 

 

A smiing Carolyn with Eli and Tamagni in back

Caroline’s flying spoons on washboard.

 

 

Carolyn Newberger joined the band with a rousing  Washboard Roundolay.

 

 

 

 

smiling and singing into mic

Watson Reid

 

 

Watson Reid surprised is with the complete verses of Bill Baily.  There were so many, we didn’t even recognize the song until the band started the chorus.

With ensemble backing him he also entertained us with Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.

 

 

 

When this infectious music gets to your feet, you can’t sit still!  Six of us just had to get up and dance!

6 women dancing in a circle

We just couldn’t sit still!!  This was so much fun!                              Photo by Harkey.

eyes closed, concentrating on playing

Ted on gut-wrenching tenor sax

 

 

 

Ted Casher played Blue and Sentimental with marvelous subtones on gut-wrenching tenor sax   Thank you, Ted!

 

 

 

Bo took over with an Ellington tune,  Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me, with smokey flugelhorn.   Bob Winter was asked to play something.   He surprised us with Angry, creating chordal subtleties and melodies. The Hot Six closed this delightful evening with Ida, published in 1903.

There is nothing like this anywhere else; we had such fun! This music is so uplifting; weeks later we were still glowing.  They will be back here April 20th.  Join us!

Wolverine Jazz Band at the Sherborn Inn, November 4, 2014

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Terrific 7-pc Traditional Jazz Band

John Clark’s Wolverine Jazz Band

Jeff Hughes trumpet, John Clark reeds, Tom Boates trombone, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo/vocals, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums

The Wolves were in rare form, back from a six-hour recording the previous day on their latest CD, #13.  They’re on their way to the Arizona Jazz Classic Festival this weekend.  They practiced on us, playing early New Orleans music with fiery enthusiasm – How LUCKY are WE????   They were asked to play King Oliver tunes at the Arizona Jazz Classic Festival, and we heard many of them, plus other tunes from the 20’s and 30’s, with original arrangements by John Clark.

They started Hot and Heavy with Michigander Blues, and a joyous New Orleans Stomp.  A tune Bix Beiderbecke did with Frankie Trumbauer, There’ll Come a Time. 

Tom Boates was featured on Snake Rag, a King Oliver tune that is always a big request.  We only get to hear Tom once a month – the lucky folks at Bill’s Seafood in Westbrook Connecticut hear him every Friday with the Bill’s Seafood All-Stars.  Boates sang the vocal on St. James Infirmary Blues, alternating choruses with each of the musicians.  Nice touch.  He closed with a growling trombone and drawn-out flourish.

Trombone, trumpet, and clarinet

Front line, featuring Tom Boates, with Jeff Hughes trumpet and John Clark clarinet

Jimmy on banjo and singing

Jimmy Mazzy doesn’t use arrangements.

 

 

Jimmy had many vocals (We never get enough of them!) All from memory.  Just Pretending, which is seldom played by any other band.  The Halfway House Orchestra did some self-loathing tunes, I Hate Myself for Loving You and I Hate Myself For Being So Mean To You.   John took out the baritone for that one.

 

 

 

Mother and Daughter dancing

Rita Brochu and Kathleen Howland

Another King Oliver tune, Olga, nice dance tune, then a romping New Orleans tune Buddy’s Habit.   Another K.O. tune that Louis played with his Hot Five, Sunset Café Stomp, got Kathleen Howland up and dancing with her Mom, Rita Brochu.   It was Kathleen’s birthday.  Dr. Howland is a teacher of Music Therapy, both in private practice and at several schools, and plays one heck of a baritone sax!   Special request for Kathleen, one of Jimmy’s favorite depression songs, Dip Your Brush in the Sunshine had everybody up dancing.

 

Betty Weaver requested a song from John Clark, and he obliged with The Oceana Roll, a popular RagTime tune written in 1911 about the U.S. Navy and the USS Alabama:
“Billy Mccoy was a musical boy
On the Cruiser Alabama he was there at the piana
Like a fish down in the sea, he would rattle off some harmony.”    Never gets dull!!

Clark singing with trumpet and piano in backgrund

John Clark sings The Oceana Roll

Jimmy was asked to lead on a K.O. tune, I’m Lonesome Sweetheart, powerful trombone pushing the band.   Someday Sweetheart, another Jimmy vocal, gave Rick MacWilliams a chance to shine on tuba.   We haven’t heard Chimes Blues in ten years, it was fabulous, with Ross Petot playing the chimes on piano.

tuba and piano

Rick MacWilliams and Ross Petot, fabulous rhythm section

Excellent drummer Dave Didriksen completes the rhythm section, keeping time with rim tapping on snare drum and cymbals.

Dave tapping on snare drum rims

Dave Didriksen

Their final tune, a sizzling Panama, was recorded by Kid Ory’s Creole Jazz Band.  The Sherborn Inn furnished some Pyrotechnics:

We’ve been so fortunate to listen to this dynamic Wolverine Jazz Band from its inception,  They celebrate their 19th anniversary next month.

We don’t mind sharing them with the folks in Arizona!  Enjoy!

 

Williams Reunion Jazz Band at Opening of the Bay, Snug Harbor, Duxbury MA 2014

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7-pc Dixieland Band

Williams Reunion Dixieland Jazz Band at Opening of the Bay May 23-25 2014

The Williams Reunion Jazz Band was born on New England college campuses in the 1950’s when Dixieland was alive and well and “runnin’ wild”.  Band members now include four Williams College boys: Bob Kingsbury ’58 on clarinet; Fred Clifford ’58 on Tuba; Tom Hayne ’59 on Drums and features: John Halsey ’59 on Piano who is a PhD, teacher and a featured pro in NYC having played with all of the greats in Jazz.

Three permanent guests from Amherst, Bates and U. Mass are: John Bucher who for 25 years led the Woody Allen Band at Michael’s Pub in NYC and plays a wonderful Beiderbecke/Hackett style; Jimmy Mazzy on Banjo who is well known to everybody, and Tom Boates on trombone who plays in the style of Jack Teagarden and Miff Mole and is featured with the Wolverine Jazz Band.

The WRJB name goes back to 1983 when, at a formal jazz concert in Williams College Chapin Hall, the seven first played together.  Through the years, their reputation in Williamstown has blossomed into a year ’round schedule of performances at private parties, country clubs, weddings, church masses, jazz festivals, jazz cruises, and special events across the USA.

The band returns every Memorial Day weekend to Duxbury MA for the Duxbury Bay Maritime Academy’s “Opening of the Bay”, their 17th this year.  Friday night’s GALA was Traditional Jazz, cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres and Island Creek Oyster reception under the tent, and Dixieland Jazz.

Duxbury Bay Maritime Academy

Duxbury Bay Maritime Academy

Saturday afternoon is family day, with face painting, balloon animals, vendors, food and drinks.  It was a New England cold, damp day.  We caught the Williams Reunion Dixieland Jazz Band under the tent on the deck by the Bay.

Jimmy banjo vocals

The inimitable Jimmy Mazzy

 

 

 

They opened with a lively Dr. Jazz, Jimmy vocal and banjo – Jimmy Mazzy has a unique hold on the bridge that allows him to make sounds like no one else!

 

 

 

Boates’ powerful trombone opened My Honey’s Loving Arms.  Ensemble took the intro to Rose Room, followed by engaging personal solos first by clarinet, then cornet, trombone, banjo, piano.

Kingsbury on clarinet

Bob Kingsbury, leader, clarinet

 

 

 

Kingsbury’s clarinet started with the verse on W. C. Handy’s Hesitation Blues; ensemble parts twining around each other leading to a Jimmy Mazzy hearty shout.  They played a final chorus, Hayne closing with a cymbal CRASH!

 

 

Tom Boates plays Kid Ory's

Tom Boates plays Kid Ory’s Creole Trombone

 

 

 

Tom Boates is always featured on Kid Ory’s Creole Trombone, no matter what band he’s in. We hope he never gets tired of playing it because we never get tired of hearing his magnificent growling trombone!

 

 

 

 

Memphis Blues was a soft wistful blues, clarinet playing high over the whole ensemble, cornet and piano building long, melodic solos. Jimmy’s scatting was more like a soft moaning,

Bucher on cornet

John Bucher, Bix-style cornet

John Halsey

John Halsey rippled up and down the keyboard.
Fred Clifford

Fred Clifford

 

 

 

They revved it up with S’Wonderful, nice low register clarinet start, Jimmy singing ballad, marvelous Bucher cornet, tuba holding long notes.  Clifford is the band’s rhythmic engine.  Banjo solo was backed by drum softly tapping cymbal and snare drum.

 

 

Let Me Call You Sweetheart, clarinet, cornet, piano played melody, with trombone counterpoint accents.  Kingsbury moved over to Boates for a wonderful trombone/clarinet duet.

Tom Hayne on drum

Tom Hayne drives the band with his Dixieland Beat

 

 

At The Jazz Band Ball was explosive, with great New Orleans polyphony, then they let Tom Hayne go wild on drums.

 

 

 

 

 

Their music has a joyful, timeless spirit.  It all ended too soon, but there was a cold wind blowing in from the Bay and they were glad to pack up and move on.

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WRJB did a week in Florida again this year, what they call “Spring Training”, with five appearances, one in Ponte Vedra, three in Vero Beach and finished at the Bath and Tennis Club in Palm Beach. And they just finished their annual Boston/Duxbury weekend with six appearances ranging from the Somerset Club in Boston to the South Shore Conservatory, First Parish Church and Winsor House in Duxbury. Then a full Reunion weekend in Williamstown from June 13-15 capped by a private party in Bretton Woods, NH.

The Williams Reunion Jazz Band plays some excellent, authentic Traditional Jazz.
Try some of their many CDs.