January Columns
Jazz in the Heartland | Jazz in the Sun | View from Canada |
New York News
An annual revival of jazz on Florida's Suncoast occurs as our snowbird season begins. Nine of 12 events I attended in two months were near our home in Venice. Five were in Harmony House at the Holiday Inn, which has become a thriving daily musical venue.
Sunday Jazz At Two concerts sponsored by the Sarasota Jazz Club at Harmony House featured Patricia Dean's trio Oct. 7, Jack Fanning's quartet Nov. 4 and Don Riddell's Hep Cats Dec. 2.
Dean is a tasteful drummer and singer whose vocals included "Day In, Day Out" and "Our Love is Here to Stay." Pianist Ron Barber also sang entertainingly on "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You" and "I Got a Way with Women." Dave Trefethen played very supportive bass.
Vibist Fanning's quartet included Trefethen on guitar, Dominic Mancini on bass and Dane Hassan on drums. They opened with "Seven Come Eleven" and closed with an encore "Sweet Georgia Brown." Their sparkling tunes included "Willow Weep for Me," Lady Be Good" and "Moonglow."
Pianist Riddell also sang scat duets with Bev Gerety. Vocals included "Knock Me A Kiss," "Black Nile" and "If You're Smart, How Come You Ain't Rich." Combo members were valve trombonist Jim Brenner, bassist Sherrell McCants and drummer Art Siegel. Guests were Bob Powers on flugelhorn and singer Morrie Trumble. Among swinging instrumentals were "Cherokee" and "Night in Tunisia."
Friday morning concerts at Harmony House by the Sophisticated Swing Big Band began on Nov. 2. The band was founded in 1990, is managed by Frank Murbach and features singer Lois LaRue. It plays new concerts each week from fine arrangements. Swing Era tunes included "That Old Black Magic," "String of Pearls," "Begin the Beguine" and "Woodchoppers Ball."
I enjoyed a Tuesday evening jam at Harmony House on Nov. 13. Patricia Dean was leader, subbing for drummer, trumpeter and singer David Pruyn, who has joined Bill Allred's Classic Jazz Band. Jack Fanning is there often on vibes, and this jam paired saxophonists Jim Wellen and Klaus Bader, who was here from Germany to make a new CD.
Down the road at Punta Gorda on Nov. 12, the Charlotte County Jazz Society staged a concert by the Jim Roberts Saxtet. Orlando-based arranger and pianist Roberts led a trio for the society's first event in 1991. Saxophonists Rex Wertz, David MacKenzie and Jeff Rupert played a beautiful "West End Blues," a swinging "Indiana" and Latinish "St. Thomas." They switched to flutes for two harmonious tunes. Powerful rhythm was provided by drummer Ed Metz and bassist Bob Burns.
Dozens of area musicians did a memorial tribute to pianist Dick Corn at Englewood Nov. 10. Corn died in August, was with the Dixie Spirit band in Venice and others nationally. His twin sons, Greg on drums and Steve on piano, came from Indiana to honor their dad.
Amazing 12-year-old violinist Jonathan Russell came to Venice on Nov. 19 for concerts with Bud Leeds and Friends at Bay Indies hall and Pelican Pointe club. He was with the band in Clearwater's Suncoast fest the day before. The repertoire included "It's Wonderful," Jonathan's vocal on "Puttin' on the Ritz" and his plaintive "Memories of You." Among his duets with others were "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" with bassist John Lamb.
A Klezmer-Dixie Band led by cornetist Jason Arkin played in a show Oct. 28 at the Jewish Center of Venice. The entertaining event included humorous skits and dancers. "Basin Street Blues" was among its dixie tunes, and pianist Thelma Cohen played duets with clarinetist Leon Backhaut. An oboe/flute duo also played Joplin's "Pineapple Rag."
Glenn Miller music was played by organist Jim Gorby for an "Osprey Music Club" concert Oct. 19. "Club" members are students and customers at Fletcher Music Center, formerly located in Venice. Its free concerts feature classic big band and other music on a powerful organ.
In Venice, the Dixie Spirit band is in its 10th season on Thursday evenings at T.J. Carney's, and clarinetist Tony Onorato's Gentlemen of Jazz began a sixth season of Thursday afternoon concerts at the downtown gazebo.
So much was happening nearby that I didn't get to Sarasota's great Jazz At Two concerts on Fridays. My wife, Ruth, and I videotaped for archives at November's Suncoast fest. First-timers there were Herbicide led by Florida trombonist Herb Bruce, Sac a Pulses from France, Sister Swing and Titanic from California and Banu Gibson's New Orleans Hot Jazz.
Like Rip Van Winkle, our Suncoast music scene slumbers in summers, then comes alive as visitors and snowbird residents begin flocking back.
January 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag
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