the strutter - tri-state jazz · pdf file3 the core band (see above personnel) was lucky to...
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The StrutterTraditional Jazz in the Philadelphia Tri-State Area
The Strutter is published by Tri-State Jazz Society, Inc. - P.O. Box 896 - Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 1
AUGUST 2017VOLUME 28 NUMBER 2
OUR NEXT CONCERTGalvanized Jazz Band
In This IssueLooking Ahead.................Page 2Tri-State All-Stars Review.....Page 2Midiri Sextet Review.........Page 4Concert Schedules………….. Page 6
Concert Admissions$10 First-time attendees and Members
$20 General AdmissionHigh school/college students with ID andchildren with paying adult admitted free
Pay at the door
Sunday, July 30, 20172:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Haddonfield United Methodist Church29 Warwick Road
Haddonfield, NJ 08033Directions at
http://www.tristatejazz.org/directions-haddonfield.html
Photo by Galvanized Jazz Band
The Galvanized Jazz Band, led by cornetist FredVigorito since 1971, makes its long-awaited Tri-State debut in Haddonfield. This dynamic group ofConnecticut musicians is devoted to the energeticperformance of hot Dixieland, New Orleans jazz,blues, rags, stomps, struts, spirituals, swing, andclassic popular songs from the past century. Themembers who make up this energetic band arephenomenal musicians individually, with countlessyears of performing, recording, and touringexperience. For over 30 years the GJB has beenthrilling audiences of all ages.The Galvanized Jazz Band appears in this video of"Royal Garden Blues" from the 2014 Hot SteamedJazz Festival:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DFZwqJ8Qak
The band's website ishttp://www.galvanizedjazz.comBand PersonnelFred Vigorito - cornet, leaderJim Fryer - tromboneNoel Kaletsky - clarinet, saxophonesBill Sinclair - pianoArt Hovey - tuba, string bassJim Lawlor - drums
Cornetist Fred Vigorito has led the Galvanized JazzBand since 1971. He has been playing New OrleansJazz since 1963 when he joined Big BillBissonnette's Easy Rider Jazz Band. TrombonistJim Fryer is a featured performer in New York withthe Titan Hot Seven Jazz Band and VinceGiordano's Nighthawks. A Galvanized regular for26 years, reed man Noel Kaletsky is a full timemusician playing Jazz festivals throughout theworld and working regularly with the Bearcats JazzBand, and Red Lehr's St. Louis Rivermen. PianistBill Sinclair has an incredible feel for New Orleansjazz as it should be played, from the heart, withdeep meaning and poignant subtleties. Art Hoveyhas been active in traditional jazz for more than 50years. Jim Lawlor began playing drums aftermoving from Philadelphia to Atlantic City in 1979,just as the town was beginning its rise as the EastCoast gambling mecca.
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LOOKING AHEAD TO OURAUGUST 2017 CONCERT
TRI-STATE ALL-STARSCONCERT REVIEW
By Jim McGannPhotos by Paul Macatee & Jim McGann
On August 20, 2017, our concert will feature aRichard Dowling piano concert at the Wallingford,PA Community Arts Center.
Photo by Peter Schaaf
The classically-trained pianist and musicologistRichard Dowling, who celebrated the centennial ofScott Joplin’s death with a Carnegie Hall concertthis past April featuring the ragtime master’scomplete piano works (which he had previouslyrecorded in a 3-CD set) , makes his Tri-State debut.
Dowling, whose father’s family had strong ties toboth Philadelphia and Camden, is the first pianistto perform the complete cycle of Joplin's 53 rags,marches, waltzes and cakewalks in public.Throughout 2017 & 2018 he will perform over 60all-Joplin recitals nationwide in commemoration ofthe centennial of Joplin's death and thesesquicentennial of his birth. Veteran celebrityragtime pianist Max Morath says, "RichardDowling's mastery of the Joplin rags invokes atenderness that charms us and a technicalcommand that inspires our admiration."
On the Web:
Richard Dowling plays William Bolcom’s “GracefulGhost Rag” athttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwJ7DiHjfeU&list=RDBwJ7DiHjfeU
“Original Rags” by Scott Joplinhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTTk7K_slgg
The artist’s website ishttp://www.richard-dowling.com
Core band: Robert Rawlins, clarinet, soprano sax,C-Melody Sax; Randy Reinhardt, cornet; NancyRawlins, piano; Franny Smith, banjo, vocals; EdWise, string bass; Paul Midiri, drums andvibraphone
Guest Musicians: (in order of their appearance)Rod Anderson, tenor sax; Bill Nixon, violin; ChicBach, piano; Mack Given, clarinet; Larry Bortz,drums; Mary Lou Newnam, tenor sax and clarinet;Ward Marston, piano; Scott Ricketts, cornet;Christopher Davis-Shannon, banjolele and vocals;Michael Durkan, violin; Harry Salotti, tuba; LesElkins, trumpet; Tony Green, drums; JohnWessner, trombone; Skip Livingston, clarinet; BobFanelli, tenor sax; Selina Higgins, vocals; SuzanneGekker, clarinet; Joel Albert, drums
Here is a question to ponder - When did the firstjam session take place? Mezz Mezzrow thoughtthat the phenomenon evolved in the yearsfollowing World War I, when Jazz began to grow inpopularity, and he is probably correct. I oftenwondered what if such impromptu gatherings tookplace prior to jazz. Various cultures used primitiveinstrumentation to communicate and to celebraterites of passage, and in powdered wig andbreeches, Johann Sebastian Bach probably dazzleda small group of woodwind players with an off thecuff sonata. One can only imagine a jam sessionwith the likes of a Hector Berlioz or a Charles Ives.Something to ponder.
If quantity determines the success of a jam session,this 2017 Jam Session was a resounding victory.The bustling activity taking place reminded thisreviewer of the Charles Peterson photo essay, "LifeGoes To A Party," an August, 1939 gathering whereDuke Ellington, Cab Calloway, members of theirrespective bands, along with quite a few "ringers"(Hot Lips Page, J.C. Higginbotham, Bud Freeman,Eddie Condon, Billie Holiday) invaded thepenthouse apartment of political cartoonist BurrisJenkins for an all-out blowing session.
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The core band (see above personnel) was lucky toget one number in just by themselves. FrannySmith's vocals, fleeting soli from Bob Rawlins andRandy Reinhart, a few bass solos by Ed Wise, andPaul Midiri, on vibraphone were about the extent ofwhat the core band offered. That is the way itshould be at a jam session; the guests, themusicians sitting in, are the real stars.
This jam session was special for the number of newguest musicians, tenor saxists Rod Anderson, BobFanelli, trumpeter Les Elkins, banjolele-istChristopher Davis-Shannon, violinist MichaelDurkan, clarinetist Suzanne Gekker, and Big BerthaRhythm Kings trombonist John Wessner. I wasinformed that Nancy Rawlins was responsible forcoordinating all these talented people, and shedeserves a round of applause for her efforts.
Rod Anderson Bob Fanelli
Les Elkins, John Wessner, Joel Albert
Christopher Davis-Shannon, Michael Durkan, EdWise
The standout for me was pianist Ward Marston.Marston sat in with the band on "I Can't BelieveThat You're in Love With Me" and "Chinatown MyChinatown" but the real highlight was anintermission duet with violinist Bill Nixon on"Honeysuckle Rose" and "Rosetta." While the twowere playing a small group of onlookers werecheering them on. To complete such as a casualaffair, Franny Smith, still seated on the stage afterthe first set had concluded, vocalized on "I'mConfessin'" while accompanied by Scott Ricketts,seated in the audience, and off at the far corner,Harry Salotti.
Ward Marston
Ed Wise, Scott Ricketts, Mary Lou Newnam
Harry Salotti
This 2017 Jam Session seemed to capture the spiritof what a jam session should be. You rememberedthe impromptu gatherings, the surprise solo,musicians anxiously waiting to get back on stageand join in the fun. Yes, this jam session was asuccess.
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MIDIRI BROTHERS SEXTETCONCERT REVIEW
By Jim McGannThe Time: Monday, June 26, 2017, 7:30 p.m. to9:00 p.m. The Place: Moorestown CommunityHouse, Moorestown, NJ
The Band:Joe Midiri, clarinet, soprano, alto, and tenor saxPaul Midiri, vibraphone and drumsDan Tobias, trumpetJeff Philips, pianoPat Mercuri, amplified guitar and ukuleleJack Hegyi, string bassJim Lawlor, drums and vocals
It was a June Monday evening with rain in theforecast. Yet, in the front grounds of theMoorestown Country House, there was clear skywith a rising crescent moon. Great weather for ajazz concert.
The feature attraction was the Midiri BrothersSextet, with the familiar cast of Pat Mercuri onamplified guitar, Dan Tobias on trumpet, and JimLawlor on drums augmented with newcomers JeffPhilips on piano and somewhat newcomer JackHegyi on string bass. For an hour and a half, theseven piece "sextet" kept the Moorestown audience- dressed in summer attire and seated on makeshiftlawn furniture or picnic blankets - entertained.
Kicking off with a swinging version of "Seven,Come Eleven" while featuring fine soli by JoeMidiri on clarinet, Dan Tobias, and Pat Mercuri,the band got into a "Flying Home" groove behindPaul Midiri's vibes solo and continued until itsconclusion. "When I Grow Too Old To Dream,"was a dedication to Pat Mercuri who celebrated abirthday at this concert date. While the songimplies senior moments, the instrumentalistssuggest another song in their soli: "Young AtHeart." Joe Midiri's long intro, Tobias sprystatements, Paul Midiri's double-timing duringmost of his solo suggest something unaffected byage. Something timeless and relaxed.
Another gem was the two-tempo "Lover, ComeBack To Me." Beginning at a walking speed, theperformance began as a feature for Joe Midiri'stenor sax. I cannot help but compare Midiri to thegreat Jimmy Hamilton, who played polishedclarinet but cut loose when he played tenor. Midiri,like Hamilton, really cuts loose on tenor, and sadly,
does not perform enough on the instrument. Aftera few exciting tenor choruses, a stop chord issounded, then Paul Midiri takes off swinging for thefences, engaging Tobias with a swinging chorus ofhis own.
A routine performed at the Midiris' last Tri StateJazz concert was repeated here. Joe introduced thenumber harkening back to a time and place "wherejazz was created…somewhere in the South Pacific"and it will explain how they, the band, came up withthis "hypothesis." The band then kicked into "Onthe Beach at Waikiki." Imagine "I'm A Ding DongDaddy From Dumas" with Leis! The only Oceaniamoment arrived with Jim Lawlor chirpingHawaiian gibberish accompanied by Pat Mercuri onukulele!
A new item for Joe Midiri's "Armstrong" vocal, "Allof Me" began like the aforementioned "Lover, ComeBack to Me" with a Midiri alto solo much likeJohnny Hodges later performances with Ellington.The surprise comes with the vocal. Dan Tobias doeshis best "Sweets" Edison impersonation, playingwith a closed plunger mute, only opening it in thelast 4 bars of his solo.
There was only one performance that was less thanstellar - Sidney Bechet's "Si tu vois ma mere." JoeMidiri's soprano was not at fault here; he gave hisusual emotional reading of the tune. The faults liedwith the sound system which worked adequatelythroughout the concert, but did not take too kindlyto Midiri's soprano which came off like a flusteredMallard badgering her young. When the time camefor Joe's coda, the band killed the dramaticmoment by pushing Joe to the final high note,making what was usually a great emotional finish,somewhat campy.
The concert ended with the flag-waver, "LimehouseBlues," complete with high notes, and the familiarLawlor-Midiri drum duel, concluding a greatconcert at Moorestown's Community House.
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Quiz TimeBy Rabbi Lou Kaplan
My first name begins with the letter "L." So doeseach of the following tunes. How many of theseven will you get?
1. L __ __ ___ Be G __ __ __
2. L __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Louie
3. L __ __ ' __ Dance
4. L __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Blues
5. L __ __ __ __ __ Stable B __ __ __ __
6. L __ __ __ f __ __ Sale
7. L __ __ __ __ Man
Answers elsewhere in this issue.
Quote of the MonthBy Rabbi Lou Kaplan
(Note: Since 2017 marks 100 years since the firstrecording of a jazz band, this Quote of the Monthwill be devoted to that group.)
Original Dixieland Jazz [Jass] Band [ODJB]. Five-piece jazz band. Its original members, all from NewOrleans, were Nick LaRocca (leader and cornet),Larry Shields (clarinet), Eddie Edwards(trombone), Tony Sbarbaro (drums), and HenryRagas (who was replaced by J. Russel Robinson,piano). After playing in Chicago in 1916, the fivemusicians moved to New York where they enjoyedsensational receptions during their residency atReisenweber's Restaurant from January 1917.During the same year, the group became the firstjazz band to make phonograph recordings, and indoing so the musicians achieved a degree ofeminence that was out of proportion to theirmusical skills. During the mid-1920s, when thevogue for jazz dancing temporarily subsided, thegroup disbanded; it re-formed again in 1936, butthe reunion was brief and only moderatelysuccessful.
No member of the Original Dixieland Jazz Bandwas particularly talented as a improviser, and thegroup's phrasing was rhythmically stilted; but evenso, its collective vigor had an infectious spirit.When black jazz bands began to record regularly itsoon became apparent that many of them weremore adept at jazz improvising and phrasing than
was the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. Detractorsof the band maintain that it merely simplified themusic of black New Orleans groups, and citespecific antecedents for its compositions Tiger Ragand Sensation Rag. Casual listeners were intriguedby its repertory, however, which was unlikeanything else then on record. The group presenteda new sound rather than a new music; this sound,and the rhythms in which it was couched, appealedto young dancers, who were eager to break awayfrom the rigidly formal dance steps of the era.
The most passionate advocate of the OriginalDixieland Jazz Band's importance to jazz historywas LaRocca himself, who never ceased claimingthat his band had played a vital role in the"invention" of jazz in New Orleans during the earlyyears of the 20th century. The fact that there is noevidence to support LaRocca's contention hascaused many jazz devotees to ignore the merits ofthe band's music. But it is indisputable that thegroup played a major part in popularizing thedixieland style of jazz throughout the USA andEurope.
Source: Barry Kernfeld, ed., The New GroveDictionary of Jazz (New York: St. Martin's Press,1994), pp. 942-943.
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OTHER JAZZ CONCERTSPENNSYLVANIA JAZZ SOCIETY
www.pajazzsociety.org(610)-625-4640
Dewey Banquet Hall, 502 Durham Street,Hellertown, PA.October 15 Bill Warfield - Big Band Swing
NEW JERSEY JAZZ SOCIETYwww.njjs.org
(800)-303-NJJSNJJS also co-sponsors events at the BickfordTheatre and Ocean County College.
THE BICKFORD THEATRE6 Normandy Heights Road
Morristown, NJwww.njjs.org/p/services/bickford.html
Concert 7:30 p.m. (973)-971-3706.July 24 Bria SkonbergAugust 3 Danny Bacher & Friends
OCEAN COUNTY COLLEGEToms River, NJ 08754
www.njjs.org/p/services/ocean.html(732)-255-0500
All concerts start at 8:00 p.m. Ocean CountyCollege campus, Grunin Center, College Drive.August 23 Geoff Gallante
CAPE MAY TRADITIONAL JAZZ SOCIETYVFW Post 386, 419 Congress St.,
Cape May, NJwww.capemaytraditionaljazzsociety.com
August 13 Atlantic City Jazz BandSeptember 17 Ben Mauger’s Vintage Jazz Band
FUTURE CONCERTS
All Concerts from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
September 24, 2017 Dan Levinson’s RoofGarden Jass Band. Commemoration of the100th anniversary of the first jazz recording. Danon clarinet returns with a quintet of NYC’s bestinterpreters of the earliest jazz styles, Haddonfield,NJNovember 5, 2017 Red Hot Ramblers.Trombonist Larry Toft returns to Tri-State Jazzwith his sextet to play more hot tunes of 20s and30s. These young men from Philly play old musiclike old pros, Wallingford, PANovember 19, 2017 Cocuzzi Courtet. TheCocuzzis are on tour from the West Coast with atrad jazz quartet. John Cocuzzi is on piano, Kristyon reeds, Jack Hegyi on bass, Harry Himies ondrums. Haddonfield, NJJanuary 7, 2018 Dave Posmontier’s DixieKings. Pianist Dave Posmontier has reformed theold Ed Wise New Orleans Jazz Band without Ed,who lives in New Orleans now. The septet playssome of Ed’s authentic arrangements. Wallingford,PAFebruary 11, 2018 Sue Keller-Solo Piano.Ragtime and vintage jazz pianist makes a TSJSdebut. She received the Scott Joplin InternationalRagtime Foundation’s 2010 Lifetime AchievementAward. Haddonfield, NJMarch 11, 2018 Conservatory Classic JazzBandDave Robinson returns to TSJS with his DC-basedearly-jazz sextet to play music of pioneers likeMorton, Armstrong, Beiderbecke and Goodman.WallingfordWallingford: Concerts are held at the CommunityArts Center, 414 Plush Mill Rd; just west of exit 3 of I-495 (“The Blue Route”).Haddonfield: Concerts are held at the HaddonfieldUnited Methodist Church, 29 Warwick Rd., just south ofKings Highway; about a ten minute walk from thePATCO train station.
POTOMAC RIVER JAZZ CLUBCheck out the numerous traditional jazz eventssponsored by PRJC at www.prjc.org
QUIZ TIME ANSWERS1. Lady Be Good2. Laughing Louie3. Let's Dance4. Limehouse Blues5. Livery Stable Blues6. Love for Sale7. Lover Man
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ABOUT TRI-STATE JAZZ SOCIETYBOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sanford Catz, President, 2019,[email protected] , [email protected] Jones, Vice President, Photo Editor, 2018,[email protected] Mudry, Treasurer, 2019,[email protected]
Bill Hoffman, Music Committee Chairman, BandsContact, 2020, [email protected]
Dewaine Osman, Secretary, Strutter Editor, 2018Chic Bach, Sound Coordinator, 2019,[email protected] Cannon, Refreshments Manager, 2020Bob Rawlins, Music Committee, 2020Steven Peitzman, Programs Editor, 2018Robert Robbins, Publicity Editor, 2018
COMMITTEE CHAIRMENJay Schultz, Membership [email protected]
More Volunteers are listed on our website at:www.tristatejazz.org/officers.html
TSJS CONTACT INFORMATIONMailing Address: PO Box 896, Mount Laurel, NJ.08054E-mail: [email protected]
Hotline Phone for updated concert information:(856) 720-0232
TSJS SUSTAINERSVery Special - $200 or more, $220 couples
● Mary Ann & Dr. Charles H. Emely● Chuck Haggerty & Sarah Burke● William N. Hoffman● Richard & Peggy Hughlett● Chris Jones and Amy Galer● Wayne B. & Nancy Lewis● Bob Mackie● Dewaine & Clare Osman● DeWitt Peterson● Bob & Nancy Rawlins● Dr. Myron E. & Phoebe R. Resnick● Sylvia Rosenberg● Alice V. Schmidt● Jay & Orinda Lou Schultz
TSJS PATRONSThe Big Time - $100 or more, $120 couples
● Jack & Joan Adams● Elaine Berkowitz● John & Susan Bingley● Walt Brenner● Stephen Faha● Carl Meister, Jr. & Linda Hickman● James & Lorraine Maitland● Mike Mudry● Selina Higgins & Bill Nixon● John Otterson● Robert Carr & Barbara Steele● Jerry & Josephine Yocum
TSJS SPONSORSHeadliners - $50 or more, $70 couples
● Chic Bach● Joan Bauer● Jack Boesch● Louis DePietro● Robert & Cynthia Freedman● J. Mervyn & Peg Harris● John H. Hoover● Jack Jennings● Robert Kerns, Jr.● Michael & Irene Lastra● Michael Lefkowitz● Steven Peitzman & Nancy Pontone● Peggy de Prophetis & Louis Kaplan● Terry Rave● Mark Raymond● Peter Reichlin● R. Adam Rogers III● Lynn Ryan● Bob & Kay Troxell● Fred Weber● Constance & Donald Windus● Marion Laws & Sandra Zullo
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TRI-STATE JAZZ SOCIETY, INC.P.O. BOX 896MOUNT LAUREL, NJ 08054
Membership Form
Basic Dues: q Individual $20 q Couple $40Sponsor Dues: q Individual $50 q Couple $70Patron Dues: q Individual $100 q Couple $120Sustainer Dues: q Individual $200 or more q Couple $220 or moreAmount Enclosed $________________ Date_________________ Check No._________
Members are admitted to all regular concerts at half price. Memberships renewed prior to expiration start at the end of current membership; expired memberships start on receipt of payment. All memberships run for 12 months, expiring on the last day of the 12th month.Email and Newsletter Options: q TSJS concert announcements and membership notices(Check all boxes that apply.) q Strutter Newsletter by Email q Strutter by U.S. Mail (Patrons, Sponsors, Sustainers Only)
Mail with check payable to Tri-State Jazz Society, Inc., P .O. Box 896, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
First and Last Name(s) _________________________________________________________Street_______________________________________________________________________
City_________________________________________________State______Zip___________
Phone (_____)_______________ E-mail ___________________________________________
