A FRISCO JAZZ JOURNEY

Transcription

1 September 2014 Volume 39, Number 07 A FRISCO JAZZ JOURNEY By Ray Skjelbred Above: Bob Schulz When I played with Turk Murphy s band, most of the time we were at the Fairmont Hotel. The others in the regular group were Bill Carroll, tuba; Lynn Zimmer, clarinet; John Gill, banjo, soprano sax and drums and Bob Schulz, trumpet. In late 1986, when I decided to leave the band to return to teaching, Jim Maihack took my place. More changes happened soon afterward. Bill Armstrong took John Gill s place and Ron Deeter took over for Lynn Zimmer. Then Turk s health started to deteriorate. He wasn t up to playing trombone any more, but he still came to work, played washboard for a couple of hours, then went home to rest up. Jim Maihack took his place and I returned to help out on piano as many nights as I could, even though I was teaching school. When Turk died, the group stayed on and kept playing the Murphy music with Bob Schulz leading it, until the hotel management decided to change musical directions. So the Bob Schulz band was literally an outgrowth of the Turk Murphy band. When the Schulz band began to work regularly, much of it came through old Turk Murphy connections like the See s Candy sponsorship of Chuck Huggins and other traditional Murphy gigs. From the beginning, Schulz used some different personnel from the Fairmont band and the group usually included me on piano, Bill Carroll, tuba; Scott Anthony, banjo; Bill Maginnis, drums and, at various times in the earliest years, Bill Napier, Phil Howe, Jim Rothermel or Kim Cusack on clarinet and Bob Mielke, Mike Starr or Tom Bartlett on trombone. And then the band started shifting its direction. Although much of the Murphy arrangements were second nature to the band, Schulz started heading more toward the sound and repertoire of Bob Scobey. When Bill Carroll died, the tuba chair went to either Mike Walbridge or Jim Maihack. Along the way Bob Ringwald and Ray Templin have also played piano in the band; Hal Smith, Jeff Hamilton, Chris Tyle, Mike Daugherty, Ray Templin and Wayne Jones have all been notable drummers. Eventually Kim Cusack became the fulltime clarinetist and Doug Finke the regular trombone player. The Bob Schulz Frisco Jazz Band is noted for its relaxed swing, knowledge of jazz and a lot of laughing. The personal comfort zone in a band is important and all of us have enjoyed playing with Bob, who tends to trust the musicians he works with and generally has his faith rewarded by good playing and an easy working relationship. The group has been going for over 25 years now and it has performed at many festivals, cruises, concerts and jazz club meetings. One of the steadiest gigs for years has been the Puget Sound Jazz Society meeting in September each year and the band always looks forward to it. The band has many good recordings and I am particularly fond of the duet that Bob and I did a couple of years ago. WHERE: Ballard Elks Lodge, 6411 Seaview Ave. NW, Seattle. WHEN: 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Sunday, September 21 ADMISSION: $12 PSTJS members; $15 nonmembers. Pay only at door. FURTHER INFO: Carol Rippey Or - website: Plenty of free parking; great view & dance floor, snacks, coffee, and other beverages available.

2 Jazz Soundings Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society Ocean Avenue Edmonds, WA UPCOMING EVENTS Elks Lodge, Ballard, 6411 Seaview Ave N.W., Seattle September 2014 Gigs for Local Bands BELLINGHAM TRADITIONAL JAZZ SOCIETY 1st Saturday, 2-5 pm VFW Hall 625 N. State St Sept 6 Bob Storms Dixieland All-Stars Oct 4 Bob Aitken s Clamdiggers Nov 1 Uptown Lowdown Dec 6 Gerry Green s Crescent City Shakers Page 2 Sept 21 Oct 19 Nov 16 Dec 21 Bob Schulz s Frisco Jazz Band Black Swan Evergreen Classic Ray Skjelbred s First Thursday Band PRESIDENT Judy Levy jazzdancer2@msn.com VICE PRESIDENT Jack Temp SECRETARY Cilla Trush paultrush@yahoo.com TREASURER Gloria Kristovich gkristo@live.com BOARD OF DIRECTORS Joanne Hargrave shorejo1@comcast.net Leroy Johnson moldyfig@hotmail.com Jan Lemmon djlemmon@msn.com Edmunde Lewin Gary Lydum glydumup@hotmail.com George Oelrich goelrich@comcast.net Carol Rippey trianglejazz@comcast.net George Swinford grs-pms@comcast.net MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Carol Rippey trianglejazz@comcast.net EDITOR Anita LaFranchi jazzeditor@q.com WEBMASTER George Peterson ggpeters99@gmail.com JAZZ SOUNDINGS Published monthly except July and August by the Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society. Anita LaFranchi, Editor, jazzeditor@q.com Ads must be submitted in a jpeg or PDF format Payment in advance to: Gloria Kristovich, P.O. Box 373, Edmonds, WA Advertising Rates: Full page $ /2 wide by 9 1/2 tall Half Page $ /2 wide by 4 1/4 tall Quarter Page $ /8 Wide by 4 1/4 tall Deadline is the 10th of the month for the next month s issue DAVE HOLO S BAND Sep 5 5-8pm Salty s in West Seattle, For more information visit: Sep pm Salty s in West Seattle, For more information visit: GRAND DOMINION JAZZ BAND Sep 5,7 Pentastic Hot Jazz Festival - Penticton, BC, Canada Sep 26,28 Vancouver Dixieland Society - Jazz Band Ball- Pacific Inn, White Rock, BC, Canada PEARL DJANGO Sep 5, pm Tagaris Winery 844 Tulip Lane, Richland, WA 99352; Reservations: Sep 13 7pm Under the Red Umbrella Call first - this may sell out! 1502 Rucker Avenue Everett, WA Sep 17,21 Djangofest Northwest RAY SKJELBRED S FIRST THURSDAY BAND Sep 26,28 Simon Stribling and First Thursday Band The Jazz Band Ball (South Surrey, BC) For more info visit: UPTOWN LOWDOWN JAZZ BAND Sep pm Kent Farmers Market Double Barrs Sep pm Poulsbo Farmers Market Double Barrs Sep pm Third Place Commons Farmers Market Double Barrs Sep 27,28 Vancouver, B.C. Dixieland Jazz Festival On Your Dial... Saturday 7-12 pm Swing Years and Beyond KUOW 94.9 FM Sunday 3-6 pm Art of Jazz, Ken Wiley, KPLU 88.5 FM

3 Jazz Soundings September 2014 Page 3 A BIG THANK YOU! Special thanks to these P.S.T.J.S. members for sponsoring the Bob Schulz Jazz Band. KEITH & CAROLYN BAKER ROD BELCHER THERESE BERG DENNIS & BARBARA BREWER WILLIAM & ANNABELLE CABLE LARRY CANNON BEN & IRMGARD CASTLEBERRY PETER & CHLOE COMANOR JOSEPH DWYER TED & SHIRLEY ELDER MARY JANE ERICKSON JERRY & EVA FADER ROD & BEV GROSSO JOHN HEINZ BOB & SYLVIA HUBBERT JAN JAMES LEROY JOHNSON RAY KING WAYNE & MARY LOU KLOPFENSTEIN PETER KOK BUSSO & JANETTE LEMME JUDY LEVY EDMUNDE LEWIN EVERIL LOYD RON & MARION MacQUEEN DICK & TIP MARTIN J.P. (PAT) MARTIN ALICE MCKAY JOHN OCHS DOUG PARKER JANET PERRINS GEORGE & ARLENE PETERSON VERN & LAUREL REDECKER CAROL RIPPEY BOB ROGERS TERRY ROGERS MARILYN STAUTER GEORGE & PAT SWINFORD JACK TEMP JIM WALKER BOB WEST The Frisco Jazz Band Performers descriptions taken from BOB SCHULZ: Leader, Cornet and Vocals Bob was born in Wonewoc, WI. He was a band director for 17 years before joining the legendary Turk Murphy Jazz Band of San Francisco in His eight years with Turk included 300 taped radio shows, many LPs, tours of US and Europe and the Carnegie Hall tribute to Turk. Bob still leads the Turk Murphy band for special engagements. He is the foremost exponent of the Bob Scobey trumpet style and is an outstanding vocalist in the tradition of Clancy Hayes. RAY SKJELBRED: Piano Ray moved to the Bay Area in 1969 where he immediately became part of the local music scene and played with all the most noted musicians and bands, among them Dick Oxtot, Bob Helm, Ev Farey, Turk Murphy, Bill Napier, Bob Mielke, Richard Hadlock, Bob Short and many others. He also has led his own groups Berkeley Rhythm, The Yeti Chasers, The Monogram Boys and the Ray Skjelbred Quartet, and has worked as chosen accompanist for singers such as Victoria Spivey, Barbara Lashley, Barbara Dane, Pat Yankee, Carol Leigh and Claire Austin. Ray is the composer of many musical compositions and has also published three books of poetry in addition to his recordings. San Francisco Examiner jazz critic Phil Elwood called Ray The best jazz pianist in the Bay Area. KIM CUSACK: Clarinet Probably best known for his long association with James Dapogny s Chicago Jazz Band, and his more than thirty-five year tenure with the Salty Dogs Jazz Band, Kim has also played and recorded with Gene Mayl s Dixieland Rhythm Kings, Ernie Carson, Turk Murphy, Georg Brunis, Wild Bill Davison, the Happy Bottom Riding Academy Jazz Band of Dan Williams, and the Jan Garber Orchestra, with whom he was featured tenor saxophonist. Kim lives in the Chicago area, and can be heard regularly at Andy s Jazz Club with Russ Phillips Windy City All-Stars, and often at the Village Tavern in Long Grove. TOM BARTLETT: Trombone Tom Bartlett led his own dixieland pep band in high school in Geneseo, Illinois. He joined the Salty Dogs at Purdue University in 1959, and except for several years in the 60 s when he was in the Peace Corps in Chile and the Army in Panama, has been their principal trombonist. He has also performed and recorded with the Yerba Buena Stompers, Red Rose JB, Down Home JB, West End JB, Ernie Carson, and the Frisco JB. He often gigged with Bob Schulz during the years when Bob was based in the Midwest. HAL SMITH: Drums He became interested in jazz after hearing the Firehouse Five Plus Two at Disneyland in the early 60s. He took up drums in 1963, and was greatly influenced by live performances by Ben Pollack, Nick Fatool, Fred Higuera, Smokey Stover, Wayne Jones and others. He is self-taught except for study with Jake Hanna in He has been a full-time musician since His resume includes work with the Dukes of Dixieland, Jim Cullum s Jazz Band, New Black Eagle Jazz Band, South Frisco Jazz Band, Climax Jazz Band, Grand Dominion Jazz Band, Bobby Gordon, Rebecca Kilgore, Marty Grosz and his own groups, including the Down Home Jazz Band, Frisco Syncopators and the Roadrunners. SCOTT ANTHONY: Banjo, Guitar and Vocals Scott and his wife Susan moved to San Francisco in 1974 with no money, no job, and a 140 lb. Newfoundland Dog. They were very lucky getting fairly good jobs soon after arrival. Scott worked for almost 2 years playing a solo banjo, pedal-bass, drum machine and vocal stint 5 nights a week at a fairly up-scale restaurant chain. After this he accidentally heard of an opening for the intermission spot at Turk Murphy s club, Earthquake McGoon s and held that job for 8 years until McGoon s closed. Since 1984, he has led and played in the Golden Gate Rhythm Machine, as well as Bob Schulz s Frisco Jazz Band, and others. MIKE WALBRIDGE: Tuba He has been influenced by brass bassists of the 20s and 30s-such as Bill Oldham, Country Washburne, Lawson Buford, Bert Cobb and Quinn Wilson, as well as the San Francisco pioneers. Walbridge joined the Original Salty Dogs in the 60s and immediately gained a reputation as a world-class brass bassist. He had two stints with Turk Murphy s Jazz Band (once on cornet), but for the most part he has remained in Chicago, working with many different traditional groups there, leading the Chicago Footwarmers and occasionally leaving town for a tour, festival or recording session. Walbridge s many recordings with the Salty Dogs illustrate a variety of influences, but his recordings with the Down Home Jazz Band demonstrate a full, mellow tone, a dancing beat, impeccable choice of notes and inventive solos.

4 Jazz Soundings September 2014 Page 4 ~ Letters of Thanks to PSTJS ~ Dear PSTJS, I ve had a wonderful time at Camp Heebie Jeebies these past years, and I am extremely thankful to the members of the Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society for letting me continually have this experience. As usual, my favorite part of the entire week was the small Trad Band practices. I could tell that my skills as an improviser on clarinet were greatly improving through the focused instruction that the small groups provide. In the small groups we could play faster, more advanced songs, and learn them in a shorter time than we thought we could have in larger groups. Lake Crescent as always was incredibly scenic and made the entire experience even better. It is an amazing experience to play music in that encouraging environment with the dedicated and enthusiastic faculty that I look forward to working with every year. I am extremely grateful to play this music that my generation doesn t always get the chance to enjoy. This style of music is my favorite to listen to and play all year long and I m glad I can help to preserve it. I always enjoy the time I spend there, and I hope to return this coming year. Thank you very much, Adam Gill Dear Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society, My name is Jacob Campbell and I want to say thank you so much for helping me go to Camp Heebie Jeebies for my first time this month! I had so much fun and learned so much, I can t believe I was nervous to go at first. I am going into 8 th grade this year and I play the trombone, which I love a lot. I have been playing it for 3 years, mostly in band at school but also in jazz band that practices before school, after school or at lunch time. I also just got to start taking some private lessons one time per week in Tacoma. When my mom told me about Camp Heebie Jeebies I was nervous because I didn t know anyone but when my mom came to pick me up at the end of the week I told her I wanted to go again next year. I met and made friends pretty quickly and even exchanged phone numbers with some people. Hopefully I get to see them and play music again with them next year. I even tried new kinds of food I wouldn t eat at home and I even did dishes, that was fun because then you might get leftover desserts. My mom didn t believe I did dishes. I was also nervous because I didn t feel like I was that good at jazz music but with all of the instructors and help I feel like I learned the music quickly. My favorite thing was the theory classes, I learned plenty of things in those classes so I can compose music much better than before. We don t really get time or help with theory in school. I also learned a lot more about different types of trombones and what different ones are made of and how much they cost. I m thinking about playing the bass trombone now. So, thank you again for your help so I could go to camp. I m looking forward to going next year and to hopefully seeing the friends I made this year and probably getting to know some new ones. Thank you, Jacob Campbell Notes From the Prez Welcome back to our 10 months of awesome live Jazz. Again we re getting off to a great start with Bob Schulz and his Frisco Jazz Band. And here s the great news... they will be playing on Saturday 5-8pm at the Royal Room; beautiful venue, Steinway grand piano on stage, food and beverages available, large dance floor. NO COVER! As you all are aware, the New Orleans Creole Restaurant has been closed for remodeling since January so we needed to find a new venue for the Saturday session. Check it out on the internet, www. theroyalroomseattle.com. The address is 5000 Rainier Avenue S., easy access from either I-5 or 405. You can get driving directions online too. I really hope to see many of you there, bring a friend or come alone, just be there to enjoy the first of two sessions with the Schulz guys Saturday, September 20. The second of course will be at our regular Elks event in Ballard. Be sure to read the thank you letters from our two 2014 Jazz Camp students Adam Gill and Jacob Campbell. Adam has been invited to sit in with the Schulz band for our Sunday session at the Elks. It ll be a wonderful weekend for both events. I can t wait to get back in the music groove, except for the always fabulous experience at camp it s been a long summer. I also always look forward to hangin with my Jazz Family. Cheers, Judy

5 Jazz Soundings September 2014 Page 5 Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society Ocean Ave., Edmonds, WA Please (enroll) (renew) (me) (us) as a member or members Name Address City, State Zip Code Phone Check when renewing if your address label is correct Dues for 12 months: Single $25 Couple $40 Lifetime single $200 Lifetime Couple $350 Patron $500 (One or two lifetime membership) Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to the performance and preservation of traditional jazz. Your membership and contributions are tax-deductible. Thank you. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! RICHARD McNEESE LEE AND CHRISTINE STEWART CHERYL WALTER SUE WEST We re looking for new Members YOU can help with little effort and that s by bringing just one of your friends or family members into our club. If WE ALL do that, our membership will double. SUBSCRIBE TODAY News You Can Use About Traditional Jazz and Ragtime U.S. One Year: $26 -:- Canadian $39 U.S. Funds* U.S. Two Years: $48 -:- Canadian $74 U.S. Funds* (*) Includes Airmail Delivery Make check payable to: The American Rag Skyline Ranch Dr., Apple Valley, CA Phone/Fax: Name Address City State Phone Zip + 4 Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society

6 Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society Ocean Ave. Edmonds, WA Address service requested Non-profit Org U..S. Postage Paid Seattle, WA Permit 1375 X on your Jazz Soundings address label means your dues are payable. XX means Good-bye BANDS, CONTACTS AIN T NO HEAVEN SEVEN Leader: Terry Rogers terryrrogers@comcast.net COAL CREEK JAZZ BAND Leader: Judy Logen, Bookings: judy@coalcreekjazzband.com COMBO DE LUXE Bookings: Candace Brown jazzstrings@comcast.net CORNUCOPIA CONCERT BAND Leader: Allan Rustad DUKES OF DABOB Bookings: Mark Holman, , seaclar7@embarqmail.com. DUWAMISH JAZZ BAND Bookings: Carol Johnston carolanjo@yahoo.com EVERGREEN CLASSIC JAZZ BAND Leader: Tom Jacobus t.jacobus@comcast.net ph: or cell FIRST THURSDAY BAND Leader: Ray Skjelbred, Rayskjelbred@gmail.com FOGGY BOTTOM JAZZ BAND Leader: Bruce Cosacchi GRAND DOMINION JAZZ BAND Bookings: Bob Pelland bobpelland@gdjb.com holotradband Leader: Dave Holo dave@daveholo.com HOT CLUB SANDWICH Contact: James Schneider HUME STREET PRESERVATION JAZZ BAND Bookings: Karla West JAZZ UNLIMITED BAND Leader: Duane Wright duane.janw@frontier.com JAZZ STRINGS Bookings: Candace Brown jazzstrings@comcast.net LOUISIANA JOYMAKERS! Leader: Leigh Smith smithtunes@shaw.ca THE MARKET STREET DIXIELAND JASS BAND Ansgar Duemchen: Tim Sherman MIGHTY APHRODITE Co-leaders: Bria Skonberg, Claire McKenna mightyaphroditejazz@hotmail.com NEW ORLEANS QUINTET Jake Powel jake_powel@comcast.net RAINIER JAZZ BAND Manager: Randy Keller randolphscottkeller@gmail.com RAY SKJELBRED Rayskjelbred@gmail.com RONNIE PIERCE JAZZ ENSEMBLE ronniepiercemusic@yahoo.com, UPTOWN LOWDOWN JAZZ BAND Leader: Bert Barr uljb@yahoo.com WILD CARDS JAZZ Leader: Randy Keller randolphscottkeller@gmail.com