This poster was made to show the party honorees at the 2004 Arbors Jazz Party. Programs for this and other parties achieved a whole new level in quality with superlative fact-gathering, writing and photo presentation, making the programs a worthy addition to any jazz bookshelf. 

Continued: Domber

Since then, he and Wolff have co-sponsored four more cruises with up to 25 all-star musicians on the Crystal Cruise Line with Jazzdagen Tours of California.  Destinations were the Mexican Riviera in 2005 and 2008, New England and Canada in 2006 and the Caribbean in 2007.

Two tributes to bassist Bob Haggart also were produced in his former hometown, Venice, Fla., in 2007 and 2008. Each featured large all-star bands and players in creative combinations co-directed by Dick Hyman and Randy Sandke. Both resulted in inspired performances by players.

Last year, Domber began to miss the excitement of putting on jazz parties. So, on January 16 and 17, 2009, he will present the first Arbors Invitational, featuring six international piano stars with 11 other all-star musicians. It is planned to be a new annual party series.

The Statesmen of Jazz

"The Statesmen of Jazz is a non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving the heritage of jazz through performances and clinics by master musicians chosen from an ensemble pool that now numbers more than 50 musicians," said Domber. "Maurice Lawrence and I proposed this in 1992 when we were on the board of the American Federation of Jazz Societies. It sponsored the pilot program, and the corporation was formed in 1999."

Bob Haggart was the honoree on his 80th birthday at the first March of Jazz party in 1994 and at others later. (He's shown here at the 1995 Suncoast festival.)

He added, "We chose the name because the musicians didn't want to be called `senior citizens,' though the original group were all 55 or older. Over time, the age limitation was eliminated, and musicians as young as 21-year-old Aaron Weinstein have participated."

The first Statesmen performance was at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee in 1995. Prior to that trombonist Al Grey called Domber in the middle of a night and said, "We gotta have something to sell at the concert to make money for the Statesman program."

So, with the help of Grey and Milt Hinton, the first music director, a hastily assembled record session was held with Benny Waters, the oldest then at age 93, Clark Terry, Joe Wilder, Buddy Tate, Claude Williams, Milt Hinton, Jane Jarvis, Panama Francis, Hinton and Grey

In 2003 a second recording session with 30 musicians resulted in a double CD, with Clark Terry as music director. The galaxy of jazz greats on these recordings played brilliantly as individuals and in groups.

Domber took the Statesmen to Japan for tours in 1997 and 1998. Its groups also have played the Blackpool festival in England, at Edinburgh and Nairn in Scotland, in Paris, Germany and at the Caesarea festival in Israel. Statesmen groups have performed almost 100 concerts in this country and abroad. They played monthly for nearly three years at the Smithsonian Jazz Café, in Washington, D.C.,  and recently on a tour in that area led by Chuck Redd and at Jack Kleinsinger's Highlights of Jazz series in New York City.

Primary Helpers

Domber's jazz activity has been supported by some great helpers, especially his wife, Rachel, who handles marketing, advertising, keeps an eye on the books and sells CDs with him at some festivals and concerts. "She was a country music fan earlier," said Domber, "but now likes jazz and has worked with me since retiring from a government job about 10 years ago."

Indispensable help also comes from Domber's super assistant, Claudia Florczyk. "She runs the office, keeps me organized, arranges travel and has her own fans who insist on talking with her in placing phone orders for CDs and asking about new releases. Musicians and fans alike love her." Claudia's husband, David, efficiently handles shipping and oversees the stockroom.

Those Domber mentions who helped at parties include Don Wolff for videotaping and helping prepare tapes for DVDs. Jim Emerson of Gainesville helped organize Thursday sessions. Charlie Lake of Boston kept musicians on a tight schedule allowing only five minutes between sets. Gary Baldassari supervised the top-quality sound. Barbara Goodhue handled the musicians' hospitality room. Photographer and archivist Duncan Schiedt of Indiana arranged great photo exhibits. Gunnar Jacobsen of Sarasota was general coordinator and assistant as needed.

In the recording area, most CD covers were composed by Luke Melton and booklets assembled by Victor Robertis. Domber said Bryan Shaw has served Arbors since the start as "ears of last resort" and as engineer on several sessions. Most recordings in the last decade were made at Nola Recording Studios operated by Jim Czak and Bill Moss. Doug Pomeroy, an independent engineer, handled some sessions and restored historic tapes.

What the Musicians Say

Some musicians featured at March of Jazz parties and on Arbors records were asked to comment about Mat Domber's contributions to jazz and how he has enhanced their musical opportunities. All praised him gratefully, and here are brief summaries of specific comments.

Nicki Parrott wrote, "I wouldn't be playing so many great gigs and have all the recording opportunities if it weren't for Mat. He is an extremely generous person and wonderful to work for. It's also a pleasure to be in the company of his wife, Rachel, who takes such good care of the musicians. Mat has a very positive attitude and finds a way to make things work."

November 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag

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