Ann Greco's Dance Line performed in front of Dave Greer's Classic Jazz Stompers, which included reedmen Greg Dearth and Eric Greiffenhagen, bassist John McQueen, banjoist/leader Dave Geer, drummer Jim Wesley, trumpeter Chris Moore and trombonist Gordon Moore.

Continued: Tribute to Bix

Dave Greer and his Classic Jazz Stompers made the trek from Dayton, Ohio, to play at the Tribute to Bix in 2004, and their return was long anticipated. Greer has a solid band, and there were no personnel changes from the band that appeared in 2004. Greer plays a variety of stringed instruments, including a classic resonator guitar from the late 1920s. He sits on a stool in the middle of the band, strumming along, occasionally vocalizing, and looking pleased as punch to front such a fine band. Personnel included Chris Moore, trumpet; Gordon Moore, trombone; Eric Greiffenhagen and Greg Dearth, reeds; Greer, banjo and guitar; Ted DesPlantes, piano; John McQueen, bass, and Jim Wesley, drums.

The Classic Jazz Stompers play the classic repertoire of the late 1920s, and they generated a full head of steam on numbers like "Wa Wa Wa," my favorite Dixie Syncopators tune, "Old Man Blues" and "Jubilee." They also scored on slower numbers, including a gorgeous rendition of "Black and Tan Fantasy," sensitive readings of "Singin' the Blues" and "Kansas City Man Blues," and a nice vocal from Jim Wesley on "What Are You Waiting For, Mary," a Bing Crosby favorite. The band also accompanied Ann Greco's 1920's style chorus line on "Doodle Do Doo." The chorines were not one year older but better; they add a touch of class to the event and provide a nice change of pace.

Banjoist Dave Greer leads the Classic Jazz Stompers, a fine band from Dayton, Ohio.

Roland Pilz has been a longtime Tribute to Bix visitor. In the past he visited a few times with Claus Jacobi's Bottomland Orchestra, and this was his third visit with the Jazz O'Maniacs. Their last visit, two years ago, was well-documented with a CD and DVD from Delmark. Pilz has been leading a band around Hamburg since the 1960s and the Jazz O'Maniacs this year were about the same as two years ago, except that the clarinetist, Lutz Jordan, was unable to make the trip two years ago, and Manfred Schnader filled in on trombone this year. The group included Pilz, cornet; Schnader, trombone; Jordan, clarinet; Andreas Clement, piano; Uwe Hansen, banjo; Gunter Andernach, washboard and Dietrich Kleine-Horst, tuba.

The Jazz O'Maniacs specialize in the music of the late 1920s, particularly as favored by Clarence Williams. Their performance included great Williams numbers like "Terrible Blues," "Texas Moaner," "Cushion Foot Stomp" and "In the Bottle." They also scored with a hilarious version of "Shanghai Honeymoon," a seldom-performed Jimmy Blythe specialty, and a powerful rendition of "Washboard Wiggles," a Tiny Parham feature. The Jazz O'Maniacs have been favorites at the Tribute to Bix for a long time, and they certainly satisfied their many fans with their performances this year.

Another feature that distinguishes the Tribute to Bix from other fests is the jam session. The Racine Marriott is built with the convention facilities in a separate building from the hotel, so the events can continue long into the night without interrupting anyone's sleep. The jam session began after the last scheduled concert and was still going strong when I turned in an hour and a half later. The session included some of the players from the bands appearing this year as well as a number of younger players who bring their instruments to hone their skills in front of an enthusiastic and supportive audience. This year's jam session was the best yet in terms of participation. At one time I counted 15 players, including four trumpets, four trombones, three saxes, two tubas, two drummers, and a banjoist, a pianist and a washboard player. Sessions like this tend to be rough and ready, but Brad Kay kept things pretty well organized. The group worked out on favorites like "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Sweet Sue," "Fidgety Feet" and "Rosetta," and a good time was had by all.

Sunday's events included the cutting of the traditional cakes, specially baked to resemble various Beiderbecke recordings.

All in all, I think this was the best of the Tributes to Bix, and I think the full house that partook of Saturday's concert would agree with me. Phil Pospychala puts on the whole thing himself with the treasured assistance from his famous Schmooze Girls. The emphasis is on the music, and this festival has become a standard part of my year and that of a hopefully-growing army of early jazz enthusiasts. Posphychala has been doing this for a long time, and he always manages to get it right. He said this was his second-worst year in terms of a deficit. but hopefully he'll have the time and money to put on another great gathering next year.

The Jazz O'Maniacs play music of the 1920s and have a special affinity for the tunes of Clarence Williams. From left: pianist Andreas Clement (partially obscured behind trombonist Manfred Schnader);  Roland Pilz, leader and  cornetist, and Lutz Jordan, sax and clarinet.

June 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag

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