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Home , Arvell Shaw, Don Goldie, Velma Middleton

TAILGATE RAMBLINGS

July 1980 In the hospitality line, it was agreed that individual Board members should handle the gate at least once a year and that more effort should be made to welcome people at special events. The TAILGATE RAMBLINGS PRJC membership is high — over 1,000 members — VOLUME 10, NUMBER 7 but the dropout rate is also high. If someone J u ly 1980 doesn't like the music after joining (incredible as that seems), that is not a problem we can solve. But i f someone d o e s n 't find a fr ie n d ly Editor: Ken Kramer group, we can do something.

Contributing Editors: As a service to members we wish to continue Mary Doyle Harold Gray allowing the private sale of records or other jazz Joe God frey Dick Baker memorabilia. However, the Board agreed th at the George Kay Floyd Levin PRJC g a te w i l l not handle these sa les in the Vivienne Brownfield future. We are often asked to handle books on jazz or to sell records at a small profit to the PRJC President: Mary Doyle Club. But the work involved is tremendous, (703) 280-2373 because i t means keeping an inventory and books o f receipts and hauling these items to Specials. I f Vice President: Ken Kramer anyone in the Club is interested in this (703) 354-7844 undertaking, please let us know.

TAILGATE RAMBLINGS is the monthly p u b lication Also in the hospitality line, musicians who are o f the Potomac R iver Jazz Club. The Club booked for this area often with to stay in private stands for the preservation, encouragement, homes in order to meet members o f clu b s. Thanks and advancement of traditional jazz. This to the C. Y. Browne's and the Roy Hostetters ' who means ja z z from 1900 to 1930 in th e New agreed to take four musicians from the B o a trid e. Orleans, Chicago, and Dixieland styles, Sometimes the le ft hand doesn't know what the including their various revivals, as well as right hand is doing, however, so this plan didn't blues and ragtime. TAILGATE RAMBLINGS work ou t. Contact a board member i f a you have a welcomes contributions from its readers. comfortable room available and would like to meet some out-of-town musicians. It's fun and cuts GREETINGS FROM YOUR PRESIDENT down on the overhead for the PRJC.

The Board met before the Boatride for its usual Our next Special is in August. I t ' s th e third Wednesday o f the month meeting. Its first Natural Gas, a grea t West Coast ja zz band. See action was the election of Evelyn Franklin to fill you then. the remainder o f Bob Thulman's term. Evelyn has been active in the single's group and has served Mary H. Doyle at the door many times at Specials. She is presently in charge of sales and hopes for a good year in that department. New PRJC T-shirts w ill AD RATES be purchased in time for the picnic. Display ads in Tailgate are $90 for a full The Turk Murphy Special was a fin a n c ia l page, $55 for a half page, $35 for a quarter page, success. He is a big draw to Washington area and $20 for an eighth page. Small ads are free to members, and it was great to have him back again. PRJC members (eighth page and downwards). Payment for ad is due with copy submitted. Extra art work Congratulations are certainly in order fo Don that may be required is at the expense of the Angell for his masterful handling of advance sales submitter. Camera-ready copy is required. for the Severn River Boatride. This nonpaying job required full-time work, to say nothing of a million phone calls. Tickets were sold on a TAILGATE DEADLINES first-com e basis, and it was a sell-out. Musically it was also a great success, and Don The absolute deadline for Tailgate Ramblings also arranged for fantastic weather. copy is the 25th o f each month. Copy that is not in the sweaty and ink-stained hands o f the e d ito r w ill be held over to a possible later issue. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR SATCHMO, , , , A r v e ll HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!" Shaw, and ! I had enough m aterial for six broadcasts. by Floyd Levin I reca ll another Armstrong birthday celebration The last time I heard that joyous phrase was on behind the bandstand at D isneyland, where Louis the 4th of July, 1976. I had proudly climbed on a Armstrong's All-Stars were featured in one of the flat bed rail car adjacent to Jacksor Square in "Dixieland at Disneyland" events that were held New Orleans to present the new for many years in the giant park. I think it was statue to Mayor Moon Landrieu on b e h a lf o f the 1967. The occasion was marred by an unexpected 1,000 fans who had contributed to the Louis rainstorm . As we huddled beneath an improvised Armstrong Statue Fund. The M ississippi R iver was canvas shelter, trombonist Tyree Glenn muttered to our backs as we faced the old statue o f Andrew some unprintable remarks about "Sunny C a lifo rn ia ." Jackson and listened to Danny B ark er's band with During that moist intermission, I decided that i t Blue Lu Barker singing the birthday theme. would be a good idea to plan a special birthday party for the next year so Armstrong could have 12 Standing t a ll and proud, the recently uncrated months to arrange his schedule for a rare day o f f . bronze figure o f Louis' Armstrong looked down on I promised Louis that, if he could attend, we the scene w h ile the TV cameramen recorded the would dedicate the entire day to celebration of event as part of the nation's bicentennial his birthday. We'd invite his favorite friends, celebration. Unfortunately, the network editors serve his favorite food, and have a memorable opted to provide extended coverage of the Tall holiday in his honor. He accepted the invitation Ships' foray up the Hudson River. As a result the but could not promise that the Associated Booking national TV audience had little opportunity to Corporation would arrange his schedule to witness the great honor that had been given to accomnodate our plans. Louis Armstrong in particular - and jazz in general. (The statue is now in its permanent We had the Arm strong b irth d a y p a rty th e location in the recently dedicated Louis Armstrong following year. It was a huge success. Our yard Park in New Orleans.) was decorated with toy trumpets dangling in the trees. Our backyard wall was covered with a July 4, 1930 is the 80th anniversary of 70-foot banner that proclaim ed "HAPPY BIRTHDAY Armstrong's b irth . Over the years, I have had to LOUIS ARMSTRONG, 1968." The vast panorama o f the privilege of sharing that event with Satchmo on San Fernando Valley below us was obscured by h a lf many occasions — both in body and in s p ir it . a hundred revelers celebrating the great occasion. Joe Darnsbourg spent several hours in our k itch en My first meeting with the great man was on his concocting pots full of red beans and rice, Louis' 48th birthday. Despite the passage of 32 years, favorite. Several musicians began a jam session the event is quite vivid in my mind. He had just in the yard that filled the neighborhood with returned from a successful European tour with his happy sounds. Inside, stereo speakers in every recently formed All-Stars. The band was booked room continually poured forth recorded sounds of in to The Oasis, a questionable venue in Southwest the Hot Five, Hot Seven, etc. A huge blowup of Los Angeles. With a borrowed Webcor tape Satchmo hung from L u c ille 's cherished c r y s ta l recorder, I meekly ventured into Louis' dressing chandelier. We consumed about eight cases of beer room during an intermission. I asked if he would and great quantities of liquor as we continually allow me to tape an interview for my radio program toasted the happy occasion . The only in v ite d — which was heard by only those very few who had guest unable to attend was Louis Armstrong. He encountered the recent innovation, FM radio. sent his regrets from England and in d ica ted that he would have preferred our pqrty to the audience I was ushered into an adjacent room, where I he had with the Queen that day! was greeted by a smiling Louis Armstrong nibbling a piece of birthday cake — stark naked! He was Armstrong's most momentous birthday took place changing cloth es between sets and agreed to talk here in Los Angeles in 1970. This was his last to me as he dressed. After our brief local appearance and it provided some o f the most conversation, he invited me to remain and dramatic moments of his entire career. A sell-out interview the members of his band. Before the audience in the huge Shrine Auditorium watched vening was over, I had recorded conversations with Louis climb a flight of stairs to reach the top of So this year, on July 4th, I w ill hoist a glass to again salute Satchmo. 1 will undoubtedly be thinking of that wonderful party in 1970 when I last toasted his birthday. I looked searchingly the 300-pound cake that commemorated his 70th into his beaming free and tried to imagine a world birthday. The occasion was the concert without Louis Armstrong. I realize now that the production, "Hello Louis!" presented by the world will never be without him. As long as a Association of Southern California Jazz Clubs to horn is blown, a part of Louis will emerge from launch the newly created Louis Armstrong Statue its bell. We will never listen to a blues vocal Fund. without hearing the tone and inflection of his voice. His toothsome sm ile w i l l ra d ia te in our This was probably Louis' greatest triumph. At minds and the warm sounds o f his music w ill f i l l the conclusion of the five-hour show, while 6,000 our hearts as long as notes are blown and songs loving fans provided a thunderous standing are sung. ovation, Satchmo strode from the stage with misty eyes. His affectionate kiss to this writer's HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR SATCHMO, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO cheek was reported by news services throughout the YOU, OH YEAAAAH! world. While I was the fortunate recipient of that warm gesture of appreciation for my efforts in producing the event, I somehow felt that the (I would like to express my gratitude to the Satchmo smooch c a rrie d a broader sign ificance. editor, Ken Kramer. By asking me to do this Perhaps it was meant to be shared by the throng piece, he rekindled glowing memories of a great who had just applauded him so vigorously. It man. Everyone has his particular memories of might have been his "thank you" to a world that Louis Armstrong; his career touched the liv e s o f had recognized his talents and made "a boy frcm almost every one o f us. When you raise that glass New Orleans" one of the most popular figures in on July 4, you will not be alone! F.L.) entertaiiment history.

The private birthday party after "Hello Louis" was a memorable evening. Only a small group o f his friends shared that event with Armstrong in a Beverly H ills penthouse. The late TV nev/s included brief coverage of the Shrine Auditorium JAZZ BAND BALL SYNOPSES concert held several hours earlier. I remember WPFW - 8 9 .3 FM the sly grin on Louis ' face as he watched himsel f SUNDAYS 6 :0 0 -7 :3 0 PM and Hoagy Carmichael recreate their 40-year-old classic, "Rockin' Chair." Louis latef told me JULY 6: Host Dave Robinson. "Lou is Armstrong - that this was his happiest birthday. The P erfo rm er," a program o f recorded highlights o f the performing career o f Louis Armstrong. My last conversation with Louis Armstrong took place on his birthday, July 4, 1971. We had JULY 13: Host Sonny McGown. "78s Revisited." phoned him at his home in New York to extend our Sonny w ill play unreissued 78 RPM jazz recordings usual birthday greeting. He was very cheerfril and from the 20s, 30s, and 40s. Most o f them have not effervescent. He said his health was improving been heard by today's listeners except those who and the doctor had allowed him to blow his horn are old enough to have bought 78 RPM disks when again after a long hiatus. He was looking forward they were issued or, as in the case o f Sonny, avid to s e ve ra l jobs that were booked in the New York enough jazz buffs to seek out those disks s till in area. He ended his conversation, as he always existence. did, with, "Kiss your Lucille forme." And, as always, I replied, "Kiss your Lucille for me!" We JULY 20: Host Jim Lyons. "Harlem Jazz of the both laughed at our private joke — a continuing Early 30s," featuring the great black orchestras reference to our wives with the same name. and musicians o f that time and place.

Two days after that happy conversation, Louis JULY 27: Host Nat Kinnear. "Adrian Rollini - was dead and I was enroute to New York to attend Musician Extraordinaire." Rollini, a child h is fu n era l. The issu e o f Time magazine on the prodigy on piano, played bass saxaphone, plane included a brief mention of Louis' recent xylophone, vibes, drums, goofus, and invented and "recovery." played the "hot fountain pen." He was also a composer and band leader and played as a sideman with Bix, Trumbauer, Red Nichols, and others. BUCK CREEK A HIT AT ST. LOUIS FESTIVAL

Without a doubt, and we had none ourselves, the NATURAL GAS JAZZ BAND Buck Creek Jazz Band did very well in St. Louis. PLAYS HERE AUGUST 2 Three articles have come in, written by enth u siastic fans who were there. Another is due The Natural Gas Jazz Band, making it s f i r s t soon, and there w ill be an a r t ic le submitted on t r ip to the East Coast, w ill play for the PRJC on the band's further triumphs at the Steamboat Days Saturday, August 2, at the Alexandria Holiday Festival in Burlington, Iowa. Inn. Here are quotes from the a rtic le s: Since its formation in 1970 by a group o f Marin County (C a lifo rn ia ) professional men, the NGJB has "By the time they were fin ish ed (t h e ir f i r s t become recognized as one o f the West Coast 's most s e t ), the crowd was buzzing about this 'unknown' exciting and entertaining traditional jazz bands. band and the many new followers were planning to Featuring an exuberant three-horn front line get their seats early at the site of the band's (cornet, trombone, soprano sax) and a driving next showing." two-beat rhythm section (piano, banjo, tuba, drums), the band plays its jazz in the San " T r u l y p le a s in g and in s p ir in g was th e Francisco revival style of Turk Murphy and Lu enthusiastic reception given the Buck Creek Jazz Watters (yes, Virginia, there _i^ a San Francisco Band...those of us displaying our support by s t y le ). wearing BCJB t-shirts and buttons were confronted with favorable queries and comments. Where do Their music is oriented to disciplined ensemble they come from? Where do they regu larly perform? p la yin g w ith arranged three-part horn harmonies, T h ey're re a lly good! Do they have record? Don't s till leaving room for improvisation. The band's miss the BCJB!" repertoire includes the early jazz classics of J e lly Roll Morton, King O liver, W. C. Handy, Louis Thanks to correspondents Chris and Carmen Armstrong, and Duke Ellington, as well as the more Sorenson and "Dippermouth." Wish we could have recent San Francisco jazz of Murphy and Watters. printed everything you said.

Since 1976, th e band has been an annual favorite at the Dixieland Jubilee in Old P IC N IC VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Sacramento, and more re c e n tly at the D ixielan d Jubilee-by-the-Sea in Pismo Beach and the I f you can help for hal f an hour or so for the Motherlode Jazz Festival in the California gold PRJC Picnic on 13 September at Blob's Park, please country. The Gas men also traveled to Phoenix in call B. U. Meisel at (703) 893-3713 (or 1040) or 1978 to help their friends and hosts, the Desert Arnold Benze at (301) 997^4348. City Six, stage the Desert Dixieland Classic. Over the July 4th weekend they traveled to Juneau, FED. JAZZ COMM. ON TV Alaska, where they were hired to help that city celebrate its 100th birthday. The tour that Viewers of the Maryland Center for Public brings them to our area w ill begin with their Broadcasting's "C ritics' Place" program last month second consecutive appearance at the Bix saw a film clip of the Federal Jazz Commission in Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, in Davenport, action at its weekly Cacao Lane hearing. Iowa. Correctly noting that the group had cleaned up The band has produced three record albums, the the title a bit, Mike Joyce, the program's pop most recent being a tribute to Turk Murphy and Lu music critic, introduced a short chorus of "A ll Watters, featuring six original compositions of the G irls Go Crazy for the Way I Walk," Bunk each. One of the many laudatory reviews this Johnson's old stomper. record has received was written for Mississippi- Rag by PRJC member Tex Wyndham, who said in p a r t: Both Joyce and John Goodspeed, another member "By making up an entire LP of this material of the show's panel, have attended hearing-s at [Watters-Murphy compositions], the Natural Gas Cacao Lane, and they discussed the music Jazz Band brings the composers' inspirations into knowledgeably. And both commented on the s i z e o f welcome and overdue sharp focus." the audiences that have regularly attended the regular weekly hearings of the Commission. BARNEY'S CREOLE CLARINET, 1906-1980 1942, the Duke astutely blended the richness of B a rn e y 's s t y l e w ith the elequence o f Johnny by Floyd Levin Hodges, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart, Ben Webster, Harry Carney, Joe Nanton, and Lawrence Brown. This amalgamation o f ta le n t merged to form what Isn 't it strange that among the thousands of should be considered to the greatest jazz talented jazz artists who have passed this way orchestra of all time. during the last half century, only a handful can ju stify the classification of greatness? This is Amid E llington 's elaborate arrangements, probably because jazz, as a viable form o f art, is frequent interludes were reserved for Barney's s till too young to have firmly established a flow in g im provisation s which always seemed to criterion by which we are able to properly assess amplify the Ellington textures quite perfectly. its many contributors. We are still witnessing Hearing the soaring lyricism o f his many warm and the maturation of those primal seeds of melodic passages, we are able to conjur images o f in s p ir a tio n that began to sprout around the turn his musical background - the strong influence of of the century. Eventually, there w ill emerge his fine teacher, Lorenzo Tio, Jr. (who also from its history a true pantheon of or music in stru cted such Crescent City notables as Johnny properly enshrining those responsible for its Dodds, Jimmy Noone, Omer Simeon, and Albert- development. N ic h o la s ); memories o f his playing in arcane New Orleans bands led by Armand Piron and Buddy P e tit; By what group o f standards can we a c tu a lly and th o se steam y summer n ig h t in C hicago's judge the relative creativity of jazzdom's great Plantation Club seated alongside Darnell Howard and near-great? A careful analysis of the and Albert Nicholas in the Joe Oliver reed section co n trib u tio n s o f the Armstrongs, the Ellingtons, back in 1925. and the Mortons - those who certainly can be considered representative of jazz's loftiest Barny Bigard's contributions to the Ellington achievement - discloses the factors necessary for book were monumental. In addition to "Mood qualification as a superstar of ja z z : Indigo," he was responsible for such tunes as individuality, coupled with sincere feelin g, "Rockin' In Rhythm," "Saturday Night Function," technical facility, and impeccable taste. "C larinet Lament," "Clouds In My Heart," and "Sophisticated Lady," to name just a few. Assuming the acceptability of the above hypthesis, we can now must c o n fid e n tly nominate Barney left the Ellington band when travel Albert Leon "Barney" Bigard to a permanent chair conditions became increasingly deplorable during in the proposed pantheon o f jazz. Until his death World War II. His departure left a void that was on June 27, Barney was considered the foremost never completely filled despite a succession of liv in g exponent o f the New Orleans style clarin et. great reedmen who occupied that exalted chair over When we listen to those delicately woven Bigard the years. passages, they at first appear to be softly stated trem olos and sweeping flou rishes; but do not be During the mid-40s, Bigard appeared with misled, they are shouting the clarion message of Freddie Slack and Kid Ory and also participated in pure New Orleans jazz! Listen once again to the several recording dates and studio jobs in the Los undulating chromatic runs that flow smoothly as he Angeles area. (Late television viewers can s till subtly reshapes a familiar tune into a triumphant see Barney with Louis Armstrong, Zutty Singleton, Bigard sp ecia lity. I cannot count the many times Red CAllender, Bud Scott, Kid Ory, and B illy I have heard his apocalyptical "Rose Room." Each Holiday in "New Orleans," a flawed film that performance clea rly revealed the depth o f fe e lin g attempted to capture the romantic fla v o r o f New that could emerge from his A lb ert system horn. Orleans from a Hollywood viewpoint.) Can any melody ever surpass the emotional p u rity o f "Mood Indigo," the dreamy Bigard tone poem from It is not generally known that Barney was 1930? Even the title is perfect! resp on sib le for Kid O ry's emergence from a long retirement. At Bigard's instigation, Ory came Jazz history was made during those creative forward to claim royalties from the publication o f y e a rs when Barney B ig a rd 's c la r in e t added a his classic, "Muscrat Ramble." Ory joined piquant New Orleans flavor to the urban sounds o f Barney's small combo and began to receive the Duke E llin g to n Orchestra. Between 1928 and attention from collectors and fans who remembered his work with Armstrong, O liver, and Morton OF PEOPLE, PLACES, AND PLEASURES several years earlier. Ory eventually formed his Creole Jazz Band, which became the leading by Harold Gray contributor to the surging jazz revival that is s till gaining momentum. Bigard's participation in Don Ewell gave jazz piano lovers a brilliant this segment of jazz history is probably being weekend when he visited the area. In addition to revealed now for the first time. his solo concert at the National Press Club, he found time to play a gig with the FEDERAL JAZZ When th e L o u is A rm stron g A ll- S ta r s were COMMISSION one night and to s it in for a set w ith assembled for a date at B illy B erg 's Vine S treet the RIVERSIDE RAMBLERS another evening. Bistro, Barney was selected to handle the clarinet chores in a great band that included Jack OH TV. "The C r itic s ' P la c e ," a ta lk show on Teagarden, Earl Hines, , , Channel 22 about the arts in Washington and and . Though h a stily put together, Baltimore, recently featured the FEDERAL JAZZ the All-Stars were immediately successful, and COMMISSION playing Bunk Johnson's "A ll the Girls Satchmo brought the sounds o f tradition al ja z z to Go Crazy For the Way I W alk." There follow ed a every corner of the world with this illustrious few minutes of chatter about tradjazz, mouldy group. fig s , and the crowds o f young and old that flo c k to Cacao Lane in Ellicott City each Friday night. After 13 years with the great Armstrong, Barney Bigard entered a period of semi-retirement here in WORDS AND MUSIC is the name o f A1 Webber ' s new Los Angeles. He enjoyed the relaxed style of enterprise. It w ill provide music from the Golden living after those many years o f arduous travel; Age for private parties and other convivial but he was always ready to pack his Selmer horn occasions in the form of a NOJB such as the whenever c a lle d upon for a ja z z f e s t i v a l or Fearless Feds, a dixieland trio, or a concert tour. He frequently surfaced for ragtime/honkytonk pianist and banjo player for festivals in Nice, New York, New Orleans, and listening or sing-along. Musicians or Honolulu. His most active role in recent years entertainment bookers who want the nostalgic was the starring spot in the annual "A Night In action should c a ll (301) 588-6119. As A l's fla c k New Orleans," the international touring event that sheet says, "the Good Old Days are NOW." brought the sounds of the Bigard horn to fans in the U.S., Canada, Alaska, and Europe. GUT BUCKET CEREMONY. Tom Niemann, p ia n is t and f i r s t p resid en t o f the PRJC, r e c e n tly b u ilt a The triumphant career o f Barney B igard, which gutbucket, explained and demonstrated i t one night began modestly in a l i t t l e house on V ille re Street at the Bratwursthaus, and formally presented i t to in New Orleans and eventually blossomed into Ken Kramer. Our editor said he would "woodshed" worldwide prominence, has come to the final bar. it for a long time before giving his first He w ill be missed. r e c ita l. For the u n in itia te d , a gutbucket is a washtub, a string or gut, and a pole, and sounds PROGRESS REPORT ON NOTES ON like a bass fiddle when properly plucked. It is A DAMP NAPKIN CONTEST as native to the American soil as is the steel drum to the Caribbean islands. The Big Sumner Contest for names of tunes with an animal reference is now in foil swing. There ANNIE STREET in San Francisco has been renamed w ill be a story in the next issue and the Annie Street, thanks to petitions from jazz buffs announcement o f the winner! Our judges are now everywhere, including many o f us who signed Turk working on the entries and chey (the e n trie s ) are Murphy's petition when he was here last fa ll. g re a t. The beer supply in the area w ill be much That shrine of jazz was the location of the Dawn lower by final decision time. Entries up to July 15 w ill be included. Club where Lu W atters launched the West Coast reviva l o f New Orleans music and wrote tunes about that little alley hard beside the Palace Hotel. Warning note: We will not accept a listing of tunes recorded by Bunny Berrigan or W illie "The And inside the old hotel is another jazz shrine: Lion" Smith as legitim ate. We also were impressed the original "Rose Room." and distressed by such entries as "East St. Louis Poodle-oo," "Coal Carp Blues," "The Pooche (as ST. LOUIS FEST. The 16th N ation al Ragtime played by "Mutt" Carey), and, ouch, "Salmon F e s tiv a l on and around the Goldenrod Showboat in Chanted Evening." The contest started as an innocent diversion. It is now a Major Event. It may well change the course of jazz history. Watch for the August issue. the Mississippi River featured 15 jazz bands and 25 ragtime pianists playing America's music in the BUBBLING BROWN SUGAR HIGHLY area where much o f i t was created. Our Club was RECOMMENDED FOR JAZZ FANS w ell represented at the event by two bands, BUCK CREEK JB and TARNISHED SIX, plus Jim F itzro y from Cab Calloway heads the cast in the musical, BRANDYWINE REVIVAL JB. Tex Wyndham played piano "Bubbling Brown Sugar," which w ill be at the w ith the BIX BEIDERBECKE MEMORIAL JB throughout Warner Theatre from July 1 for the next three the week. D aryl O tt was one o f the ragtim ers. weeks. This show is a high-spirited recollection Bob and Chris Henderson Harris played in a nearby of the people and places of Harlem from 1910 to riverfront cafe each afternoon. The Buck 1940. The music is by the many jazz greats who Creekers1 debut on the festival circuit was well called Harlem home. This is a good one, d o n 't rec e iv e d by the crowds. They were as good as any miss it. And the show "Eubie!" comes next to o f the more experienced festiva l bands. Warner on July 22! Summertime!

Many Washington area fans attended, inclu din g K. Lee Don Angell, the Bakers, Brownes , Davis 's, Grays, Kennedys, Rohleders, Sorensons, and Wahlers. Also LEADER OF DOCS OF DIXIELAND HAS Betty R itter, Nancy Ski liman with daughter Terry, GROUP PRACTICE IN GALESVILLE, MD. and Nancy Wyndham. Scores o f PRJC's ou t-of-tow n members were there too. The Docs o f D ix ie la n d have been playing regularly at the Officers Club at the National This was perhaps the closest con cen tra tion o f Naval Medical Center in Bethesda since 1963. Our great jazz ever. The showboat had four rooms, policy is not to inform PRJC members of private each with continuous music, and tied alongside party gigs, for the obvious reason that a ll PRJC were two open-air barges set up theater style with members could not attend. Now Jim Cavanaugh, two or more simultaneous concerts. Just downriver leader of this good band, tells us that he is was another floating amphitheater, plus the Huck holding a jam session every Sunday from 5 p.m. to Finn sightseeing steamer serving as a cruising 9 p.m. at the Topside Inn in Galesville, Md. It's cabaret with a different band on each trip. In an open jan session. G alesville is 15 miles south a ll, eight bandstands from which to choose your o f Annapolis, on the West River and the Bay. music, w ith the perform ers changing frequently. HOT MUSTARD BAND SPREADS When the bands were changing at each stage, a THE GOOD JAZZ NEWS ragtime piano duo or trio would hold the crowds in a happy mood. One could s it tig h t and le t the The National Portrait Gallery gave one of those musicians keep changing up front, or wander from Washington events last month for the opening o f a band to band trying to hear it all. special exhibit of F. Scott Fitzgerald material. Scotty and Zelda certainly typified the Jazz Age Other bands there included Turk Murphy's, the as no other couple. The appropriate music was Hot Frogs, and Royal Society Jazz Orchestra from played by the Hot Mustard Jazz Band. A ll national C a lifo r n ia ; S a lty Dogs from Chicago; New Black TV networks carried the band. Eagles from Boston; Jim B e a tty 's from P ortlan d , Oregon; Ernie Carson's from Atlanta; Terry Waldo's The Hot Mustard Band w ill be playing on July from Ohio; and four JBs from S t. L ou is. Eddy 4th in the Smithsonian's Museum of Science Davis brought an all-star group from New York Technology at two times — 1 to 2 and 3 to 4. The including Doc Cheatham, Vince Giordano, Herb Hall, location is at the giant swinging pendulum. You Freddy Coleman, and Truck Parham. This bonanza o f can bet it w ill swing in an even wider arc when jazz blasted nightly from six to 1. Then the the band starts playing. per formers who had not had enough and amateur musicians from the audience would go out on the levee and jam t i l l dawn. urc

rnnsEDITORIAL Peter L. Petrakis, Ph.D., M.P.H. S t B y l C t (Freelance)

SCIENTIFIC WRITING EDITING LITERATURE SEARCH ANALYSIS 12115 Bluhill Road ABSTRACTING Wheaton, Maryland 20902 WORD PROCESSING (301) 949-4226 The Potomac River Jazz Club Proudly Presents

San Francisco style jazz in the tradition o f Lu Watters and Turk Murphy. The Natural Gas Jazz Band has played at the great Sacramento Dixieland Jubilee every year since 1976, and will come east following its second consecutive appearance at the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival in Davenport, Iowa.

HOLIDAY INN HI SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 9 PM - 1 AM (TELEGRAPH ROAD JUST NO RESERVATIONS INSIDE CAPITAL BELTWAY)

ADMISSION: PRJC MEMBERS: $6 NON-MEMBERS: $8

For more information on this and other area jazz activities, Call 573-TRAD SW IM GIN' ON OLD CAPE COD MUSICAL NOTES FROM THE EVENTS EDITOR

There's good news and bad news from the Cape THE OLD SACRAMENTO DIXIELAND JUBILEE. Hal Farmer Cod J azz F e s t iv a l. F ir s t the bad news. The found Bob Haven's trombone was the instrument to Widespread Depression Orch. is grossly overrated.; follow at the Jubilee. Teenage trumpeter Tommy it doesn't play the music very well. We won't Bridges was a sensation whenever he stepped on include in the bad news; his band may sta ge. The Queen City J.B. w ore dark blue be bad, but i t a in 't news. T-shirts with the glowing white legend/plea, "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN CITY JAZZ BAND." No need for that, Now the good news. The Black Eagles are back Alan Fredrickson remained absent, and the Queen swinging after a dry period of some months; Scott City remained the w ell rehearsed band that PRJCers Hamilton is a monster; Doc Cheatham and Vic remember. The Polish band, Jazz Band Ball, had Dickenson are s till enriching us all; the Roomful lots of showmanship, with the influence of Louis of Blues is recreating important areas of Armstrong apparent in most numbers — and one band neglected jazz; and the Cape Cod Jazz Fest was a member gave us gravel-voiced numbers in the manner roaring artistic success. of Louie. A Scottish flavor was evident in the approach o f Mike H art's Society Syncopators (from It was a praiseworthy, largely mainstream Edinborough) in such tumes as "Ace in the Hole," program sponsored in Hyannis by the Cape Cod Jazz "Black Bottom Stomp," and "Buddy Bolden's B lu e s." S o c ie ty . D ivided into four 5-hour sessions, the The group featured drivin g, tig h tly -k n it ensemble fesival offered so much that it is possible to work and occasional solos. The Mersey-sippi Jazz give only impressions in a short review. Band (from Liverpool) was much into the frame of the West Coast revival bands with such tunes as First Session (Sat. afternoon): The Eagles "King Chanticleer," "Chimes Blues," "Tight Like came out swinging with "Ole Miss" and a That," and "The Right Key in the Wrong Keyhole." magnificent treatment of Ellington's "Rent Party Blues (Pringle doing the Cootie Williams thing). CHARLIE'S, the new C h arlie B^td e n te r p ris e , has Guest Dick Wetmore ( v i o l i n ) and Stan McDonald opened in Georgetown's Waterfront Center. The duetted "Nuages," and Wetmore played "Satin Doll" address is 3223 K Street, N.W. Don Goldie, a fine and "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" w ith the rhythm trumpet man, is currently featured. section (Newberger's tuba solo on "Satin Doll" was a joy to the ear). WAZOO. On Wednesday evening, June 18th, the new Wazoo R iver Jazz Band introduced a lusty-gutsy Paired with the Eagles was the Providence-based approach to trad jazz at the Bratwursthaus. Roomful of Blues, a band not limited to the K.C. Showing for the Wazoo's opening night were A1 blues style it digs m ost. I t also does Webber, trombone; Beale Riddle, drums; Tony Ellingtonia ("Jeeps Blues" with Rick Lataille's H aggert, trumpet; Don Rouse, cla rin et; Hap Lowe, a lto and the T ric k Sam trombone o f - trust me on banjo; Dave L ittle fie ld , piano; and Jimmie this - Porky Cohen) as well as straight-ahead Hamilton, baritone sax. swinging jive ("Let the Good Times Roll" with the Jacquet-like tenor of Greg Piccolo) . About the THE OPEN JAM a t Puff's on Sunday, June 22, redoutable Porky Cohen; the man has unbelievable exceeded exp ecta tio n s, according to Ben Whaley, chops and a vicious attack. His up-tempo reading who maintains the list o f musicians who want to o f "Caravan" almost took the roof o f f jam. So many musicians participated in this 7 Dunfey/Hyannis' converted tennis barn. p.m. to 1 a.m. jam session — 26 in a l l — that space doesn't allow us to l i s t th eir names. There Second Session (Sat. evening): The in te re s t were vocalists, too: Louise Kieran and Shirley was in the septet o f reedman Dick Johnson playing Fogelman. The most frequent members o f the front a heavily boppish warm-up for Buddy Rich. line were Joe Lazzaro, trumpet; Easy Smith, F eatu ring the remarkable drunming o f Alan Dawson, c la r in e t ; Sam L evin e, trombone; and John Doner, who teach Rich a great deal about dynamics, trombone. With that kind o f turnout, in clu din g a te x tu re , and taste, Johnson ranged from Duke's "In sizeable and enthusiastic audience, Shirley a Mellotone" and Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge" to Fogelman and Ph yllis McLearn, Puff's owners, have Chick Corea's Spanish-drenched "La Fiesta." In invited musicians to come and jam again on Sunday, between were heavy doses o f Bird, D iz, and Monk, July 27th, starting at 7 p.m. Cal Ben Whaley at all played well and cleanly. 256-2102 to sign up. Jazzbo Brown frrom Columbia Town To be concluded in the next issue PRJC HOTLINE EVENTS EDITOR: FOR LATE INFO JOE GODFREY 24 HOURS A DAY: 829-4664 573-TRAD

JULY 1980

TRADITIONAL GIGS

At the Bratvursthaus, 708 N. Randolph (Parkington Shopping C tr), Arlington, 8:30-11:30

Mondays NOT SO MODERN JAZZ QUARTET Tuesdays STQRYVILLE SEVEN Wednesdays WAZ00 RIVER JAZZ BAND Thursdays RIVERSIDE RAMBLERS Fridays GIDEON'S BAND Saturdays BUCKY BUCKINGHAM QUARTET

OTHER REGULAR GIGS Mondays TERRY HARTZELL, ragtime piano, II Porto Ristorante (Upstairs), 121 King, Alexandria, 9 p.m. Mon-Sat DARYL OTT, ragtime piano, Fishmarket (Backroom), Union & King, Alexandria, 9 p.m. JOHN EATON, piano, Fairfax Hotel, 21st & Mass. Avenue, N.W., D.C., 9 p.m. Tue-Sun JOHNNY MADDOX, ragtime piano, II Porto Ristorante (Upstairs), 121 King, Alexandria, 9 p.m. Fridays SOUTHERN OUMFORT, Shakey's Pizza, 1471 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 9 p.m. FEDERAL JAZZ COMMISSION, Cacao Lane, 8066 Main Street, Ellicott City, Md., 8 p.m. JAZZ LTD., Puff's Restaurant, Chain Bridge Road, Oakton, Va., 9 p.m. STQRYVILLE 7, Southwest Warehouse, 414 4th St., S.W, D.C., 8 p.m. Saturdays THE N0TEABLES, Puff's Restaurant, Chain Bridge Road, Oakton, Va., 9 p.m.

ONE TIME ONLY July 6 QUARTET (see story), Cacao Lane, 8066 Main Street, Ellicott City, Md., 2 p.m. to p.m. BUCK CREEK JAZZ BAND, Hilton Hotel, Loisdale Road, Springfield, Va., 8 p.m. July 9 ROSEBUD RAGTIME ENSEMBIE, Montgomery College, Rockville Campus, 8 p.m. July 12 BAND FROM TIN PAN ALLEY, The Ballroom, Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, Md., 8:30 p.m. July 13 ROSEBUD RAGTIME ENSEMBLE, Allen's Pond, Bowie, Md., 7:30 p.m. July 23 ROSEBUD RAGTIME ENSEMBIE, White Mansion, Mitchellville, Md., 7:30 p.m. July 27 ROSEBUD RAGTIME ENSEMBLE, Roundhouse Theater, Silver Spring, Md., 3 p.m. ROSEBUD RAGTIME ENSEMBLE, Lubber Run Park, Arlington, Va., 8 p.m.

DOWN THE ROAD A PIECE July 4 TEXWYNDHAM'S RED LION JAZZ BAND, Green Room, Dupont Hotel, Wilmington, Del. (reservations) July 10-13 DON GOLDIE, Maryland Inn, Annapolis July 18-19 BRANDYWINE REVIVAL JAZZ BAND, Ground Round, Philly Pike, Claymont, Del. July 24-26 WHO'S WHO JAZZ BAND, Angus Room, Sheraton Inn, Fredericksburg, Va. July 24-27 BOB WILBER SEPTET, a tribute to , Maryland Inn, Annapolis Wednesdays BRANDYWINE REVIVAL JAZZ BAND, Yesteryear's, 611 Chester Pike, Prospect Park, Pa.

JAM SESSIONS SHY (CALL FIRST) WEBB. IVY (370-8944)/ GEORGE GAILES (345-3113). OPEN PEABODY BOOK SHOP & BEER STUBE, 913 N. Charles, Baltimore. Wednesday evenings. PUFF'S RESTAURANT, Chain Bridge Rd, Oakton, Va., Sunday, July 24. Call Ben Whaley, open jam manager, 256-2102 PRJC MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION (please print) NAME ______SPOUSE'S NA M E ______

STREET CITY ______

STATE & ZIP ______TELEPHONE (optional)______

MUSICIAN? ______WHAT INSTRUMENTS?______PRESENTLY MEMBER OP BAND? ______CARE TO JOIN ONE?______DESCRIBE JAZZ INTERESTS BRIEFLY (what styles, artists you prefer. Why?)(optional)

PRJC dues are $10 per year, prorated as follows i Those joining Jan-Mar pay $10.00 through end of year " " Apr-Jun " 7.50 " " •• " " " Jul-Sep " 5.00 " " " " " " Oct-Dec " 10.00 " •• H following year Send application and check payable to PRJC to t Doris Baker, Membership Secretary 700h Westmoreland Road Palls Church, VA 220h2

Ken Kramer, Editor Tailgate Ramblings 4829 Randolph Drive Annandale, Va. 22003

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