Every Monday night, 8-10 p.m., there is good big band music at the Arch Street Tavern, 85 Arch St., Hartford, Conn. The music is provided by Donn Trenner's 17-piece Hartford Jazz Orchestra with vocalist Bobbi Rogers. The band was formerly the Chick Chicetti Orchestra. Trenner formerly was music director for Ann Margret, Steve Allen, Bob Hope and many other stars. Details can be obtained from www.archstreettavern.com or call (860) 246-7510.

Trombonist Jim Fryer was featured Feb. 5 in concert with a student/community band led by Professor David Chevan at Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven. Fryer and the Usual Suspects returned Feb. 29 to play rare tunes at the Silvermine Tavern, Norwalk, Conn. With Fryer were string bassist Genevieve Rose, pianist Rex Cadwallader, and drummer Jesse Hameen II.

On Feb. 9, reedman Craig Ball's White Heat Swing Orchestra performed for a swing dance lesson at the St. James Armenian Hall, Watertown, Mass., and on Feb. 23, WHSO, with vocalist Debbie Larkin, was featured by the Concord Music Events Committee at the First Parish Church, Concord, Mass.

On Feb. 7, Stan McDonald's Blue Horizon Five was at Ma Glockner's, Bellingham, Mass. With McDonald, who played soprano saxophone and clarinet, were Jeff Hughes, trumpet/cornet/ flugelhorn; Royce Anderson, guitar; Al Ehrenfried, string bass, and Richard Malcolm, drums. Malcolm recently married his long-time girl friend, Alice, and the newlyweds spent their honeymoon on a jazz cruise. Malcolm is the regular drummer with the Riverboat Stompers in the Boston area.

McDonald's Blue Horizon Jazz Band was at the Sherborn Inn, Sherborn, Mass. on Feb. 19. With McDonald were trumpeter Jeff Stout, trombonist Gerry Gagnon, pianist Ross Petot, string bassist Al Ehrenfried, and drummer Dave Bragdon.

Doctor John Clark's Wolverine Jazz Band played at Ma Glockner's on Feb. 22 and was scheduled to play March 4 at the Sherborn Inn. On March 30, from 2-4 p.m., the Wolverines will appear with the Mood Elevators, a woman's vocal trio which sings in the swing style of the Andrews Sisters and also sings some traditional jazz tunes. They'll be at the Amazing Things Arts Center, Framingham, Mass.

On Feb. 23, WJB cornetist Jeff Hughes and reedman Clark played with the Old Possum Jazz Band, led by tubaist Gary Buttery, at the Garde Theatre, New London, Conn. OPJB is featured in The Real McCoy, a feature-length documentary film about Bill McCoy, America's pioneer rum runner during Prohibition. The film was produced and directed by Bailey Pryor, a resident of Mystic, Conn. Call (860) 444-7373 for additional information.

At 7:30 p.m., March 15, John Clark, pianist Ross Petot and special guest banjoist/vocalist Bob Barta will appear as the Wolverine Jazz Trio for the Arts in The Village Concert Fundraiser at Goff Memorial Hall, 125 Bay State Road, Rehoboth, Mass. Call (508) 252-5781 for reservations and more information.

Clark's Wolverine Jazz Band will appear at the Chattanooga Traditional Jazz Festival during the first weekend in May.

Larry Zuk's New New Orleans Jazz Band played Mardi Gras music Feb. 17 for the benefit of the Emerson Umbrella Center of the Arts, Concord, Mass.

Cornetist Fred Vigorito's Galvanized Jazz Band Quintet returns March 9 to the Beachhead Restaurant, 3 Cosey Beach Avenue, East Haven, Conn., from 6-8:30 p.m. Call (203) 469-5450 for details and reservations. Neil DeFeo will be GJB's guest trombonist when GJB plays again from 6-8:30 p.m. on April 6 at Marisa's Restaurant, 6540 Main Street, Trumbull, Conn. Call (203) 459-4225 for reservations.

Drummer Bill Logozzo's Heartbeat Jazz Band, with guest trombonbist Skip Hughes, appears at Oliver's Restaurant, Essex, Conn., from 7-10 p.m. on March 6.

Galvanized Jazz Band fan John Hanrahan passed away suddenly Feb. 9 and was buried Feb. 14 at St. Mary's Cemetery, New London, Conn. GJB played for John and Mary Hanrahan's 50th wedding anniversary Aug. 24. Hanrahan and his wife, Mary, were at Oliver's, Essex, Conn., to hear the Heartbeat Jazz Band Feb. 7, so he was enjoying jazz to the end of his life.

If you have news of traditional jazz, swing or ragtime in New England, please e-mail me at algeob@aol.com or call me at (781) 762-9344. I'd like to learn more about what is happening in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont.

March 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag

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