Dan Gabel’s High Society Orchestra at Primavera Ristorante, August 25, 2016

Posted on August 27, 2016 by admin

Dan Gabel’s High Society Orchestra

Personnel:

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, on Please.

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!

Check them out just below The Abletones schedule at http://www.theabletones.com/Dan_Gabel_and_The_Abletones/Upcoming_Events.html

Marce

Wolverine Jazz Band at Heritage of Sherborn, August 23, 2016

Posted on August 25, 2016 by admin

Wolverine Jazz Band

Jeff Hughes cornet, John Clark clarinet/tenor and baritone sax, Tom Boates trombone, Ross Petot piano, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Dave Didriksen drums

The Wolves were elated to return to the former Sherborn Inn, now known as The Heritage of Sherborn. They first played here in 1998. They played with lyricism and passion! It was a full house, with their many fans returning and happy to hear them again.

The seating has been changed, with the band set up in the right hand corner of the “T”, now playing directly to the 50+ listeners in what was the dead-end left corner. No problem hearing the band now!! This was taken during the break from what had been the ‘dead end’ left corner of the “T”. Our ‘music family’ was getting re-acquainted.

picture from rear of room showing tables and people talking

New Seating arrangement

The viewing tables inside the front door were replaced with a very active bar, and a tall table with tall chairs just inside the door, and a fine dance floor.

tall table to left, bar to right, shiny wooden dance floor in front

inside the front door

The Front Line was HOT right from the beginning, with At Sundown

Front Line: John Clark, Jeff Hughes, Tom Boates

Canal St. Blues is an old war horse, with Tom Boates’ growling trombone. He was just back from a well deserved vacation in Florida. He’s been teaching music for 40 years! He’ll be back at Guilford CT High School.

Jimmy was featured with a tune done by the Blue Steele & His Orchestra, in 1927, Sugar Babe I’m Leaving. John took out the baritone sax. RaeAnn video taped this with the Wolverines on November 7, 2015 at the 26th Annual Arizona Classic Jazz Society in Chandler AZ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWVjyTqKv28

Jimmy has a wealth of tunes and introduced one to the band this week, pianist Joe Robichaux’s 1933 After Me The Sun Goes Down.

Once In a While was a barn-buster! It’s on their new CD. They slowed down for a tune of Jeff’s choice, he picked Django’s Nuage, ending in a flamboyant cornet coda.

John and Gisela Brunaccini took advantage of the dance floor for the 1931 Pop tune, Strangers, and for the first blues ever recorded, Memphis Blues – nice fox trot. They’re in their 90’s and fabulous dancers.

John and Gisela Brunaccinis

Jimmy sang the vocal, Rick’s tuba had a great solo on Sunset Café Stomp. John took out the tenor sax for Robin’s Nest with Jimmy Scatting. John was still in good form from playing Sunday Brunch at the Griswold Inn Sunday with the 90-year-old Bob Card and The Freight Train Five, where they also played On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.

The Wolverines recorded Wolverine Blues on their first CD, without a trombone, because John hadn’t found one good enough. Tom Boates definitely has filled in that gap!

Jimmy Mazzy has been playing almost every night with one band or another. Last Sunday he was with the New Orleans Trio on the Jazz Boat up and down the Cape Cod Canal. There’s only one cruise left this year, folks – September 4th. They board at 1:15pm.

Jimmy Mazzy and Dave Didriksen

Behind Jimmy is drummer Dave Didriksen, who has been with John Clark for years. Dave Didriksen knows his Jazz, and is booking Ken’s Steak House every Sunday afternoon 4pm starting in September. Ken’s Steak House

Rick MacWillliams

He and Rick MacWilliams have lead the rhythm section for John Clark ever since he started here in New England.

Rick leads the Commonwealth Jazz Band that includes John Clark or Noel Kaletsky on reeds and Jimmy Mazzy banjo and vocals.

There was a request for Let Me Call You Sweetheart, The Wolves played it in Dixieland style like the Halfway House orchestra in 1927. (They were named after a dance hall called the Halfway House that was halfway between New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.)

Robin’s Nest was in remembrance of Sir Charles Thompson, a jazz pianist of supple power who bridged the swing and bebop eras. He died June 16 at age 98.

John Clark sings too

John sang a rambunctious Happy Feet, from the 1929 King Of Jazz (named for Paul Whitman.)

Tom Boates gives it 150%

Tom sings on the new CD, Now & Then, Hello Central, Give Me Dr. Jazz, with Jeff adding some cornet vibrato.

Jeff uses strange mute

A slow bluesy blues had many names, they stuck with Audrey, banjo intro, tenor sax, trombone, cornet muted with a wine glass.

Ross Petot, widely known and respected pianist

Ross Petot is an essential part of this band, playing his excellent stride piano. He was featured on a WILD Birmingham Breakdown. John on bari sax. CineDevine recorded it at the 2013 Hot Steamed Jazz Festival.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iabyXz3ODM

John blew us away on bari sax!

John returned to tenor sax with Jimmy Singing September in The Rain, Tom’s trombone sneaking in a bit of In My Solitude. They inspire each other; when they get together it’s magic!!

They closed with dynamic solos on an exciting, freewheeling, Strutting With Some Barbecue. Fabulous!

The Wolverine Jazz Band and its individual members will be kept busy next year, including many festivals. We try to keep up with them, but it isn’t easy!! Their Gatsby Weekend on Star Island off Portsmouth NH Aug 27-28 is sold out!
Keep an eye out for them on our Calendars at nejazz.com.

Their new CD, Now & Then is out. Number 14? It has some tunes they recorded in the past, including a couple from 1998!

Now & Then

You can get them wherever John or the Wolverines appear, or at their website.

For their appearances, keep an eye on our Calendars at www.nejazz.com.

Eli and The Hot Five at Primavera Ristorante, July 21, 2016

Posted on July 22, 2016 by admin

Eli and The Hot Five

Bob Winter keyboard, Eli Newberger tuba, Jimmy Mazzy banjo, Bob Tamagni drums, Bo Winiker trumpet, Herb Gardner trombone.

Jimmy Mazzy and Eli Newberger have performed together for years.

Jimmy opened singing a beautiful melody, C’est Ci Bon; he was right – this evening was SO good!

He and Eli later played the banjo’s National Anthem, The World is Waiting for the Sunshine – they’ve done this often with The Tuber Trio.

Eli standing next to Bob playing keyboard with him

Eli and Bob

Eli joined Bob on Sentimental Journey for amazing four-handed piano.

Bob Tamagni, teaches drumming at Berklee

Bob Tamagni is a unique drummer, capable of interweaving beautiful melody on drums. especially when he let loose on Sentimental Journey.

Bob with right arm way up high over keyboard

This isn’t the Boston Pops – Bob winter explodes on a fast Sing, Sing a Song, You could have heard a pin drop when he played sweet and soft on Duke’s Sophisticated Lady.

Bo, sporting a big smiel, at mic holding trumpet and handkerchief

Bo Winiker

Bo sings Louis’s Wonderful World.

He was featured on Lady Be Good on sublime muted trumpet, then trading 4’s on open bell with Eli on tuba. They do have fun!

He takes out a smokey flugelhorn when backing vocals.

Herb Gardner

Herb played and sang Walking Stick — tribute to the cane he’s not using anymore since he broke his hip in March.

He’s playing in MANY bands, here and in New York!

Elaine Woo

Elaine Woo is a spitfire on vocals, singing down and dirty on Route 66. She also sang Billie Holiday’s Getting Some Fun Out of Life, a sweet Embraceable You, and It Might as Well Be Spring. She joined Carolyn later.

Carolyn joins Hot Five for Washboard Round-o-lay.

…..and we loved Miami Rhumba!

Carolyn and Elaine brought the house down on Darktown Strutters Ball.

These world-class musicians really enjoy playing together every chance they get.
We really missed our favorite tenor sax, Ted Casher, and look forward to hearing him again.

It was a fun, unforgettable evening!! Hopefully, Eli and The Hot Six will be back August 18th. See you there?? Mark your calendars!

Marce

Dixie Diehards at Primavera Ristorante May 12, 2016

Posted on May 14, 2016 by admin

Dixie Diehards

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.

Check out their web site: http://dixiediehards./com

Videos:
Dixie Diehards play Strutting With Some Barbecue at the Blackstone River Theatre https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6axfHxdKjSE

San at the Roarin’ 20’s show at the Marion Art Center https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7F1RzjNE_g

Jeff’s Jazz Jesters at Primavera Ristorante April 28, 2016

Posted on May 6, 2016 by admin

Jeff’s Jazz Jesters

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.

Sarah singing with Hughes on trumpet behind her

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!

Marce

Wolverine Jazz Band at Primavera April 21, 2016

Posted on April 23, 2016 by admin

by Marce

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’.

four fans at front table (minus me) listening to Band

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!

trombone, trumpet, Jimmy banjo and Clark clarinet

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 behind big Tuba set on chair between his thighs

Rick MacWilliams pushes the chords.

Jim playing banjo and singing backed by tuba

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.

Eli and The Hot Six with Elaine Woo and Sarah Nova at Primavera Ristorante, April 14, 2016

Posted on April 20, 2016 by admin

Eli and The Hot Six

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 on washboard, the band, and Elaine Woo singing

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.

Sarah singing with Herb on front line playing 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 with trumpet in the air holding a large handkerchief

Bo Winiker conjures up Louis Armstrong

Bo Winiker was featured on What a Wonderful World, playing trumpet and evoking Louis Armstrong with his vocal.

looks like a piece of cork near the clarinet's mouth piece

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 3^rd Thursday of the month. Spread the word and mark your calendars!

Check out their CD:
Eli & The Hot Six LIVE, Contemporary Classic Jazz $17 Purchase

Dave Whitney Big Band at Ken’s Steak House, April 3rd 2016

Posted on April 8, 2016 by admin

14-pc Big Band, 4 saxes, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones, guitar/vocalist, piano, string bass, drum

Dave Whitney Big Band

By Marce
Videos by Harold McAleer

Saxophones
Lou Stamas alto sax
John Clark tenor sax/clarinet
Bob Drukman alto sax
Ted Casher tenor sax/clarinet

Trumpets
Dave Whitney, leader
Joe Musumeci
Jeff Hughes
Gary Bohan

Trombones
Scott Hill
Mike Strauss

Guitar: Karen Quatromoni,
Piano Steve Dale,
Bass Dave LeBleu,
Drums Reid Jorgensen

Because of two bands playing at the same time, we arrived late – just in time to catch a memorable arrangement of Duke Ellington/Juan Tizol’s straightahead swing of Perdido.

Dave Whitney started the second set with a Dixie Band, playing a superb Dixieland arrangement of Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of My Jelly Roll..

Dixie Band

He continued with a tune from Louis’s Hot 5, Struttin’ With Some Barbeque.
Harold McAleer took a break from videotaping to enjoy a dance with Sue Lewis.

Georgia on my Mind had a unique beginning, with just Dave’s trumpet and LeBleu’s string bass. Dave LeBleu has been with this Big Band since it’s inception and consistently offers up an earthy tone, flawless intonation, and fluid finger work. Joe Musumeci has been with the band close to 20 years and is now lead trumpeter.

John Clark was on hot clarinet for Fletcher Henderson’s Stealing Apples, with Steve Dale on piano and Jeff Hughes trumpet.

Karen Quatronomi

The Band’s new vocalist, Karen Quatromoni gives an indomitable singing performance, with clear voice reminiscent of Anita O’Day. Her vocal on East of the Sun was followed by fine solos. She aced the Benny Goodman arrangement with Peggy Lee, Let’s Do It, and Johnny Mercer’s Harlem Butterfly.

Ted Casher was on clarinet for Karen’s version of You Turned The Tables on Me.

The band continued with Harry James & His Band, The Music Makers, with a tune of the same name, featuring the saxophone section. Lou Stamas led on alto sax with Moment to Moment.

Sax leader Lou Stamas

Keeping them on their toes, Whitney pulled a switch on the group with Les & Larry Elgart’s Paradise.

This was John Clark’s birthday weekend, and he had the good fortune of fulfilling an item on his ‘Bucket List’, playing tenor sax with our living legend, Ted Casher. Lionel Hampton’s Flying Home was the highlight of this evening!!

Leader Dave Whitney

The Dave Whitney Big Band continued with Horace Henderson’s Big John Special that Benny Goodman played at his Carnegie Hall Concert, with Dave’s majestic trumpet and John Clark’s rich and mellow clarinet.

Billie Eckstein’s Band did Blues For Sale; Chris Powers wrote it. Dave gave the band extra solos and completed it with his own fine vocal.

Will Hudson, Eddie De Lange’s Sophisticated Swing was popular in the 1930’s, Jimmy Dorsey had nothing on this band!

Mike Strauss was featured on trombone on an up-tempo, bouncy swing from the postwar Les Brown orchestra, Lover’s Leap.

Time for some fun – with Karen and Dave singing together on Daddy. This was Bobby Troup’s first hit in 1941, done by The Sammy Kaye Orchestra.

Dave and Karen duet on “Daddy”

Dave makes good use of the musicians – Stomping at the Savoy featured John Clark on clarinet, Gary Bohan trumpet, and Steve Dale piano.

The Rhythm Boys were tucked into the right corner. Dave LeBleu string bass, Steve Dale piano, and Reid Jorgensen drums are the foundation of the Dave Whitney Big Band.

The Rhythm Boys

They wound up this fabulous evening with their closing theme, a Steve Dale arrangement, nice and slow, with Dave Whitney’s trumpet on Pete Kelly’s Blues.

Dave made this a 14-piece Big Band for a reason – like Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw, it’s all about SWING! Their next gig is Sunday June 5th 1-3pm at Canobie Lake Park, 85 N Policy St, Salem, NH 03079.

Marce

Jack Soref Trio at Primavera Ristorante, February 25, 2016

Posted on February 25, 2016 by admin

by Peter Gerler

Jack Soref Trio, Jack, Greg Toro, Jameson Stuart

Millis, MA, 2/25/16. This lovely town is a schlep from where I live in Newton. On a cold February night, it took a solid hour to get to Primavera restaurant, where the young gypsy jazz guitarist Jack Soref brought his trio to play for an appreciative audience of perhaps 18 people. But let it be said: Jack’s not in it for recognition. He’s in it for the tradition.

“Gypsy jazz” appeared in the world largely through the genius of the French guitarist Jean “Django” Reinhardt, whose iconic sound parallels that of Louis Armstrong in American jazz. (Django wept when he first heard Armstrong. “He was like a large animal, mute and dazed in the blaze of the sun,” a colleague recalled.)

Interestingly, the word “tradition” usually evokes older, simpler styles—folk and roots music, country melodies, even the old brass band marches. In the case of gypsy jazz, the prognosis is denser. To play it right, you have to practically begin as a virtuoso.

The best players are of European manouche extraction. They grew up with it, around the caravans. There was dancing, which fueled the rhythm. Whereas American folk-music guitarists might first learn a simple G chord, youthful gypsy players sought to articulate Django’’s lightning-fast, intricate melodies with full, complete tone. Sort of like being born as Jascha Heifetz. Or as Sisyphus.

Jack Soref on custom made Grande Bouche guitar

Jack, a Wisconsinite, dove right in. Graduated from Berklee, started hanging with European itinerants, moved to France in order to live and play with them. (He still wears their weird pointed shoes.)

It’s a reversal: when American jazz came around with its je-ne-sais-quoi swing, the world turned toward New Orleans and Chicago. Django and his cohort even pulled inspiration from the seminal American guitarist Eddie Lang. Today, American “gypsy” players model themselves after the Parisians.

also made by luthier Dan Hunt of Worcester

Jameson Stuart on custom made Petite Bouche guitar

Greg Toro on double bass

Soref’s trio is well on their way up the mountain. Their set swelled with standards from both sides of the pond—Dream of You, Sweet Georgia Brown, Menilmontant, Coquette--played with musicality and adventure.

On Valse Jacek, listeners were practically delivered to European soil. On All Of Me, (“Take my lips, I want to lose them”), Jack’s guitar whined, “Take me already!” The rhythm guitarist Jameson Stewart and the bassist Greg Toro held down a strong foundation.

All of Me

On Nuages, the veteran swing vocalist Mollie Malone sat in, singing in rippling French with ache, regret, and hope.

The last decade has seen a flowering of Django’s legacy, with bands and festivals popping up internationally. (It comes alongside the current resurgence of swing dance among Millennials.) In any case, the music has its addicts, young and old, whose life goal is to reincarnate as Django. They talk incessantly of altered chords and alternate fingers, and of their guitars, many of which they custom-order hand-made. But it’s not so much the technique: they have heard the downstage, ringing pompe of Django Reinhardt.

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Photos and Videos by Marce

Swing Times Five with Debby Larkin at Ken’s Steak House, February 21, 2016

Posted on February 21, 2016 by admin

Swing Times Five – Dave Didriksen, Dan Weiner, Bob Sinicrope, Jeff Hughes, Ross Petot

Jeff Hughes cornet/flugelhorn, Dan Weiner guitar, Ross Petot piano, Bob Sinicrope string bass, Dave Didriksen drums, Debby Larkin vocals.

This is an unusual combination of instruments for playing Swing, but SWING they did, just as well as any big band!! They captivated the crowd by rekindling fond memories, starting with their theme song, When Lights Are Low, with Jeff on cornet. His rhythmic concept on cornet and flugelhorn lifted the whole band. He moved to flugelhorn for a Johnny Mercer tune, Dream.

Debby Larkin

Vocalist Debby Larkin sings with authority, good voice and knows just the right style, whether singing a rousing number or a ballad. She sang many Frank Loesser tunes, If I Were a Bell, Everything But You. Slow Boat to China was a rouser! Billie Holiday’s Moanin’ Low; an all-time favorite All Of Me, upbeat and swinging; even Tommy Dorsey’s Opus One. She shook things up with the satirical Everything I’ve Got Belongs To You, looking at hubby Jeff Stout, sitting at a front table.

Singing I Fall In Love Too Easily, she was backed by Jeff Hughes on dark, smokey flugelhorn. They charmed the audience, many of whom were seniors nostalgically reconnecting the music to memories of their youth.

Jeff on flugelhorn, with Sinitrope in background

Jeff Hughes on silky smooth flugelhorn

Jeff left the audience spellbound with incredible intonation on Jerome Kern’s I’m Old Fashioned, ending with a virtuosic coda. Perfect! People will remember this one for a long time!

Ross looking down at keys playing Yamaha piano

Ross Petot

Ross Petot is a great performer of Gerschwins, he was featured on Of Thee I Sing, and referring to the current political season, Who Cares? He performs unceasing rhythmic motion on the fine Yamaha piano. He picked an odd one, All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm, backed by Dan Weiner’s fingers floating across the guitar.

Dan Weiner on swinging guitar

Dan was featured on Lullaby of The Leaves, dazzling guitar, fingers flying; his spontaneity is very much representative of the swing era.

They picked many tunes from the American Song Book:
Dorothy Fields/Jimmy McHugh Doing The New Lowdown
Julie Stein’s It’s You Or No One.
Sammy Cahn’s I’m Falling in Love.
Sinatra’s All The Way
Irving Berlin’s A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody
Cole Porter’s I’ve Got You Under My Skin

John and Gisela love to dance, and this is their kind of music! They had a family reunion with their three daughters. John persuaded one of them to dance.

couple in their 90's dancing up a storm!

John and Gisela Bruneccini

John and one of his daughters

John and Gisela and four adult daughters

John and Gisela Bruneccini Family

Bob Sinicrope

George Gershwin’s They Can’t Take That Away From Me gave Bob a solo, playing melody on upper register.

Bob Sinicrope’s string bass gave support and richness that moved the music along. Bob is head of the Jazz Program at Milton Academy, and an old friend of Jeff’s.

Dave Didriksen

Dave Didriksen is a fine drummer, softly brushing across cymbals and snare drum behind solos; he lets the soloists shine. He finally let loose on Frank Loesser’s The Lady’s In Love With You, showing he can romp with the best of them. (He also manages the band and it’s website www.swingtimesfive.com and books all the dates at Ken’s Steak House.)

They closed with the band and Jeff’s flugelhorn softly backing Debby on Sky Lark. Magnificent! Taking an “Exit Poll” – everyone said this was one of the best music they’ve heard!

The Swing Spirit continues to thrive with the unique Swing Times Five and vocalist Debby Larkin. We hope to hear more from them! Check out their great Swing CD, Raincheck; email Dave Didriksen at info@swingX5.com.

New England Traditional Jazz Plus

Swing, Traditional Jazz, Dixieland Jazz, Big Bands

Tag Archives: What to do

Dan Gabel’s High Society Orchestra at Primavera Ristorante, August 25, 2016

Wolverine Jazz Band at Heritage of Sherborn, August 23, 2016

Eli and The Hot Five at Primavera Ristorante, July 21, 2016

Dixie Diehards at Primavera Ristorante May 12, 2016

Jeff’s Jazz Jesters at Primavera Ristorante April 28, 2016

Wolverine Jazz Band at Primavera April 21, 2016

Eli and The Hot Six with Elaine Woo and Sarah Nova at Primavera Ristorante, April 14, 2016

Dave Whitney Big Band at Ken’s Steak House, April 3rd 2016

Jack Soref Trio at Primavera Ristorante, February 25, 2016

Swing Times Five with Debby Larkin at Ken’s Steak House, February 21, 2016