Vocalist Rebecca Kilgore looked and sounded lovely as she delivered both swinging and mellow tunes with heavyweight talents such as Bob Wilber and Joe Wilder.       

Continued: Jazz at Chautauqua

Next up was a slick little quintet comprised of trumpeter Joe Wilder, clarinetist Bob Reitmeier, pianist John Sheridan, drummer John Von Ohlen and, making the first of his many appearances, bassist Jon Burr. Their opening tune, "Fine and Dandy," was just that! A half-dozen tunes from the "Great American Songbook" followed, including "Oh, Lady Be Good" and the set-ender, "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" which featured several sparkling solo choruses by pianist Sheridan.

Thursday's final session introduced us to the aforementioned young men from Wisconsin, 23-year-old cornetist Andy Schumm and his 20-year-old sidekick, trombonist Dave Bock. They were aided, abetted and encouraged by Dan Barrett, who joined them on trombone, backed by the smooth rhythm team of Rossano Sportiello, Jon Burr and Pete Siers. Opening with the classic "My Melancholy Baby" and following with a stunning "Louise," the band played two more tunes before being joined by Jon-Erik Kellso for "Somebody Stole My Gal," a Bix-inspired romp. Clarinetist Dan Block joined the fray for "Sugar" and a lilting close, "I'll See You In My Dreams." Schumm's clarion-like cornet sent us all to bed with the thought that we had come to the end of a perfect day.

Friday's schedule of events began with a series of piano and/or guitar solos as a crowd gathered around the magnificent lobby Steinway. John Sheridan reminisced on the keyboard with a collection of Tommy Dorsey-Frank Sinatra tunes, taking us back to the Forties with "This Love Of Mine," "Oh, Look At Me Now" and Matt Dennis' "Let's Get Away From It All," followed by a provocative, "Pete Kelly's Blues." Keith Ingham's piano stint ensued with a selection of tunes written by other pianists who included Ellington, Strayhorn, Peterson and James P. Johnson. Rossano Sportiello, he of the infectious grin and lovely keyboard touch, played a pleasant series of windy tunes encompassing "Ill Wind," "Gone With The Wind" and "Soft Winds." Shades of Dave McKenna and his thematic clusters.

Sportiello demonstrated a meeting or melding of jazz and classical themes with a bit of Chopin which morphed into pure Rossano jazz. Recognizing that Howard Alden would take the next set, Sportiello called Alden up for a duet on two of Ray Noble's themes, "The Very Thought Of You" and a complex mind-boggling "Cherokee." Heady stuff and probably worth the entire admission price. Alden remained, front and center for six lovely or lively guitar pieces which began with Duke Ellington's "Black Butterfly" and ended up with Gershwin's "Liza," leaving Jim Dapogny with a tough act to follow. Dapogny was up to the task by way of contrast by uncorking some earthy piano which included salutes to Jess Stacy and James P. Johnson and nods to Jelly Roll Morton and Jimmy Yancey. And so the afternoon gave way to the evening which got underway at 5 p.m. with a stomping "My Honey's Lovin' Arms" with two bands trading choruses over solid rhythm support provided by Messrs. Sheridan/Grosz, Giordano and Siers. A lengthy 10-tune medley went with dinner before the ensemble, all 15, took it out with two more Bix tunes, "I'm Coming Virginia" and "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans." After some 50 tunes had already been played, the weekend was officially underway.

Eighty is just a number when it comes to Bob Wilber, whose octogenarian status hasn't diminished his creativity or magnificent tone.

December 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag

P.O. Box 19068, Minneapolis, MN 55419.