Silver Anniversary Fest a Blast!Plans Underway for #26

Monthly Jazz Sessions• Sun., Jan. 16 - New Orleans Wanderers• Sun., Feb. 20 - High Society Jazz Band• Sun., Mar. 20 - Titanic Jazz Band• Sun., Apr. 17 - Golden Eagle Jazz Band

From the opening no tes onWednesday evening to the late-nightgrand finale on Sunday, the SilverAnniversa ry of the San DiegoThanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festivalwas a party to remember! From Nov.24-28, old friends and new faces fromaround the world thronged the Town& Country Resort and ConventionCenter to hear the best in traditionaljazz, Dixieland, ragtime and swing.

The fes t iv i t i es began onWednesday n igh t wi th a “pre -Fes t iva l” concer t -dance . OnThursday, those who dined at theTown & Country Thanksgiving Buffetenjoyed live music with their meals.Festival attendees in the Atlas Foyertook in the music of “The Jammers.”(This excellent group representedAFCDJS on several early-morningbroadcasts. Story on page 10). Jazzfans who strolled the Atlas Foyer sawhis to r ica l d i sp lays o f pho tos ,programs and badges dating back tothe first “Holiday Bowl Jazz Festival”— assembled by Myrna and Jim

Steamboat Stompers from the Czech Republic will be featured at Fest #26

’05 AFCDJS ConcertsMove to 3rd SundayN.O. Wanderers Jan. 16

Celebrate the new year with anafternoon of traditional jazz played bythe New Orleans Wanderers —Jan. 16,1-4pm at the Belly-Up Tavern, 143 S.Cedros Ave., Solana Beach, as AFCDJSmoves to the third Sunday of the monthfor our concert-dance series.

The band’s repertoire includesnumbers by King Oliver, LouisArmstrong, Kid Ory and Jelly RollMorton, plus vintage pop tunes andsongs associated with revivalists suchas Ken Colyer and Chris Barber.

Organized in 1995, the New OrleansWanderers played a lengthy residencyat the Hofbrau in Fullerton. Thefollowing year the band toured England.Since then, the Wanderers haveappeared at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee,Fresno Mardi Gras Festival, PismoBeach Jubilee By the Sea, New Year’sEve Jazz at Indian Wells, Del Mar Night& Day Jazz Festival, SPDJ Bash, SantaRosa DixieJazz Fest and the San DiegoThanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival.The band has also played at the Depotin San Juan Capistrano, Concerts by the

Published by America’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz Society • San Diego, CA • www.dixielandjazzfestival.org

$2.00 Per Issue Vol. XXIII No. 1January- February, 2005

(venues to be announced)

Goodwin and Al ice and JohnContreras. World-class photographerAndrew Wittenborn also displayed atreasure trove of photos from previousThanksgiving Festivals.

Throughout Friday and Saturday,Festival patrons listened to a total of29 bands and soloists. Several groups,inc lud ing the Night BloomingJazzmen, Chicago Six , UptownLowdown and High Society JazzBand , p layed a t the ea r l i es tincarnations of the ThanksgivingFestival. A new band, the LouisianaJoymakers, seemed to play hotter andhotter as the weekend progressed.This band’s performance before acapacity crowd at the Sunday nightwind-down par ty was s implyawesome.

So? How does AFCDJS matchthis incredible weekend? Just checkout the initial list of performers forFestival #26 — Bill Allred’s ClassicJazz Band, Night Blooming Jazzmen,Chicago Six, Carl Sonny Leyland,

continued on page 3

continued on page 6

Anita Thomas will play bass with theNew Orleans Wanderers on Jan. 16

at the Belly-Up Tavern

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2005

HIGH SOCIETYWednesdays 7-10pm – Tio Leo’s

Lounge, 5302 Napa St. San Diego . $5cover. (619) 542-0562

DIXIE EXPRESSWednesdays, 6-8pm at Fuddruckers,

5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa.

SAN DIEGO BANJO BANDMcDonald’s at El Cajon Blvd & 54th

St. every Tuesday from 5:30-7:30pm.

SOUTH BAY JAZZ RAMBLERSMondays, 6-8pm at Fuddruckers, 340

Third Ave., Chula Vista.

THE SAINTSFriday, 2-4pm at St. Paul’s Villa Senior

Facility, 2340 4th Ave., San Diego.Musicians, dancers, listeners invited. (619)384-7574

BLUE LARGOFirst Monday, 7-10 pm, Café Calypso,

576 N. Highway 101 (between EncinitasBlvd. and Leucadia Blvd.)

METAPHOR CAFEAlternate Mondays, Big Easy Jazz

Band and Bourbon St. Jazz Band, 6:30-8:30pm, 2nd & Juniper, Escondido.

Alternate Tuesdays, Nice & Easy JB,7-9pm.

Alternate Thursdays, Old Town JazzBand and 2nd Ave. Dixieland Jazz Band,7-9pm. (760) 489-8890

RAMONA SENIOR CENTERFridays, George Newman, Dixieland

and “oldies” piano, 11:30am - 1pm, 434Aqua Lane, Ramona. (619) 233-4720

SEAL BEACH, CATuesdays, Leisure World Dixieland

Workshop, 6-9pm, 13550 Seal BeachBlvd., Club House 3, Room 8. (562)594-5722

RED PEPPER JAZZ BANDSundays, 12:30-4pm, at The Last

Tycoon Saloon (formerly the Depot atthe train station in San Juan Capistrano).(949) 496-7225

GOLDEN EAGLESSundays, Jan. 16 & 30, Feb. 13 & 20;

2-5pm, Steamer’s Restaurant, Fullerton.(626) 799-1761

FIREHOUSE STOMPERS1st and 3rd Mondays, 7pm, El Patio

Mexican Restaurant, 1750 W. La PalmaAve., Anaheim. (714) 758-1649

CJ & KATIEEvery Wednesday, 5:45-7:45pm at

Fendi’s Café, 569 E. Bixby Rd., LongBeach (corner of Atlantic & Bixby), free.

The JAZZ RAMBLER is published bi-monthly for $10 per year ($15 foreign) byAmerica’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz So-ciety. Address all correspondence to P.O.Box 880387, San Diego, CA 92168-0387.America’s Finest City Dixieland JazzSociety is a Non-Profit 501 (c)3 organi-zation. For information about theSociety, call (619) 297-5277.Website: www.dixielandjazzfestival.org.Fax number (619) 297-5281. Singlecopy price $2.00. Editorial contributionswelcome. Contents of Jazz Ramblerare copyrighted © (2005) by America’sFinest City Dixieland Jazz Society andmay not be reprinted without permis-sion. Jazz Publications and Jazz ClubNewsletters may reprint articles pro-vided the following credit is included:“Reprinted from the Jazz Rambler, SanDiego, California.” The Jazz Ramblerand Society functions are funded in partby the City of San Diego Commissionfor Arts and Culture.Executive Director, Alan AdamsAdmin. & Media Director, Hal SmithBOARD OF DIRECTORSMary Solsbak, PresidentAlice Contreras, TreasurerMyrna Goodwin, SecretaryDarlene Brown, Jane Brown, JohnContreras, Everett Crouse, JuneHendershot, Curtis McKee, GeorgeNewman, Dave Shean, Carey Jo Thoza.

Editor: Jay F. LevineStaff Writers: Hal Smith

Mary Solsbak • Alan Adams

PAGE 2 JAZZ RAMBLER

continued on page 4

JAN. - FEB., 2005 VOL. XXIII - NO. 1

Jazz Alive — Here, There, Everywhere

Advertise in the RamblerAdvertising in the Jazz Rambler is one of

the best ways to reach a large exclusive audi-ence of Trad Jazz fans. With our circulation ofapproximately 2,000 and an estimated reader-ship of 3,500, you will be reaching thousandsof people who are interested in all aspects ofTraditional Jazz.

The Rambler is published bi-monthly, sixtimes a year. Deadlines are the 15th of themonth, prior to the date of issue. Dec. 15, Feb.15, April 15, June 15, Aug. 15 and Oct. 15.

Advertising RatesFull page — $230.00

One Half page — 125.00One Third page — 90.00

One Quarter page — 70.00One Eighth page — 40.00

For a rate sheet, write AFCDJS, P.O.Box 880387, San Diego, CA 92168-0387or call (619) 297-5277.

AFCDJS is a member of:• American Federation of Jazz Societies

• International Association ofJazz Educators

• International Association ofClassic Jazz Festivals

• San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce• San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau

CROWN CITY DIXIELAND BANDWednesdays from 6:30-9pm, Burger

Continental Restaurant, Pasadena (818)792-6634

COYOTE HILLS JAZZ BANDWednesdays, 7-10pm, Spaghett i

Station, Anaheim. (714) 956-3250

ROYALE GARDEN DIXIELAND JB2nd & 4th Saturdays, 1-4pm, Danny’s

Kosher Pickle & Deli, 626 N. AzusaAve., Covina. (626) 339-1373

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY BANJOBAND

Wednesdays , 7 -9pm, a t Zig’s ,Woodland Hills. (818) 884-5340

SOUTHSIDE CHICAGO SEVEN1st Sunday, 1-5pm, Golden Empire

Hot Jazz Society at the Golden WestCasino, Bakersfield. (661) 872-2332

BALDY MOUNTAIN SWING1st and 3rd Thursdays, 8-10:30pm at

The Press, 129 Harvard Ave., Claremont.(909) 625-4808

JERRY ROTHSCHILD’S RAGTIMERSFr idays & Sa tu rdays , 7 -10pm,

Curley’s, Signal Hill. (562) 424-0018

LAKESIDE JAZZ CLUB1st Sundays, (909) 599-8646.

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ CLUB OFSOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

3rd Sunday, 1pm. WestminsterLanes , 6471 Wes tmins te r Ave . ,Westminster.

SOUTH BAY NEW ORLEANSJAZZ CLUB

2nd Sunday, 12:30-5pm, Knights ofColumbus Hall, 224½ S. SepulvedaBlvd., Manhattan Beach. (310) 376-7083

SO CAL HOT JAZZ SOCIETY1st Sunday. American Legion Post

335, Southgate. (323) 566-9128

PALOS VERDES, CANorris Center for the Performing

Arts, Jan. 16, 2005. “BED” (BeckyKilgore, Eddie Erickson, Dan Barrett)plus Joel Forbes; Mar. 13, Golden EagleJazz Band ; May 15 , Yerba BuenaStompers, (310) 544-0403

FRESNO, CAFresno Mardi Gras 2005, Feb. 10-

13. (559) 292-3999.

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2005JAZZ RAMBLER PAGE 3

Plans Underway . . .continued from front pageTitanic Jazz Band, Reynolds BrothersRhythm Rasca ls , S teamboatStompers (Czech Republic) and moreto be announced!

Next year’s musical extravaganzatakes place Nov. 23-27, 2005 at theTown & Count ry Resor t andConvention Center in San Diego’sHote l Ci rc le . You may orderdiscounted badges using the couponfrom the ad on page 5, or online atwww.dixielandjazzfestival.org. Inaddition, sponsorships for Festivalrooms, bands and musicians areavailable. (Please see the notice onpage 7 for details). Plan now toattend the 26th Annual San DiegoThanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival— “The Crown Jewel o f JazzFestivals.”

Spotlight on Festival Bands

Steamboat Stompers toDebut at Festival #26

By Josef Sedivec,AFCDJS Member

When Czechoslovakia was aRussian communist satellite, jazz wasof f ic ia l ly unwelcome. Thecommunist government consideredthis original American art form to bedecadent. During the cold war, eastEuropean jazz bands had nogovernment support and could notplay in public. All of the public halls,theatres, hotels all the way down tothe corner shoe repair shop wereowned and opera ted by thecommunist government. Many JazzRambler readers remember Russianleader Nikita Khrushchev poundinghis shoe on his desk at the U.N.,yell ing that Russia would burycapitalistic society in a few years.He also had a strong opinion aboutmusic — many times behind theI ron Cur ta in we heard h improclaiming in the media that theonly music in the world worthlistening to was Russian folk songsplayed on the Balalaika. (This is a

triangular body string instrument withonly three strings because Russia wasalways a poor nation and more stringswould have been considered a luxury!)Poor Nikita was so disgraced at theend of his life by his communistcomrades that when he died he wasburied in an unmarked grave. At thesame time, what we love so much —jazz in all its forms — is now playedfreely all over the world. Patrons ofthe 26th San Diego Dixieland JazzFestival 2005 will have a uniqueopportunity to hear a band that wasorganized “behind the Iron Curtain”— The Steamboat Stompers.

The Stompers are based in Prague,which i s of ten touted in t ravelbrochures and magazines as one of themost beautiful cities in the world. TheSteamboat Stompers is one of Prague’sbest Dixieland bands with 35 years ofhistory. The band started officially inFebruary 1968. Of course there werequite a few personnel changes in sucha long time. However the co-founderof the band (cornet player Jiri Kadlus)is still the leader of this band. Hisson, pianist Jiri Kadlus, Jr. is agraduate of the Prague Conservatoryof Music. He joined his father in theStompers 18 years ago. Two otherlongtime band members are trombonistPavel Janik (31 years) and banjoist/gu i ta r i s t Jan Kaspar (17years ) .Clarinetist Jaroslav Havlas, drummerMartin Hlozek and bassist TheoKampfler are more recent additions tothe band. Theo is a na t ive ofSwitzerland, who studied bass at theMusic Conserva tory of Prague .Vocalist Eva Emingerova, a formerCzech national Volleyball champion,s ings wonder fu l j azz and sca tchoruses. The name “SteamboatStompers” came about because this

band plays a lot of summer cruises onthe Vltava River aboard sightseeingboats that resemble old fashionedpaddle wheelers.

After the Berlin Wall fell, jazz ineastern Europe was unleashed to itsfullest extent. Many leading jazzbands emerged and started performingall over including Western Europe.The Steamboat Stompers band is aprime example of the popularity ofjazz, which never died under Germanand Russian occupations of the CzechRepublic. The Stompers have quite along resume of per formances ,including festivals in Berlin, Dresden,Frankfurt am Main, Gent, Hanover,Ingolstadt and Kempten. The bandalso performs regularly in Switzer-land, Austria, Poland and otherEuropean countries. The SteamboatStompers often invite leading U.S.jazz musicians to Prague. San Diego’sown Bobby Gordon played con-certs with the band in 2002 andAFCDJS Executive Director AlanAdams did the same in 2003. Frequentvisitors from the U.S. are the ClaraWard Gospel Singers and Gene“Mighty Flea” Conners.

Since they first started playing,the Steamboat Stompers hoped toperform someday in the United States— the birthplace of Jazz — and tol i s ten and jam wi th Amer icanmusic ians . None of the band’smembers have ever visited the U.S.and their 2005 participation at theSan Diego Thanksgiving Festival willbe a dream come true.

Eva Emingerova scats with Stompers

Thanks to ’04 SponsorsRoom Sponsors:

ALAN D. ADAMS – Sunrise/SunsetA.A.R.P. – San Diego RoomATLAS HOTELS – Golden

T&C RESORT– T&C RoomDSR AUDIO – Pacific

GES – CaliforniaJAY F. LEVINE (in memory of

Len Levine) – Royal Palm

Band Sponsors:JOAN ADAMS

(in memory of Gary Adams)San Diego Trad Jazz Instructors

TOM & HELEN KARNESDevil Mountain Jazz Band

MATT MINNINGERLouisiana Joymakers

SUE MALONEY(in memory of Shirlee Maloney)

Chicago SixJOSEF & BONNIE SEDIVEC –

Bobby Gordon TrioHAL SMITH – Reynolds BrothersMARY SOLSBAK – New Black Eagles

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2005PAGE 4 JAZZ RAMBLER

Jazz Alive . . .continued from page 2

Monthly Jazz ConcertsSponsored by America’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz Society

BEGINNING 2005EVERY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH

Sun., Jan. 16 - New Orleans WanderersBelly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave. Solana Beach, CA (858) 481-9022

Sun., Feb. 20 - High Society Jazz BandSun., Mar. 20 - Titanic Jazz BandSun., Apr. 17 - Golden Eagle Jazz Band

PLEASE SUPPORT LIVE TRADITIONAL JAZZ!ATTEND OUR MONTHLY CONCERT/DANCES!

ABERDEEN, WA22nd Annual Rain or Shine Jazz

Festival, Feb. 18-20. (360) 533-2910

DEL MAR, CASan Diego Jazz Party, Feb. 25-27,

Del Mar Hilton Hotel, featuring 18 top-shelf musicians from throughout the U.S.playing classic jazz from Friday nightthrough Sunday afternoon; cocktai lreception, jazz brunch, special tributesto late San Diego jazz guitar legendBarney Kessel; all-events admission,$200; Saturday only, $110, Friday only,Sunday only $55. Information and orders(858) 453-0846; e -mai l : dcooper4@hotmail.com; website: spjp.org

SEASIDE, OR22nd Annual Oregon Dixieland

Jubilee, Feb. 25-27. (800) 394-3303www.jazzseaside.com

BLYTHE, CAColorado River Jazz Festival, Feb.

25-27 . B ly the Area Chamber o fCommerce, 201 S. Broadway, Blythe, CA92225-2564, BlytheJazz@yahoo.com

MONTEREY, CA25th Anniversary Dix ie land

Monterey, Mar. 4-6. (888) 349-6879 or(831) 633-5053 , www.d ix ie land-monterey.com

COOS BAY/NORTH BEND, CA17th Annual Southcoast Dixieland

Jazz Festival, Mar. 11-13. (800) 222-0462 or (541) 756-8889

EUREKA, CA15th Annual Redwood Coast Jazz

Festival , Apr. 1-3. (707) 445-3378,www.redwoodjazz.org

VICTORIA, B.C., CANADAVictoria Hot Jazz Jubilee, Apr. 14-

17. www.victoriahotjazz.com, (250) 882-5299

REDDING, CARedding Jazz Festival/Swing Dance,

Apr. 16-17. (530) 244-6033.

PORT ANGELES, WAJazz In The Olympics Festival, Apr.

22-24. www.jazzolympics.com (888)933-6143

CHATTANOOGA, TNChattanooga Tradi t ional Jazz

Festival, Apr. 29-May 1. (800) 872-2529.

SAN CLEMENTE, CA13th Annual San Clemente Rotary

Club’s Dixieland Jazz By The Sea, May

All Programs1:00 to 4:00pmAdmission $10(Members-$7)

(February, March and Aprillocations to be announced)

Point Your Browser To:www.dixielandjazzfestival.org.

~~~~~~~~The Official Website ofAmerica’s Finest City

Dixieland Jazz Society~~~~~~~~

Find out about our Thanksgiving Weekend Festival, Monthly

Concerts, Jazz Camps,Educational Programs and

Sheet Music Archive.

Special ThanksPlease patronize these fine

establishments which were so generousin their contributions to our BandHospitality Room:

Chuey’s Café (Dave Collins)1901 Main St. • San Diego

(619) 234-6937Estrada’s Mexican Restaurant8528 Magnolia, #107 • Santee

(619) 562-5490

Jon-Jon’s Pizza (Sam Kassab)8528 N. Magnolia Ave., #101 • Santee

(619) 428-6617Also special thanks to the Town

& Country Resort and Hotel. Youare the best!!! Thank you for helpingto make the San Diego ThanksgivingDixieland Jazz Festival a successfor 25 years!

A F C D J S - s p o n s o r e dworkshops are held thesecond Thursday of everymonth (except December)from 7 to 9pm at the MusiciansHall, 1717 Morena Blvd.

Requirement:Desire to play Dixieland Jazz!

Furnished:Drums, piano and a core

group of instructors.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ALL LEVELS OF

TALENT WELCOME!~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(619) 297-JASS (5277)www.dixielandjazzfetival.orgThe personnel of many of theCommunity Bands that haveappeared in past Festivals havebeen participants in the AFCDJSfree Jazz Workshops.

AFCDJS PRESENTS FREE 2005 DIXIE

WORKSHOPSJan. 13 • Feb. 10 •Mar. 10Apr. 14 • May 12 • June 9

July 14 • Aug. 11 • Sept. 8Oct. 13 • Nov. 10

Get Your Kicks at Fest 26!26th Annual San Diego

Thanksgiving Dixieland Jazz FestivalNov. 23-27, 2005

Town & Country Resort and Convention Center 500 Hotel Circle North (I-8 & SR-163) San Diego

www.dixielandjazzfestival.org

The Festival is funded in part by the City of San DiegoCommission for Arts and Culture.

BADGE REGISTRATIONAMERICA'S FINEST CITY DIXIELAND JAZZ SOCIETY

P.O. BOX 880387, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92168-0387Telephone: (619) 297-5277

email: jazzinfo@dixielandjazzfestival.org • website: www.dixielandjazzfestival.org

No. of 5-Day All Event Badges (Wed - Sun) ___ @$85 ea. Total $ _______________No. of 4-Day Badges (Thur - Sun) _______ @$80 ea. Total $ ______________No. of 3-Day Badges (Fri - Sun) _________ @$75 ea. Total $ ______________

(Deduct $10 from these prices when you stay at the Town & Country Hotel. You must reserve by 10/31/05 to receive discount)

Town & Country confirmation number: __________________________________I would like to join the Society. (Check one) Single $15 Couple $25Amount of check or money order TOTAL $ _______________

Name ____________________________________________Date ____________________

Address _________________________________________________________________

City ____________________________________State___________Zip_______________

Email: ___________________________________________________________________

Over 20 bands appearing!Already confirmed include . . .

Steamboat Stompers from Prague, Czech RepublicBill Allred’s Classic Jazz Band • Titanic Jazz Band

Night Blooming Jazzmen • Chicago SixReynolds Brothers Rhythm Rascals

Carl Sonny Leyland

FOR 2005 HOTEL RESERVATIONS, CONTACT THE TOWN & COUNTRY500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92108 • Phone: (Toll-Free) 1-800-772-8527 or (619) 291-7131

Room Rates: $89, $96 and $106 (Ask for Jazz Festival Reservations)~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

BE A FESTIVAL SPONSOR!(The sponsorship cost less badge price of $170 is tax deductible)

• ROOM SPONSOR - $1,000 +Receive two all-events badges, patrons’ welcome party (Wednesday), admission toMusicians’ Hospitality Room, name listed in program and on display board in room.

• BAND SPONSOR - $500 - $1,000Receive two all-events badges, admission to Musicians’ Hospitality Room,name listed in program.

• MUSICIAN SPONSOR - $350 - $500Receive two all-events badges and have your name listed in the program.I would like to sponsor a room band musician

AMOUNT: $ __________

Parking is limited to the Town & Country. However, jazz fans may park at any San Diego Trolley stationlot and ride the trolley or bus to the Fashion Valley transit center, at the T&C. Fare for seniors is $2.00.

The closest trolley stops are at Old Town and Qualcomm Stadium.

DAILY BADGE PRICESAvailable at the Festival only

Wed. $15 • Thurs. or Sun. $20 • Fri. or Sat. $30Youth Badges (13-22): 5-Day $30 • 4-Day $25 • 3-Day $20

Wed. $5 • Thurs. or Sun. $8 • Fri. or Sat. $10 • Sun. Wind-down $15Children 12 and under are admitted free with an adult.

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2005PAGE 6 JAZZ RAMBLER

Lake (Lake Gregory), the New OrleansJazz Club of Southern California, SouthBay New Orleans Jazz Club, LakesideJazz Club and several AFCDJS concerts.

AFCDJS Executive Director AlanAdams is the Wanderers’ trombonistand leader. Other musicians are DenisGilmore, cornet; Mike Baird, reeds; BillMitchell, piano; Katie Cavera, banjo/guitar; and Hal Smith, drums. The mostrecent addition is multi-instrumentalistAnita Thomas, who plays string basswith the Wanderers.

Come hear the New OrleansWanderers on Jan. 16 at the Belly-Up.Don’t miss this opportunity to hear oneof the best traditional jazz bands on theWest Coast!

High Society Feb. 20At the 2004 San Diego Thanks-

giving Dixieland Jazz Festival, the HighSociety Jazz Band was in top form.That is par for the course for HighSociety, except for the fact that cornetist/leader Larry Channave was recovering

Concerts . . .continued from front page

New Orleans Wanderers perform on Jan. 16 at the Belly-Up.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________CD RELEASESGOLDEN EAGLE JAZZ BAND“One Special Day” (Doctor JassProductions DJP-109)Streets of the City; One Sweet LetterFrom You; My Gal Sal; At the JazzBand Ball; Dallas Blues; Who’s SorryNow; See See Rider; Should I?; TooBusy; Tishomingo Blues; Bugle BoyMarch; Shine On, Harvest Moon;Nobody’s Sweetheart.Ken Smith, Dan Barrett, Walter Sereth,Paul Woltz, Dick Shooshan, LuederOhlwein, Mike Fay (Rec. 1981). $11.50postpaid from: Golden Eagle Jazz Band,686 E. Union St., Pasadena, CA 91101.

BOILERMAKER JAZZ BAND“Give Me Your Telephone Number –featuring Jennie Luvv” (Phono-LithicBCD-7)I’ll Always Be in Love With You; ICan’t Believe That You’re in Love WithMe; Until the Real Thing Comes Along;It’s De - Lovely; Give Me YourTelephone Number; How About You?;Minor Swing; For All We Know; TheSong is Ended; I Never Knew; Out ofNowhere; I’m Gonna Lock My Heart;Sunday; Don’t Go Away, Nobody; I’mPutting All My Eggs in One Basket;Who’s Sorry Now?; I’m Making Believe.Paul Cosentino, Jennie Luvv, MarkKotishion, Ernest McCarty, RichStrong, Gerry Gagnon, Dan Davisson,

Jay Cosentino, Eric Emmons, EricSusehoff (Recorded 2004). $15 plusshipping. Available from: http://www.boilermakerjazzband.com.MELISSA COLLARD“Old Fashioned Love” (MelismaticMR CD 101)I’ve Had My Moments; Song of theWanderer; The You and Me that Usedto Be; Old Fashioned Love; Meet MeWhere they Play the Blues;Nevertheless; On a Coconut Island;Warm Valley; When Somebody ThinksYou’re Wonderful; Street of Dreams;I’ll See You in My Dreams; Stardust;Why Don’t We Do this More Often?;Back in Your Own Backyard.Melissa Collard, Bill Bardin, DanBarrett, Bobby Black, Eddie Erickson,Richard Hadlock, Ray Landsberg, BobMielke, Ray Skjelbred, Steven Strauss,Bob Wilson. $18 postpaid from:Melissa Collard, P.O. Box 19024,Sacramento, CA 95819-0024;www.melissacollard.comor www.cdbaby.com/mcollard.TICHENOR FAMILY FIVE“Ragtime Reunion” (Ragophile 1003)The Thriller; Pineywoods Rag; EuphonicSounds; Brun Campbell Express; 42ndStreet Rag; Riverside Blues; MississippiRag; Snag It; King Chanticleer; WestEnd Blues; Pierce City Rag; RobertoClemente; Willie the Weeper; Lullabyfrom Mars; Harlem Rag; Virginia’s

Blues; King Porter Stomp; Shake ThatThing; Show-Me Rag; Kinklets; It’s aLong Way Back Home.Marty Eggers, Andy Tichenor, SusannaTichenor, Trebor Tichenor, VirginiaTichenor (Recorded 2004). $17postpaid (check or money order payableto Marty Eggers) from: P.O. Box 5724,Berkeley, CA 94705-0724.

from surgery. Larry decided that thebest way to recuperate was to play jazz!He blew up a storm during the festival,with Billy Hawkins, trombone; LarryOkmin, clarinet; Jay Berman, piano;John Hurst, bass; and Tad Wolicki,drums.

The band features tight ensembles,intricate arrangements, excellent solosand vocals and a wide range of material.Their presentation is entertaining,without losing sight of the jazz tradition.

High Society has performed at mostof the West Coast festivals and jazzclubs of note. (They have performed atthe San Diego Festival since 1982)! Inaddition to their festival appearances,they play every Wednesday at Tio Leo’sin San Diego.

It is a longstanding tradition forAFCDJS to present the High SocietyJazz Band at the February concert-dance. Hear them on Feb. 20 and youwill understand why!

Important NoticeIf you joined AFCDJS at the Festival

or renewed your membership there, pleaselook at your mailing label on this JazzRambler. If there is no date below theaddress or if the date is 12/04 or earlier,this notice is for you. The membershiprecords compiled at the Society tablewere inadvertently misplaced after theFestival, and we have not recovered them.

If you paid for membership andreceived your member’s card, or if yousubscribed to the Jazz Rambler for thecoming year, please contact us by emailat jazzinfo@dixielandjazzfestival.org orphone (619) 297-5277 and leave amessage. Unless you do, you will notreceive future issues of the Jazz Rambleras we have no way of identifying our newand renewed members and subscriberswithout the missing records.

We sincerely apologize for thisinconvenience and hope to hear fromeach of our affected members andsubscribers.

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2005JAZZ RAMBLER PAGE 7

Be a Festival Sponsor in 2005!!!AFCDJS encourages our Festival

attendees to consider sponsoring aroom, band, or musician at the26thAnnual San Diego ThanksgivingDixieland Jazz Festival — Nov. 23-27, 2005.

Room sponsors ($1,000 and up)receive two all-events badges, apatron’s welcome party onWednesday; admission to theMusicians’ Hospitality Room duringthe Festival, name listed in theFestival program and on a displayboard in the room being sponsored.

Band Sponsors ($500 - $1,000)receive two all-events badges,admission to the Musicians’Hospitality Room and name listed inthe program.

Musician Sponsors ($350 - $500)receive two all-events badges andname listed in the program.

In all three categories, the sponsor-ship cost, less $170 for two all-eventsbadges, is tax deductible.

In 2005, the preliminary list ofperformers appearing at the San DiegoThanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festivalinclude: Bill Allred’s Classic JB, NightBlooming Jazzmen, Titanic JB, CarlSonny Leyland, Chicago Six, theReynolds Brothers Rhythm Rascalsand the Steamboat Stompers of Prague.

Multiple sponsors for the sameroom, band, or musician are welcome.

To become a sponsor, or for moreinformation, contact Dave Shean:daves@dixielandjazzfestival.org. orleave a message at (619) 297-5277.

San Diego Fest — 25 Years Young

By Horace Meunier HarrisAFCDJS Member – U.K.

It was a wow! The Jubilee Festival

met all expectations and was a creditto the many hard working people wholabored to make it a success. Iconstantly marvel at the logisticsrequired to create an operation of thissize and make it work so seeminglyeffortlessly for the benefit of the manyhappy recipients. Right from the start everythingappeared to go as planned, with twof ine bands a l t e rna t ing on theWednesday evening. High Societyhad the benefit of the talented trumpetplayer Flip Oakes and supportingleader Larry Channave, who wasp lay ing and s ing ing very wel lfollowing his recent hospitalization.I was impressed to find that Flip alsoplayed clarinet and tenor saxophone,one of the many multi-instrumentalistspresent at the Festival. The alternating band, The SanDiego Trad Jazz Instructors, includingthe delightful Katie Cavera, was avery pleasant surprise, producingconsistently well-integrated jazz thataugurs well for future attendees at theAdult Jazz Camp. Perhaps the biggest eye openersfor me in the forthcoming days werethe many performances by TheLouisiana Joymakers from Van-couver. The playing and singing bythe young and glamorous pair, BriaSkönberg on trumpet and ClaireMcKenna on c lar inet (both area lumnae , I unders tand , o f theaforesaid Adult Jazz Camp) was arevelation. So too was the singlestring guitar playing of Don Ogilvie.Simon Stribling from Melbourne,known to me as a highly competenttrumpet player, astonished us all withhis fluency on his recently-acquiredsousaphone. From here on i t becomesprogressively more difficult to givedue credit to all the deserving cases.The Reynolds Brothers RhythmRascals band was a revelation —superb musicianship coupled withgreat fun, plus useful enlightenmenton the history of the washboard injazz! Another Australian, AnitaThomas from Sydney, also a TradJazz Camp instructor, mesmerized us

with her prowess on clarinet, soprano,alto and baritone sax. Meanwhile, The Yerba BuenaStompers were, as always, the livingreincarnation of the Lu Watterssound. The Climax Jazz Band fromToronto por t rayed the “Br i t i shsound,” enhanced by Colin Bowden’sdrumming — England’s answer toWarren “Baby” Dodds . Sco t tAnthony sat in on banjo for the ailingJack Vincken, singing a nice versionof “I Double Dare You.” The GrandDominion Jazz Band s imi la r lyimpressed, as in past Festivals. continued on page 10

Claire McKenna (r) and Bria Skönberg joined the Louisiana Joymakers.

It was good to see the return ofThe Black Swan Jazz Band fromPortland, Oregon, aided by the finesinging of Marilyn Keller. The NewBlack Eagle Jazz Band f romMassachuse t t s , no s t rangers toBritain, was consistently good, whileUptown Lowdown and NightBlooming never disappointed. I lovedpianist Les Deutsch’s piccolo solo on“Clarinet Marmalade.” Another bandI always enjoy is Devil Mountain,while Cornet Chop Suey from St.Louis was very popular. The “Pianorama” traditionallyprovides an interesting contrast (I

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2005PAGE 8 JAZZ RAMBLER

American Rag Trial Subscription OfferDon Jones, publisher of the American Rag is offering a two-month “mini-trial-

subscription” to all new AFCDJS members. Simply fill out the form below, have itsigned by an AFCDJS officer at one of our monthly concerts, then send the completedform to the American Rag. You will enjoy two months’ worth of reporting on the mostimportant events in the world of Traditional Jazz and Ragtime.

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America’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz Society

Society’s ConcertsBy Lorrie Monks,AFCDJS Member

Nov. 14 at Vista Elks LodgeBAND: Hal’s AngelsPERSONNEL: Hal Smith, drums/leader/vocal; Anita Thomas, reeds/vocal; KatieCavera, guitar/vocal; Carl Sonny Leyland,piano/vocal; Mike Earls, bass.• First set: Way Down Yonder inNew Orleans; Truckin’ (Thomas/Cavera, vocal); Beat Me, Daddy,Eight to the Bar (Leyland, vocal);Out of Nowhere; Lester Leaps In;The One I Love Belongs to SomebodyElse (Thomas, vocal); Topsy; Did IRemember? (Cavera, vocal); OneSweet Letter From You (Leyland,vocal); I Would Do Anything For You(Smith, vocal); Mona Lisa (Cavera,vocal); Jumpin’ at the Woodside• Second set: I’ll Always Be In LoveWith You; Down the Road a Piece(Leyland/Smi th , voca l ) ; MotenSwing; Five, Ten, Fifteen Hours(Thomas, vocal); Hey, Good Lookin’(Leyland/Cavera, vocal); Creole LoveCal l ; Now Wil l You Be Good?(Cavera, vocal); The Kid From RedBank• Third set: House of Blue Lights(Leyland, vocal); Girl of My Dreams;Lulu’s Back in Town (Leyland, vocal);Sent imenta l Journey (Thomas /Cavera, vocal).

Adult Traditional Jazz CampJanuary 27-30, 2005 • by AFCDJS

Located at the InnSuites-San Diego Balboa Park Resort.The faculty will demonstrate classic jazz techniques and emphasize each instrument’s role in atraditional jazz ensemble. Instrumental seminars will take place in a classroom setting and the facultywill supervise sessions played by the students in rotating groups. Instructors will sit in with studentgroups to assist teaching. Some faculty members will double on other instruments. Pianos and basicdrum kits will be provided. Some tubas and string basses are also available upon request.

Enrollment is limited. Please note that some classes are already sold out!THE FACULTY:

Chris Tyle - cornet Alan Adams - tromboneAnita Thomas - clarinet, sax John Royen - pianoKatie Cavera - banjo, guitar Hal Smith - drums

Clint Baker - tuba, string bass, bass sax

TUITION: $355.00 ** There is a $50 tuition discount for Jazz Camp students who stay at the InnSuites. For roomreservations, contact Divi at the InnSuites-San Diego Balboa Park Resort; 1-877-343-4648 or (619)296-2101; www.innsuites.com. Ask for the “Jazz Camp Suite rate” which includes breakfast and ahappy hour each day.

To receive further information, call (619) 582-1528 orE-mail: solsbak@cox.net • Website: www.dixielandjazzfestival.orgName.............................................. Instrument.........................................................................

Address......................................................................................................................................................................

City, State, Zip ..........................................................................................................................

Phone ......................... E-mail ............................................ Tuition Enclosed $..................

SOLD OUTSOLD OUTSOLD OUTSOLD OUTSOLD OUTSOLD OUTSOLD OUTSOLD OUTSOLD OUTSOLD OUT

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Attention computer users! Have yousigned up to receive the Jazz Rambleronline? Our first online issue came outin July, and the feedback has beenpositive. Since it’s on our website beforehard copies are printed or mailed, it’sdelivered to your computer well inadvance of normal third-class maildelivery! It can be printed from thewebsite as well, and the color photoslook great!

You must be an AFCDJS member orsubscriber to access the Jazz Rambleron our website. Please email us atinfo@dixielandjazzfestival.org to let usknow if you want to receive thenewsletter online rather than throughthe mail. We will add your email addressto our online subscribers’ list, and youwill receive a password by email whenour next issue is ready for viewing onour website.

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JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2005PAGE 10 JAZZ RAMBLER

almost said relief) to the dixielandelement of the Festival. John Royenwas impressive, with his special FatsWaller program and accompanyingthe sensi t ive playing of BobbyGordon. Bob Hirsch performed a verysophisticated set, while John Bennettspecialized in ragtime numbers. I wasmuch taken by Carl Sonny Leyland’sversion of Albert Ammons’ “BoogieWoogie Stomp.” The two banjo bands providedmuch entertainment, not least withtheir sing-along numbers. I made aparticular effort to hear some of theCalifornian bands less known to meand appreciated The South BayRamblers, The Golden Gate RhythmMachine and the laid-back playing ofThe Nice & Easy Jazz Band. As usual,it was impossible to attend everysession, so please forgive me if I havenot listed your favorite band. The wind down concert on Sundaynight by The Louisiana Joymakershad a record attendance and rightlydeveloped into a well deserved 21stbirthday party for the leader, Bria. This was my tenth visit to theFestival, so you may reasonablyassume that I have enjoyed them all! I also always appreciate the fact thatthe wel l -wri t ten and i l lus t ra tedFestival program, plus the schedule,are provided free of charge. The itemsin the program about the formationand history of the Festival were mostappropriate and much valued. Iwas also pleased to note that thenumber of visitors from Britain isgrowing all the time. Let us lookforward with confidence, anticipationand pleasure to the next 25 years!

25 Years Young . . .continued from page 7

SUNDAY DIXIE HOURThe Dixie Hour, one of

the few trad jazz radio showsin San Diego, has returnedto Sunday afternoons, 3-4pmon KSDS FM88.3 on the dial.The show ishos ted byAFCDJS Execu-t ive Direc tor ,Alan Adams.

Jammers Thanked for Helping Promote Jazz Fest

A Cool FundraiserOne rarely thinks of ice hockey and

Dixieland music at the same time.However, they were combined into asuccessful fundraiser for the AFCDJSyouth education program on Oct. 23 atthe San Diego Gulls Hockey team’shome opener. The Mission Bay AllStars played Dixieland music on theconcourse of the Sports Arena, and 100tickets were sold to society membersand friends with half the ticket pricegoing to our youth fund.

Throughout theevening, numerousv o l u n t e e r sdistributed flyers forthe 2004 Festival, andothers sold tickets fora youth drawing heldduring the thirdperiod of the game.Prizes for the drawingincluded a giftcertificate for theTown and CountryResort, two all-eventsbadges for the 2004

The Jammers, formed specificallyto represent AFCDJS, welcomed gueststo the 25th Annual San DiegoThanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival.John Contreras, clarinet; Jim Hooper,tuba; Jim Goodwin,banjo plus BobRyder and Ray Coutu alternating oncornet greeted guests Thursday in theAtlas Foyer prior to the evening concertsand again on Friday on the Royal PalmPatio.

The Jammers also promoted theFestival on several early morning TVstations. Thanksgiving they werefeatured on WETV Channel 6 Fox Newsin the Morning, and Friday they

performed on News at 6 on KFMBChannel 8. Dave Scott, the weatherannouncer from KUSI Channel 9, cameto the Town and Country for his localweather report and throughout Sundayfeatured The Jammers — with FestDirector Alan Adams on trombone.

As the day continued, KUSIinterviewed many festivalgoers andtaped several of the bands, dancers, andparasol strutters creating an excellentfeature on the evening news.

AFCDJS sincerely thanks TheJammers for their help throughout thisyear’s Festival as they added to theexcitement of the event.

Festival, an autographed Gulls jerseyand Mission Bay High School DixieJazz Band CDs.

Special thanks go to Doug andBarbara Moore, Tina Rakowski, Ronand Maralee Ellison, Sally McGeorge,Bob McKay, Darlene Brown, John andAlice Contreras, Dee ContrerasBertussi, Kris Contreras Andrassy, Billand Barbara Barry, James and MyrnaGoodwin, Alan Adams and the MissionBay musicians for helping raise over$1,000!

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2005JAZZ RAMBLER PAGE 11

John E. & Lynn VondracekDel & Ethel BlaineVince DomanskiGerald & Virginia HealyDon & Bobbie HodgesBernard Jaffe, M.B.A.Michael & Annette ManionBill & Yvonne MitchellCurtis ParkerSandra MillardThelma OjeraWanda PughHans ReuterLouise SchwartzBob SilvermanBarry & Julie WalsonHank & Alice WaldvogelDave WattersShirley WeberPhil & Bettie WolpersJosef & Bonnie SedivecBill & Joan BreherJaned G. CasadyDuane & Sandra EberleinCapt. William D. ChattletonJim FiedlerMargo SpearsTom & Pat FitzgeraldAudrey & Sam KretzschmarPetra O. McGearyGilbert D. NadeauJames V. RacicotMargaret RouletteJohn T. SwanJane TarailJohn P. BartonMichael CusterRobert & Duffy Jacobson

November - DecemberCotton Club (Benefactor)Dr. & Mrs. Robert Andres

Storyville Club (Patron)Darlene BrownFrank HighlyMort & Ruth Ganeles

Dawn Club (Sponsor)Everett CrouseAra KelerchianRicki & Alden PedersenJulie SimonsBruce VermazenPaul & June DaspitDave & Bonnie AustinTom Kyle

Don AndersonNicki BiggsJeanne BowersPhyllis ChrismanAlbert & AnnaBelle GabbsMat A. HoeflerDesmond J. HowlingHarold M. & Peggy KnutsonWilliam B. & Barbara LennoxDarleen McKimFrances Mead MessingerGerald A. RosenbergerRonald R. SchryerBob & Carol SpaleDonald E. ThozaVirginia Murray UshmanPitt & Virginia WarnerCam & Mary MillerCdr Frank & Diana Taylor U.S.N.Dottie Thomas

Welcome New and Renewal Members

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION/RENEWAL /SUBSCRIPTION FORMPlease check the applicable boxes and mail to:

AMERICA’S FINEST CITY DIXIELAND JAZZ SOCIETYP.O. Box 880387 • San Diego, CA 92168-0387 • Phone: (619) 297-5277

NEW RENEWAL Enclosed is $15.00 for a single membership (includes Jazz Rambler)

$25.00 for a couple membership (includes Jazz Rambler)$10.00 for annual subscription / Jazz Rambler only$15.00 — foreign

SUPPORT THE YOUTH EDUCATION FUND$1,000.00 Cotton Club (Benefactor)$250.00 Storyville Club (Patron)$100.00 Dawn Club (Sponsor)

Please contact me regarding volunteer work for the AFC Dixieland Jazz SocietyNAME ______________________________________________________________MAILING ADDRESS _________________________________________________CITY ________________________ STATE ___________ ZIP _________________PHONE/EVES _______________________ DAYS __________________________EMAIL _____________________________________________________________

Joseph & Jane JensenThomas & Helen KarnesRoland & Loreen WilhelmyStan KlingGeorge MaroisMr. & Mrs. Fred TietzGerard Van AalstLawrence CarletonDorothy ClintonGeorge R. DenisonVelma HorvathH. Ross KayeDick & Jo SchimbergDon & Sandi SchmidtDr. Jim & Nancy KetchamJack & Carol MahoneyMr. & Mrs. Thomas KingRobert & Edith MottPam MunterJim ThrogmortonMargie MoellerDavid & Irene WestcottCarol BoyntonThelma DunnGary & Joyce ImmGerard & Marilyn MetzgerGeri OwingsTed & Suzanne RossJean VanstoneKen BarrsFrank VogesJack AlthouseJean BrownEdward DulingDoris ZsuttyJoe FeatherstoneAl Geier

Robert P. HarveyKen & June HillMyron HuntDavid W. LamottEleanor MartinDon MinorRichard W. MorrisRodney D. OrthJohn F. Matthews IISara L. MeriwetherHerbert RichterJohn RobynsNormalee SaboKaye DonBobbie ShaverMalcolm C. TuckerZoe Ann MurrayAnne E. FordEd GruhlerLarry E. KrymerRalph E. LongwayAl & Chris OhrmundNancy SalamaR.J. SchaeferMark Van RoodeSue MaloneyRon BlandingEd & Shirley CallanOp & Shirley ChaseKay DearingHal GroodyRick HavernDonald HechtKen & Jane LloydRuth N. LopezAmos D. LowderSally McGuire

AFCDJS Congratulates OurSurvey Card Drawing Winner

Lee Sjostrom completed one of thesurvey cards at the 25th Annual San DiegoThanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival.Her card was selected in the drawing onSunday afternoon.

She will receive two 5-day badges forthe 2005 Festival. AFCDJS thankseveryone who completed a survey card.

AFCDJSMusic for Youth BandsSmall instrumental combo and Dixie-style musical arrangements areavailable for school and youth bandsand other community or start-up bands.Check out our updated website atwww.dixielandjazzfestival.org and clickSmall Band Music, or you may contactour Archives volunteer by email:aarchivist@mymailstation.com.

They Called it Jazz

Alex Welsh — Scottish Trumpet Wizard

AMERICA’S FINEST CITYDIXIELAND JAZZ SOCIETYPost Office Box 880387San Diego, California 92168-0387

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

NON PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit No. 836San Diego. CA

(This is the 53rd in a series ofbiographies of great traditional jazzmusicians).

By Horace Meunier HarrisAFCDJS Member – U.K.

This diminutive Scotsman had aremarkable sway over British jazz forover 30 years, sadly dying just beforeattaining his 53rd birthday. He wasborn in the city of Edinburgh in 1929and contemplated becoming aprofessional footballer, but an injuryleft him with a slight limp so he turnedto the trumpet, quickly finding otherswho shared his enthusiasm for jazz. In1954 he transferred to London, like somany of his Scottish contemporaries.In those days Alex did not drink alcoholand according to singer George Melly,was known, somewhat sarcastically, as“The Lemonade King.”

It was not long before he formed hisown band, playing in and developing anexuberant manner that could broadly becalled a mix of white Chicago Stylejazz and Eddie Condon. Another firstclass Scots musician was part of hisinitial band for many years – clarinetistArchie Semple, who could be describedas a disciple of Pee Wee Russell. Theothers were a hard-driving tromboneplayer named Roy Crimmins; a giftedpianist with both swinging and lyricalqualities, Fred Hunt; and a finedrummer, Lennie Hastings. One of thesecrets of the band’s success was thepropulsive rhythm section, swelled outby a good bass player and before longanother Scotsman on guitar, doublingbanjo as necessary, Jim Douglas.

Later Roy Crimmins departed towork abroad and was replaced with theincredibly talented Roy Williams, whileSemple left through ill health and wasfollowed by John Barnes, equally adepton clarinet, tenor and baritonesaxophones. They broadcast andrecorded extensively, also being usedto accompany many visiting Americanmusicians of note for their British tours.Examples that stand out are theirsessions with Henry “Red” Allen, EarlHines, Dickie Wells, Bud Freeman,Ruby Braff, Rex Stewart and Wild BillDavison. Bud Freeman went so far as todescribe them as “the best small band oftheir kind in the world.” Hines said hecould guarantee Alex six months ofregular work on the West Coast. Perhaps

the greatest compliment happened in1957 when Jack Teagarden asked Alexto come to America and play trumpetwith his band.

Versatility was a keynote of theirperformances, ranging from ravishingtrumpet-piano duets between Alex andFred Hunt (their moving rendition of“Davenport Blues” comes to mind);stomping dixieland numbers featuringprominent banjo; and out-of-tempo

interludes between Johnny Barnes andRoy Williams in the style of GerryMulligan and Bob Brookmeyer.

In 1968 the band was invited to playat the Newport Jazz Festival. They weredescribed in Down Beat as “a jazz bandin the best sense of the word,” while theSan Francisco Chronicle describedthem as “the sensation of the evening” –an evening that included Duke Ellingtonand his Orchestra and Dionne Warwick.They toured extensively, including apackage in Australia called “Salute toSatchmo,” with Humphrey Lyttelton asguest soloist.

When John Barnes left he wasreplaced by the excellent Al Gay onclarinet and tenor sax, while LennieHastings’ departure brought in RogerNobes on drums, whose doubling onvibes gave an interesting timbre to somenumbers. Some of their recordings havebeen reissued on CD, a good exampleof the earlier line-up (1962) being onGeorge Buck’s Jazzology label, JCD-308. Alex Welsh is very much missed,not least for the tag endings on uptemponumbers by drummer Lennie Hastings,who always shouted “Ool-ya, Ool-ya!”– which for many years was just like theband’s trademark.