October 2016 Volume 41, Number 08 BLACK SWAN RETURNS TO PSTJS ON OCTOBER 16! by George Swinford The Black Swan Classic Jazz Band, last heard on our stage in 2014, returns for our October 16th concert. This fine group hails from Oregon s Willamette Valley. The band takes its name from Black Swan Records, a Harlem-based company founded in 1921. It was a black-owned company and the first widely distributed label to be marketed to an African-American audience. The company was founded by Harry Pace; just after his music publishing partnership with W. C. Handy had dissolved. By 1924 the company had foundered and was sold to Paramount Records, another legendary label. In the short span of its existence Black Swan created a lasting jazz legacy, having issued recordings by such well-remembered vocalists as Lucille Hegamin, Alberta Hunter, Trixie Smith, Eva Taylor and their best seller, the wonderful Ethel Waters. The Black Swan band we ll be hearing in October declares itself dedicated to the preservation and performance of Dixieland, old-time gospel, early jazz and ragtime music. Here are the musicians who will demonstrate all that dedication: First, Kit Johnson, founder of the band, and as he points out, owner (and operator) of the tuba. On cornet, Rick Holzgrafe, a twentyyear member of the Mission Gold Jazz Band, before he moved to Oregon. Playing trombone, Andy Hall, familiar to us as a regular in the Uptown Lowdown and Hume Street bands. On clarinet, Steve Matthes, former director of the OSU Concert Band; now he s the director of the Corvallis Community Band. On piano, John Bennett, Playing piano in a burlesque theater helped John pay his college tuition. He claims to be the only pit pianist who never looked up. Alan Phillips, the banjoist, was originally a French horn player who then moved on to piano tuning and restoration. He has played with a variety of Oregon groups, including the Eugene Symphony. That was probably not a banjo gig, but who knows? Ask Alan. The versatile drummer, Ron Leach, is a lifelong student of percussion. He has performed in Latin, blues, jazz, bluegrass, symphonic and theater groups throughout Oregon and was for three years music director aboard the Queen Of The West. Finally, there s Marilyn Keller, the band s crowd-pleasing singer. With her flawless vocal styling audiences can well imagine her as one of the stars of the original Black Swan recordings. Marilyn has recently returned from an extended performing tour of northern Europe. Continued on page 4 Editor s note: See page 4 for more complete bios of Black Swan. WHERE: Ballard Elks Lodge 6411 Seaview Ave. NW, Seattle WHEN: 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. October 16 ADMISSION: $12 PSTJS members $15 non-members. Pay only at door. FURTHER INFO: Carol Rippey 425-776-5072. Or - website: www.pstjs.org. Plenty of free parking; great view & dance floor, snacks, coffee, and other beverages available.
Jazz Soundings October 2016 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. 16 Nov. 20 Dec. 18 Jan. 15 Feb. 19 Mar. 19 Black Swan Classic Jazz Band Evergreen Classic Jazz Band Ray Skjelbred & the Yeti Chasers Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band Jacob Zimmerman and His Pals Gerry Green s Crescent City Shakers PRESIDENT Judy Levy jazzdancer2@msn.com 425-890-6605 VICE PRESIDENT Jack Temp 425-242-0683 SECRETARY Cilla Trush paultrush@yahoo.com 206-363-9174 TREASURER Gloria Kristovich gkristo@live.com 425-776-7816 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Keith Baker kacybaker@comcast.net Verna Eriks vernaeriks@gmail.com 206-363-6171 Joanne Hargrave shorejo1@comcast.net 206-550-4664 John Heinz latitude47.8@comcast.net 425-412-0590 Edmunde Lewin 360-297-6633 George Peterson ggpeters99@gmail.com 425-453-5218 Carol Rippey trianglejazz@comcast.net 425-776-5072 George Swinford grs-pms@comcast.net 425-869-2780 MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Carol Rippey trianglejazz@comcast.net 425-776-5072 EDITOR Anita LaFranchi jazzeditor@q.com 206-522-7691 WEBMASTER George Peterson ggpeters99@gmail.com 425-453-5218 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 Gigs for Local Bands BELLINGHAM TRADITIONAL JAZZ SOCIETY 1st Saturday, 2-5 pm VFW Hall 625 N. State St., Bellingham, WA Oct. 1 Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band (6 pcs.) Nov. 5 Market Street Jass Band & Silent Auction Dec. 3 Crescent City Shakers /AGM & Jewelry Party BOURBON STREET ALL STARS 1st Tuesday, 5-9pm at McCloud s Grillhouse 2901 Perry Ave, Bremerton, WA 98310 Res: 360-373-3093 DAVE HOLO TRIO Salty s on Alki 1936 Harbor Avenue. SW Seattle, WA 98126 206-937-1600 http://saltys.com/seattle Oct. 7 5-8pm Oct. 21 5-8pm GREATER OLYMPIA DIXIELAND JAZZ SOCIETY 2nd Sundays 1-4:30pm Elks Lodge. 1818 Fourth Ave E., Olympia, WA Oct. 9 Gerry Green s Crescent City Shakers PEARL DJANGO Oct. 1 8pm North City Bistro We love this place! Reservations recommended. Tickets and reservations made directly through the Bistro will be required to guarantee seating. Call (206) 365-4447 Or email rbloom888@gmail.com for reservations. 1520 NE 177th St; Shoreline, WA Oct. 14 7:30pm Water Music Festival. Joining us will be Gail Pettis. Inn at Harbour Village 120 Williams Ave, Ilwaco, WA 98624 (360) 642-0087 Oct. 15 8pm The Old Stone We will also feature accordianist David Lange 157 Franklin Ave, Bend OR 97701; 541-322-7273 Gigs continue on page 5 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
Jazz Soundings October 2016 Page 3 JAZZ STORY by Ray King My exposure to traditional jazz started in the late 1940s and early 1950s. My brother, 7 years my senior, started bringing home 78s and the love of traditional jazz has lasted a lifetime. I had a nightly ritual, with my mother and brother, of listening to Frank Bull and Vice President Benson Curtis Dixieland Jazz, Barrel House, Boogie & the Blues program on KFWB radio in Los Angeles. It started and ended with a great Panama Rag. I still see my mom doing housework and cooking to Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and later to Claire Austin and Kid Ory. The first record I purchased was in 1951, a 45 RPM of Kid Ory from the Jazz Man Record Shop in Hollywood - it s still playable! It has 3 songs: Ory s Boogie, Blues for Jimmie Noone, and St. Louis Blues. First live concert: the 1953 Frank Bull and Gene Norman Dixieland Jubilee in L.A. Great bands played that night: Kid Ory, Bob Scobey, George Lewis, Red Nichols, Pete Daily, Firehouse Five Plus Two, Castle Jazz Band and more. The special guest for the night was Sidney Bechet. Forever etched in my soul was a darkened stage with a single spotlight focused on the bell of Bechet s horn which stuck out between the curtains on the stage. As Bechet began to play Summertime, the curtains slowly opened and gradually the spotlight encompassed Bechet - a memory was made! When I recall the greats I have seen in person, I am grateful for my good fortune: Armstrong, Ory, Buckner, Wingy Manone, Firehouse Five Plus Two, Barney Bigard, Turk Murphy, Scobey, Pollack, Red Nichols, Matlock, St. Cyr, Hackett, Teagarden, Billie & DeDe Pierce, Willie Humphrey, George Lewis, Marsala Brothers and more. I had the opportunity to sit and talk with some of my heroes. One memorable evening I spent with Kid Ory and his wife, Barbara, after hours in his club On the Levee in San Francisco. He told me that Barbara was his second wife. They had a daughter, Babette, who was born in 1954 - his first child when he was 67. Recently, I had the great pleasure to spend the day and have dinner with Ory s daughter Babette. Here is a picture of Babette and me in May 2016. I spent a lot of time (and money) at the Beverly Cavern in L.A. I got to know the Firehouse Five Plus Two members well. One evening Don Kinch and George Bruns came in with the band. Bruns had his horn - Kinch didn t. Ward Kimball tossed me his car keys and asked me to get the tuba from his car for Don. I got about halfway to the door, turned back and asked Ward which car was his. He answered with his dry wit: It s the one with the tuba in the back seat. I found it. I went to San Francisco with a friend who had played with Monte Ballou in the 1930s. The reunion took place at Earthquake McGoons. While there, Monte asked me if I wanted to smoke some Sweet Lotus Blossom since his doctor told him in the 1940s that cigarettes were bad for him but didn t mention the former. I did. In the early 1980s, I had Dick Knutson with his Desert City Six and Vince Saunders with his South Frisco Jazz Band play at a party I hosted. Those were the days! Damn, I love this music. Below - is a photo from 1953 of Kid Ory s band at the Beverly Cavern. Names are: Teddy Buckner, Minor Hall, Joe Darensbourg, Ed Garland, Kid Ory, Harvey Brooks (Photo: Louisiana State Museum) My son asked me what my 5 Desert Island Discs would be. Here they are: 1. Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five The Louis Armstrong Story - Vol. 1 - Columbia - CL 851 2. George Lewis the Red Record - American Music - 639 3. Kid Ory & His Creole Jazz Band in Concert - Good Time Jazz - EPG 1006 4. Lu Watters & the Yerba Buena Jazz Band Good Time Jazz - L 12007 5. Firehouse Five Plus Two - Dixieland Favorites - Good Time Jazz - M 12040 Just remember: Do What Ory Say
Jazz Soundings October 2016 Page 4 BLACK SWAN BIOS Black Swan will delight you with a good-time mix of music from the heydays of blues and ragtime, the Roaring Twenties and the revivalist jazz period. With their new recording, Hoagy, Heart & Soul in tow, this versatile group will feature several cuts from that American master that dancers and listeners alike will love. Marilyn Keller, vocals Marilyn brings a special magic to the stage with her mesmerizing presence and flawless vocal stylings. Diversity is one of her greatest assets and she displays it by appearing with Black Swan and a wide variety of other performance groups and styles: The Don Latarski Group, Tall Jazz, Tom Grant, Michael Allen Harrison and the Augustana Jazz Quartet to name a few. Marilyn has recently returned from an extended performing tour in northern Europe. John Bennett, piano One of Portland s most beloved and hard-working jazz pianists, John helped pay his Lewis and Clark College tuition by playing in a burlesque theater (he claims to be the only pit piano player who never looked up from the keyboard). He has taught public and private school music in The Dalles, Warm Springs and Portland and keeps active in the live music scene with band and solo work. Andy Hall, trombone Hailing from the upper Midwest, Andy brought his music talents to our region several decades ago, regularly performing with Uptown Lowdown and Hume Street in Washington. In addition to his fine, Turkstyle trombone artistry, corner Andy for hilarious imitations of Marx Brothers and Monty Python characters. Kit Johnson, tuba Kit is founder of Black Swan and owns the tuba. Alan Phillips, banjo Alan originally joined the band back in 1990 and has become a favorite for his solid rhythm playing, musicality and vocal talents. Originally a French horn player, Alan eventually moved on to study piano tuning and restoration in Boston. This combined his love of music with a more practical approach to making a living. Alan has performed with the Eugene Symphony and the Oregon Festival of American Music. He was a member of the Misty Water Drifters, the Drag Kings, the Hackers and the Emerald City Jazz Kings, as well as leading the Eugene-based string/swing band SWANG. Steve Matthes, clarinet A versatile musician from Corvallis, Oregon. Steve is Director of the Corvallis Community Band and past Director of the OSU Concert Band, makes guest solo and conducting appearances, and teaches sax and clarinet. Career highlights include clarinet soloist performances with a host of Dixieland ensembles, symphonic bands and orchestras. Ron Leach, drums Ron has performed in Latin, blues, jazz, bluegrass, symphonic and theater groups throughout Oregon. A lifelong student of drums and percussion, Ron has studied Latin rhythms in Havana, Cuba and joined Black Swan in 2000. Ron previously spent three years as music director on the Queen of the West before returning to shore to become active in land-based gigs. Rick Holzgrafe, cornet Rick played with the Fink Street Five in Orange County for seven years, and then the Apex Jass Band in San Jose in the early 1980s. He was a 20-year member of the Mission Gold Jazz Band before moving to Oregon, and has appeared with the Churchill Street Rhythm and Ted Shafer s Jelly Roll Jazz Band. Black Swan continued from page 4 The Black Swan band has a solid reputation and has charmed our audience in previous appearances. Kit Johnson promises that they will feature several tunes from their recent recording, Hoagy, Heart and Soul, which should delight dancers and listeners alike. I presume we will have the opportunity to purchase that recording. Please join your PSTJS friends at the Ballard Elks on October 16th, where once again we ll enjoy the music of the Black Swan Classic Jazz Band. New pricing for CDs We ve had a nice source of some revenue from the donated CDs - first from Curt Beard s collection, then from all you other generous members. We even recently had a donation of brand-new wrapped CDs, which will be priced at $10 each. The new prices: CDs with flag stickers $10 each (these are the new ones) CDs without stickers $5 each CDs with colored circle stickers $1 each (there s lots and lots of these) Thank you and don t forget us when you come across CDs that you no longer use.
Jazz Soundings October 2016 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. Gigs continued from page 2 Gigs for Local Bands RAY SKJELBRED AND THE YETI CHASERS Oct. 15 5-7:30 pm Royal Room (Seattle, WA) For more info visit: http://theroyalroomseattle.com/ THE WASHBOARD CUT-UPS 1st Thursday, 7:30-10:30pm J&M Café 201 1st Ave S, Seattle - Pioneer Square UPTOWN LOWDOWN JAZZ BAND Oct. 1 2-5pm Bellingham Trad Jazz Society Bellingham Vets Hall ULJB 6pc band. Oct 2. 11am-1pm Jubilee Farm - Carnation 11am - 1pm Double Barrs Oct. 8 11:30am-2pm Confluence Park in Winthrop, WA Oct. 9 11am-1pm Jubilee Farm - Carnation Double Barrs Oct. 15 9-1pm J&M Cafe, Seattle Bert w/the Washboard Cutups Oct. 16 11am-1pm Jubilee Farm - Carnation 11am - 1pm Double Barrs Oct. 21 7-9pm Third Place Commons - Lake forest Park Oct. 23 11am-1pm Jubilee Farm - Carnation 11am - 1pm Double Barrs Oct. 26 6-9pm Pike Place Bar & Grill w/washboard Cutups PLEASE SHARE YOUR FAVORITE JAZZ MEMORY WITH US! You may put your memories down on paper and mail to P S T J S 19031 Ocean Ave, Edmonds, WA. 98020, or email your stories to: jazzdancer2@msn.com. 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.
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 Red X on your Jazz Soundings mailing address label with your name on it - means it s time to renew your membership. TWO red XX means last chance to Renew Now! BANDS, CONTACTS AIN T NO HEAVEN SEVEN Leader: Terry Rogers terryrrogers@comcast.net 206-465-6601 BOURBON STREET ALL STARS Leader: Jeff Winslow (360) 731 0322 drjwjazz@gmail.com 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 EVERGREEN CLASSIC JAZZ BAND Leader: Tom Jacobus email: t.jacobus@comcast.net ph: 253-852-6596 or cell 253-709-3013 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@frontier.com 206-930-9998 JAZZ STRINGS Bookings: Candace Brown jazzstrings@comcast.net 253-752-6525 LOUISIANA JOYMAKERS! Leader: Leigh Smith smithtunes@shaw.ca 604-294-9464 THE BARRELHOUSE JIVE CATS Leader: James Walls 206-280-1581 email:groovepowers@gmail.com www.barrelhousejivecats.com THE MARKET STREET DIXIELAND JASS BAND Ansgar Duemchen: 425-286-5703 Tim Sherman 206-547-1772 www.marketstreetjazz.com MIGHTY APHRODITE Co-leaders: Bria Skonberg, Claire McKenna mightyaphroditejazz@hotmail.com 405-613-0568 NEW ORLEANS QUINTET Jake Powel 206-725-3514 jake_powel@comcast.net RAINIER JAZZ BAND Manager: Randy Keller randolphscottkeller@gmail.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 randolphscottkeller@gmail.com 206-437-1568