Here's a good look at Robin Verdier of the Paramount Jazz Band. His piano playing has brightened the New England jazz scene for years.

Continued: EarlyJas Fall Festival

Dave Greer's Classic Jazz Stompers is a romping, stomping good-feel jazz outfit whose classy, expert musicianship allows them to tackle all manner of material drawn from, but not confined to, the '20s and '30s. For example, the band played an interestng version of Thelonious Monk's "Blue Monk" which was appropriately blusey and certainly not out of place here. The leader's plaintive, homespun vocals held lots of appeal and reminded one of Turk Murphy's approach to vocalizing. Not a great voice but a very effective one, Greer sang "Am I Blue?", "How Deep Is The Ocean?" and "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me," among others. The Stompers front-line includes Chris Moore on cornet, Erik Greiffenhagen and Greg Dearth on a variety of reeds, John MacQueen on string bass, the versatile Ted des Plantes on piano and vocals and the aforementioned busy Gus Ross on drums. As a first-time listener, I was wowed by Greer's eight-piece band and would go out of my way to hear them again. We found Ted des Plantes vocal on "The Panic Is On" appropriate for today's headlines. His "Bohemia Rag," a piano solo, was well received by an attentive audience. The Greer crew showed controlled heat on such as "Some Of These Days" and "Dippermouth Blues" and turned down the thermostat for the likes of "Kansas City Man Blues" and "Savoy Blues," a rewarding listen.

It was great to hear the Devil Mountain Jazz Band again without having to fly to California. This normally eight-piece group was expanded to ten at times with the return of alumni, cornetist/vocalist Tom Cantrell from Chicago and trombonist/vocalist Jim Lee from Iowa. Current regular band members include leader/banjoist/vocalist Ken Keeler, tuba man Keith Baltz, drummer Allan Grissette and pianist Virginia Tichenor, making up a solid rhythm team. Front-line regulars are comprised of Ken Brock on cornet, flugelhorn and arrangements galore, Noel Weidkamp on cornet, slide trumpet and reeds, Pete Main on clarinet, soprano sax and occasional duck call and Glenn Calkins on trombone. This is one extremely versatile band that really cooks, stomps, swings and gives real meaning to the term "hot dance." They paid tribute to Lu Watters, opening with Yerba Buena Strut," to Louis with "Cornet Shop Suey" and "Mahogany Hall Stomp," to Duke with "Mood Indigo" and "Black and Tan Fantasy," to King Oliver with "Working Man Blues" and "Sobbin' Blues." Worthy of mention was an outstanding version of William H. Krell's "Mississippi Rag" featuring Virginia Tichenor and the brass section. The Saturday evening lounge appearance was spiced up with the addition of Jimmy and Carrie Mazzy, longtime friends of the band, who broke it up with their vocalizing. Jimmy's "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" and Carrie's "Love Songs Of The Nile" were touching gems. The Devil Mountain (Mt.Diablo) also delved back into some ancient period pops such as "Home In Pasadena" which was crooned by Tom Cantrell and "Ray and His Little Chevrolet" which isn't heard much in regular circles anymore. Cheers for Devil Mountain's versatility and vast repertore.

The Paramount Jazz Band of Boston is a slight misnomer since leader/tubaist Chuck Stewart now resides in Arizona, reedman Gary Rodberg lives near Biloxi, multi-instrumentalist Steve Wright hails from the Seattle area and drummer Ron Leach lives in Portland, Ore. The remaining threesome are still in the Boston area. They are Jimmy Mazzy on banjo and vocals, Jeff Hughes on cornet and Robin Verdier at the piano keyboard. "Boasting one of the most extensive and eclectic books in the country, the band plays music drawn from more than seventy years of American popular and jazz music." Personnel from the other groups were often spotted in the audience, reinforcing the statement that the "Paramount is known as the band musicians go to hear." Each member of the band has contributed to the extensive book which is full of tunes associated with Clarence Williams, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Bix Beiderbecke, Jimmie Noone, Richard M. Jones, Sonny Clay and Buck Evans, among many others. Ex-leader and founder drummer Ray Smith has retired to the Carolinas, but the rest of the original group remains intact and have not missed or skipped a beat. It's deja vu all over again at these reunions when you hear this remarkable collection of kindred musical souls. Jimmy Mazzy's heartfelt and often passionate vocals along with his ringing banjo, Jeff Hughes' bell-like, often Bix-inspired cornet and the reed team's interplay will remain among the pleasant memories of this year's EarlyJas Fall Jazz Festival.

Although not a scheduled part of the program, an impromptu performance on Saturday late afternoon is worthy of mention. Jean Huling, known in ragtime circles as "Sister Jean, the Ragtime Queen," and her grandson, "Little Laundry" gave the lounge occupants a few rags.  "Little Laundry" whose given name is Kenan Leslie, first performed on washboard and then switched to piano for "Maple Leaf Rag" and "Swipesy Cake Walk." This 13-year-old was then coached and tutored by Virginia Tichenor who was standing by. The scene was so fascinating that we delayed dinner. Who needs food when music is at hand?

It would be a good idea to set calendar reminders for next September's EarlyJas festival so as to remember this shot-in-the-arm for traditional jazz. It just might help you get through the winter.

Cornetist Chris Moore and trombonist Gordon Moore of Dave Greer's Classic Jazz Stompers display their expertise in playing the sizzling hot dance sounds of the 1920s and '30s.

November 2008 issue | © 2008 The Mississippi Rag

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