October 2012 Volume 37, Number 08 OREGON S BLACK SWAN CLASSIC JAZZ BAND ADDS By Rod Belcher BRASS STARS BARR AND LOOMIS PLUS MARILYN KELLER FOR OCTOBER 21 DATE. The combo known as the Black Swan Classic Jazz Band has been described as the top trad group to come out of the state of Oregon, and few would argue the validity of that claim. We of PSTJS get to enjoy the musical output of Black Swan for the second straight year in our concert of Sunday, October 21st. Leader-tubaist Kit Johnson has enhanced the band by booking local area brass players Bert Barr (cornet) and Dave Loomis (trombone) to man its solid front-line. Additionally, Black Swan will feature its marvelous vocalist, Marilyn Keller, who dazzles with both her lyrical and her gritty styles, depending on the type of tune to be sung. The band for many years has played at festivals, cruises, commercial events and on recordings, with enthusiastic audience approval. It s booked for the late November much-lauded festival in San Diego, an indicator of top recognition by the jazz world. In addition to Johnson, Barr, Loomis and Keller, Black Swan s players include Steve Matthes, clarinet; John Bennett, piano; Ron Leach, drums; and Alan Phillips, banjo--all multi-year veterans of offering differing styles of jazz. They provide their own variety of the music most of us have followed for years or even decades. Come to the pre-halloween concert and hear their take on trad jazz. Above: Kit Johnson, tuba & leader, Marilyn Keller, vocal, Bert Barr, cornet, Dave Loomis, trombone, Steve Matthes, clarinet, John Bennett, piano, Ron Leach, drums, Alan Phillips, banjo WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 21, 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. WHERE: Ballard Elks Lodge, 6411 Seaview Ave.NW (Seattle) ADMISSION: $12 - PSTJS members; $15 - non-member guests. Pay only at door. MORE INFO: 425-776-5072 or website: www.pstjs.org Snacks, coffee, other beverages available. Lots of free parking, great view!
Jazz Soundings October 2012 Page 2 Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society 19031 Ocean Avenue Edmonds, WA 98020-2344 425-776-5072 www.pstjs.org UPCOMING EVENTS Elks Lodge, Ballard, 6411 Seaview Ave N.W., Seattle Oct 21 Nov 18 Dec 16 Black Swan Evergreen Classic Ray Skjelbred s First Thursday Band Gigs for Local Bands BELLINGHAM TRADITIONAL JAZZ SOCIETY 1st Saturday 2-5 pm VFW Hall 625 N. State St FIRST THURSDAY BAND 1st Thurs of the month, 7-10 p.m., New Orleans Restaurant, 114 1st Ave S., Seattle, WA GLENN CRYTZER s SYNCOPATORS 1st Sunday and 3rd Wednesday of the Month 9:30-12:30 Century Ballroom 915 East Pine Seattle, WA, 206-324-7263 PRESIDENT: Judy Levy jazzdancer2@msn.com 425-890-6605 VICE PRESIDENT: George Swinford grs-pms@comcast.net 425-869-2780 SECRETARY: Cilla Trush paultrush@yahoo.com 206-363-9174 TREASURER: Gloria Kristovich gkristo@live.com 425-776-7816 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Joanne Hargrave shorejo1@comcast.net 206-550-4664 Leroy Johnson: moldyfig33@yahoo.com 206-772-4378 Jan Lemmon djlemmon@msn.com 425-776-9763 Edmund Lewin: 360-297-6633 Gary Lydum: glydumup@hotmail.com 206-719-3955 George Oelrich: goelrich@comcast.net 360-793-0836 Carol Rippey: trianglejazz@comcast.net 425-776-5072 Jack Temp 425-242-0683 MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Carol Rippey: trianglejazz@comcast.net 425-776-5072 EDITOR Anita LaFranchi: jazzeditor@q.com 206-522-7691 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 98020-0373 Advertising Rates: Full page $100. 7 1/2 wide by 9 1/2 tall Half Page $60. 7 1/2 wide by 4 1/4 tall Quarter Page $40. 3 5/8 Wide by 4 1/4 tall Deadline is the 10th of the month for the next month s issue GRAND DOMINION JAZZ BAND October 4-7 Glacier Jazz Stampede - Kalispell, MT www.glacierjazzstampede.com holotradband Tuesdays, 7-10 p.m., New Orleans Restaurant, 114 1st Ave S., Seattle, WA NEW ORLEANS QUINTET Mondays, 6:30-9:30 pm New Orleans Restaurant, 114 1st Ave S., Seattle, WA GREATER OLYMPIA DIXIELAND JAZZ SOCIETY 2rd Sunday at the Olympia Elks, Times are 1pm till 4:30pm PEARL DJANGO Oct. 7, 7pm Bake s Place Bellevue. Joining us will be Greta Matassa 155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004: phone: (425) 454-2776 Oct. 13, TBA - Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival 221 N Lincoln St, downtown Port Angeles, WA Oct. 13, 7pm Castle Key Restaurant at Manresa Castle Reservations 7th & Sheridan, Port Townsend, WA 98368; (360)385-5750 Oct. 27, 6:30pm A Benefit for Queen Anne Helpline - Joining us will be Greta Matassa - RSVP no later than October 16th in Online at www.queenannehelpline.org or Call 206.282.1540 Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center, Seattle, WA On Your Dial... Saturday 7-12 p.m. Swing Years and Beyond KUOW 94.9 FM Sunday 3-6 p.m. Art of Jazz, Ken Wiley, KPLU 88.5 FM
Jazz Soundings October 2012 Page 3 Gaye Anderson, Patron Saint of Seattle Jazz Musicians By Dave Holo I was first introduced to Gaye Anderson and her New Orleans Creole Restaurant the Friday evening of Mardi Gras weekend, 1986. The New Orleans had opened the previous year and was about to participate in its first Mardi Gras celebration. Gaye and her partner Jimmy Allen decided to bring in some live New Orleans jazz to spice things up. On somewhat short notice, they hired a pickup trio led by Bob Jackson on trumpet. Mike Duffy was on bass. I had the great good fortune to own a banjo and be available when the call came in. The music went over well, we had a good time, and Gaye and Jimmy enjoyed the added ambiance of the music. Only a few weeks later the Bob Jackson Trio with Mike Duffy and Skip McDaniel - a real guitar and banjo player - became the first regular music at the restaurant, playing every Monday, 6:30-9:30. The New Orleans Quintet still occupies the same time slot today. In less than a year, the New Orleans was featuring live music every night. There was jazz Monday through Thursday, and blues on Friday and Saturday, with Sundays a mixed bag. Looking back on it, Gaye and Jimmy s initial decision to bring in Mardi Gras music permanently rearranged the jazz and blues landscape in Seattle. In those early years, Gaye was always working to get things just the way that she wanted them. By the time I started working regularly at Gaye s restaurant in June of 1988 when Jackson left the group, the Monday night band had already become a quartet. George Goldsberry had been added on reeds a few months before my arrival. A few months after my arrival, Bob Gilman came down and sat in on piano one night. Gaye liked the sound of that group and decided we should become a quintet. Musically, she liked it. She wanted that sound in her club. She just did it. If it seemed right, you just do it. Gaye didn t put much faith in can t. During the late 80 s and 90 s, the New Orleans was always hopping. There was music there every night. Every local jazz musician in Seattle was either playing there or trying to get on the calendar. Every blues band in Seattle and on the West Coast wanted to play Gaye s club. I don t think I know a musician who hasn t played at the New Orleans. Gaye hired them, welcomed their friends and fans as though they were family, and created an atmosphere that was unique, comfortable, and a very important part of Seattle s music scene. Musician friends from all over the world are crazy about the place and are very verbal about how lucky Seattle is to have such a place. Gaye was also kind of a mover and shaker in the Pioneer Square Business Association and had a big input on the Fat Tuesday tradition, the joint cover, and a lot of other things that made Pioneer Square a destination for music lovers. In the early years, Gaye would gather up all the musicians who could play while mobile, she d herd us up at Victor Steinbrueck Park behind Pike Place Market, and we d parade from there down Post Alley all the way to Occidental Park in Pioneer Square with revelers and second liners following us. We d then play a short concert in Occidental Square and they d kick off the Mardi Gras festivities. It was crazy, but fun. There are people who don t realize that throughout the 1990 s and well into the first decade of the 2000 s, almost every out-of-area traditional jazz band which played PSTJS also played the New Orleans under Gaye s sponsorship. Gaye s cosponsorship helped PSTJS get some out-ofarea bands to Seattle which just wouldn t have been here otherwise. Gaye would hire them to play Saturday afternoon before her regular Saturday night blues bands. On the days she did that, she paid two bands. It didn t always work out economically, but she believed in the music and wanted to help keep it alive. Gaye s general formula was to hire good local musicians and let them fill the place. Even so, during the heydays a number of big names played there. One night Gaye somewhat apologetically told the Monday night guys that she had to take us off the calendar for a week. Dizzy Gillespie would only appear at her club if he could have a Thursday through Monday. Continued on page 4
Jazz Soundings October 2012 Page 4 Gaye Anderson cont. From page 3 Are you kidding me? To this day, that s still one of my best musician stories. I once lost a gig to Dizzy Gillespie. To be perfectly honest, it was a proud moment for me. But even though Gaye was excited to have Dizzy come play at the club, she truly felt guilty for taking us off the calendar for one night. Gaye was like that. She had respect, appreciation, and loyalty for her musicians. I m sure I played at least a dozen celebrations of life for people who belonged to her New Orleans Restaurant family. When someone you cared about passed on, you gave them a party. That was Gaye s way. I doubt that it s a club owners custom. Floyd Standifer, arguably one of the biggest names in Seattle jazz during the last 40 years, played at Gaye s club every Wednesday night for 20 years. On Floyd s passing, Clarence Acox took over leadership of that group, and it s still there every week on Wednesdays. Ham Carson s Quintet has been there for 20-25 years most Thursdays. Ray Skjelbred has been there on First Thursdays for five years. Holotradband has been there on Tuesdays for 9 years. Before that, File Gumbo Zydeco band was there for almost 15 years on Tuesdays. The New Orleans Quintet - descended from the Bob Jackson Trio - is still there every Monday, now in its 28th year. Gaye had a loyalty to her musicians that s hard to fathom in today s world. In like fashion, Gaye s musicians understood that and had the same sense of loyalty to her. We called her the patron saint of Seattle jazz musicians. Sometimes Gaye and I would sit and chat after the music was over. It was usually about the restaurant, or the musicians she d known or hired, or about the music. Sometimes it was people we knew in common. Sometimes it was just history. I knew she d been in the restaurant business a long time. I learned she d gone to Foster High School where she d been a gymnast and played the clarinet. I d met her three brothers and her mom. She knew my family. My dad and my siblings came into the restaurant frequently. My sister brought her kids when they were just little. They still come in. Every time Gaye would see my family walk through the door, she d seat them, serve them, and unless it was crazy busy, she d sit down and chat with them for a few minutes. My dad doesn t get around much these days, but Gaye would ask about him and then say Well tell him I said hi, and that he needs to get his rear-end up here and watch you play. Gaye was like that with a lot of people. She came to a band party or two for the Quintet and friends, but I always got the impression she was most comfortable in her own environment, i.e., the restaurant and jazz joint she d created. It was what it was because she made it that way. It was much more than a job, a business, or even a livelihood to her. It was a way of life. The New Orleans Creole Restaurant has been a mainstay of traditional jazz in Seattle for more than 27 years. Even so, I know there are PSTJS members who always intended to get down there but never made it. They never met Gaye or saw her vision of New Orleans jazz in Seattle. I m sorry about that for Gaye, and for the all the folks who shared her love of the music yet never got around to meeting her or seeing her club. August 21st, 2012 was the last time I saw Gaye. As usual, I was the last musician to leave after the Tuesday night gig. I was headed for the door, and as I had hundreds of times before, I yelled up to her office Good night, Gaye. I m outta here. Have a good week. See you Monday. She yelled back, as she, too, had so many times before, OK, love. Drive carefully. Thank you so much. It s hard for me to grasp that she s gone. Her hand is all over the New Orleans. All the paintings and photographs on the wall that s her. The vintage jazz instruments on the wall that s her, too. All the Mardi Gras decorations yup, it s all Gaye. From the vibe in the room to the outdoor deck she fought city hall to be able to build that s all Gaye. She s still there; I don t see her leaving anytime soon. From the Prez! Update on former Jazz Camp students: I received a letter from Marissa Carrington this summer telling about the trip she and her twin brother Alex made to New York City, and I wanted to share it with you, so you will see the results that your raffle tickets make possible. Alex and I had an unforgettable experience for our senior year being able to perform in Carnegie Hall. Our main piece, Rhapsody in Blue, sounded fantastic with our school s talented musicians and Carnegie s famous acoustics. The gilded walls, the red plush seats, and the heavenly sounds of Carnegie Hall will always be in our most treasured memories. New York City was amazing. Alex and I were able to visit Birdland Jazz Club, and we loved hearing Jazz in the Big Apple. Thank you so much for providing us with the experience and practice at Camp Heebie Jeebies! We would have never made it to Carnegie Hall without you guys. Camp Heebie Jeebies has and always will be the best music camp Alex and I have ever attended. Marissa will attend the University of Washington this fall and Alex will attend Western Washington University. Alex attended Jazz Camp Heebie Jeebies three times, Marissa was there twice. In other news, when the Bob Schulz Frisco Jazz Band was beginning their final set this past Sunday I asked the SRO audience if they d like to plan on having Bob and the band back again next year. The resounding applause said a big YES, so I suggested they start saving their pennies now so there won t be a big last minute fund raising effort in the spring. I m passing that idea along to all of you, and we ll be talking more about it after the first of the year. Cheers, Judy
Jazz Soundings October 2012 Page 5 Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society 19031 Ocean Ave., Edmonds, WA 98020-2344 Please (enroll) (renew) (me) (us) as a member or members Name Address City, State Zip Code Phone E-Mail 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. Jazz Jubilees and Jamboriees in October! OCT 12-14: MEDFORD, OR. 24th Annual Medford Jazz Jubilee. Headquarters: Red Lion Hotel. Featured Guest Artists: Bob Draga, Lena Prima Band. Featured Bands: Blue Street/Renditions, Cornet Chop Suey, Gator Beat, High Sierra J.B., High Street J.B., Midiri Brothers Sextet, Oregon Coast Lab Band, Sister Swing, Stompy Jones, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, Young Bucs, Vince Bartels Best of Swing Quintet w/jennifer Leitham & John Cocuzzi. A.E. Badges:$65 until 4/30 then $70 until 9/30 then $75. Daily badges available. A.E. Youth Badges: 12 thru 23, $20. Under 12 FREE. Contact Info: Medford Jazz Jubilee, 221 N. Central Ave., PMB 201, Medford, OR 97501-5927. 800-599-0039 or 541-770-6972. Email: info@medfordjazz. org Website: www.medfordjazz.org Lodging: Medford Visitors & Convention Bureau, 800-469-6307 or www.visitmedford.org OCT 17-21: SUN VALLEY, ID. 23rd Annual Sun Valley Jazz Jamboree. Headquarters: Sun Valley Lodge. Guest Artists: Yve Evans, Rob Verdi, Bob Draga, John Cocuzzi. Featured Bands: Big Bang J.B., Bill Allred s Classic J.B., Bill & Shelley, Blue Street J.B., Cornet Chop Suey, Glenn Crytzer & His Syncopators, High Street, Ivory & Gold, Meschiya Lake & Dem Lil Big Horns, Midiri Brothers Sextet, Night Blooming Jazzmen, Pearl Django, Pieter Meijer s Quartet w/ Brady McKay, Sherri Colby s Racketmakers & Friends, Steve Lucky & the Rhumba Bums, U.S. Coast Guard Dixie Band, Titan Hot Seven, Tom Hook, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, We Three, The Yale Whiffenpoofs, Blue Renditions, Boise Straight Ahead, Bruce Innes Trio, Morrell & Pennay, Forever Plaid (Musical Comedy), Jerry Krahn Quartet, Jim Fryer & the Usual Suspects, Joe Fos Trio, Kings of Swing, Paul Tillotson Trio, P.B.J., Wood River High Wolverine J.B. Van Paepeghem Quartet. Dance Instructors: Josh & Emily McLaughlin, Bethany Powell & Stefan Durham, Joel Plys & Jenna Applegarth. Amateur Dance Competition with prizes. Early Bird $115+tax until 7/31, then $130+tax until 10/9, then $148 at the door. Daily and Student badges available. Elegant Afterglow Dinner/Dance: Sunday evening 10/21, 7:30-9:45 pm $44. Contact Info: Sun Valley Jazz Jamboree, PO Box 2745, Sun Valley, ID 83353-2745. 877-478- 5277. Email: Directors@sunvalleyjazz.com Website: www.sunvalleyjazz.com, FaceBook, Twitter. Lodging: Sun Valley Lodge, 10 Sun Valley Rd., PO Box 10, Sun Valley, ID 83353-0010. 800-786-8259. For additional lodging see their website: www.sunvalley.com
Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society 19031 Ocean Ave. Edmonds, WA 98020-2344 Address service requested Non-profit Org U..S. Postage Paid Seattle, WA Permit 1375 You and your friends are cordially invited to hear sizzling-hot jazz as a guest of Elks Club Jazz Society member Colin Dearing. Admission is payable at the door. BANDS, CONTACTS AIN T NO HEAVEN SEVEN Leader: Terry Rogers terryrrogers@comcast.net 206-465-6601 COAL CREEK JAZZ BAND Leader: Judy Logen, 425-641- 1692 Bookings: judy@coalcreekjazzband.com COMBO DE LUXE Bookings: Candace Brown www.combodeluxe.net jazzstrings@comcast.net 253-752-6525 CORNUCOPIA CONCERT BAND Leader: Allan Rustad www.comband.org 425-744-4575 DUKES OF DABOB Bookings: Mark Holman, 360-779-6357, seaclar7@embarqmail.com. DUWAMISH JAZZ BAND Bookings: Carol Johnston carolanjo@yahoo.com 206-932-7632 FIRST THURSDAY BAND Leader: Ray Skjelbred, Rayskjelbred@gmail.com 206-420-8535 FOGGY BOTTOM JAZZ BAND Leader: Bruce Cosacchi 360-638-2074 GRAND DOMINION JAZZ BAND Bookings: Bob Pelland bobpelland@gdjb.com 360-387-2500 holotradband Leader: Dave Holo email: dave@daveholo.com www.holotradband.com HOT CLUB SANDWICH Contact: James Schneider www.hotclubsandwich.com 206-561-1137 HUME STREET PRESERVATION JAZZ BAND Bookings: Karla West 406-862-3814 JAZZ UNLIMITED BAND Leader: Duane Wright duane.janw@verizon.net 866-337-2111 JAZZ STRINGS Bookings: Candace Brown jazzstrings@comcast.net 253-752-6525 LOUISIANA JOYMAKERS! Leader: Leigh Smith smithtunes@shaw.ca 604-294-9464 THE MARKET STREET DIXIELAND JASS BAND Ansgar Duemchen: 425-286-5703 Tim Sherman 206-547-1772 www.marketstreetdixielandjass.com MIGHTY APHRODITE Co-leaders: Bria Skonberg, Claire McKenna mightyaphroditejazz@hotmail.com 405-613-0568 NEW ORLEANS QUINTET Leader: Dave Holo www.neworleansquintet.com email: dave@daveholo.com RAINIER JAZZ BAND Manager: Randy Keller randykeller@msn.com 206-437-1568 RAY SKJELBRED Rayskjelbred@gmail.com 206-420-8535 RONNIE PIERCE JAZZ ENSEMBLE ronniepiercemusic@yahoo.com, 206-467-9365 UPTOWN LOWDOWN JAZZ BAND Leader: Bert Barr uljb@yahoo.com 425-898-4288 WILD CARDS JAZZ Leader: Randy Keller randykeller@msn.com 206-437-1568