Busking… in the JAZZ RAMBLER Age of COVID Published by America’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz Society • San Diego, CA • www.SDjazzfest.org “Nobody told me there’d be days $8.00 Per IssueSpring (May) 2021 Vol. XXXIV No. 2 like these… strange days indeed.” — John Lennon Several Options Possible Strange days (indeed) that we live in. Few would disagree that the last For 42nd Annual Jazz Fest year has been like no other. We’ve seen unprecedented changes to how we As various cities and states our hands. The vaccine rollout gives work, how we play, and in general, around the country begin to open us hope, and we’re feeling good how we live. How and where we hear up, we’re watching the news daily, about live events being a thing again our favorite music has been no keeping up with the latest updates, in the next several months. That exception, and while live music has wearing our masks and washing continued on page 4 been mostly on hold of late, it looks as if there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. In the meantime, we’ve had to make it up as we go. As George Gershwin once mused, “Life is a lot like jazz. It’s best when you improvise.” And that’s exactly what many of our favorite acts have been doing. One of those bands keeping the music alive while braving the great outdoors is the Uptown Rhythm Makers. Positioning itself on the Embarcadero in downtown San Diego, near the historic USS Midway Museum, the band has been entertaining crowds continued on page 3 most every Sunday afternoon since August of 2020. Playing two hours of Trad favorites, the group has consistently seen Society members as well as regulars from our La Mesa Fuddruckers’ concerts (temporarily on hold), dancing or parked in lawn chairs, all in a responsible, socially-distanced continued on page 3

The feathers tell the story! The AFCDJS Virtual Monthly Concert Series May 16 — The California Feetwarmers June 20 — The Big Five (led by Clint Baker) July 28 — TBD See more details on page 4 Besos Jazz Trio JAZZ RAMBLER Jazz Alive — Here, There, Everywhere SPRING (MAY) 2021 VOL. XXXIV - NO. 2 (To have events included in the Jazz HIGH SOCIETY JAZZ BAND The JAZZ RAMBLER is published quar- Rambler or on the AFCDJS website, More info: Larry (858) 277-5294 terly for $20 per year ($25 foreign) by submit updates by the 28th of each highsocietyjazzband.com America’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz So- month to [email protected].) ciety. Address all correspondence to P.O. MAD HAT HUCKSTERS Box 880387, San Diego, CA 92168-0387. BESOS JAZZ TRIO Check Facebook page for lots of America’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz Playing outdoors in North Park and Society is a Non-Profit 501 (c)3 organiza- new virtual content: tion. For information about the Society, Balboa Park. Online at https:// facebook.com/madhathucksters/ call (619) 297-5277. www.facebook.com/besosmusic Website: www.SDjazzfest.org NEW ORLEANS JAZZ CLUB Single copy price $8.00. Editorial con- THE BIG BUTTER JAZZ BAND OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA tributions welcome. Contents of Jazz bigbutterjazzband.com Facebook.com/New-Orleans-Jazz- Rambler are copyrighted © (2021) by Club-of-Southern-California- America’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz So- CJ SAMS and KATIE CAVERA ciety and may not be reprinted without katiecavera.com 570161196333038/ permission. Jazz Publications and Jazz Club Newsletters may reprint articles pro- CROWN CITY DIXIELAND BAND ROYALE GARDEN DIXIE BAND vided the following credit is included: “Re- crowncitydixielandband.com/ Angelfire.com/ca3/rgdb/ printed from the Jazz Rambler, San Di- upcoming-performances/ upcoming.html ego, California.” The Jazz Rambler and More info: (760) 585-8899 Society functions are funded in part by the STUCKEY & HOT HOUSE GANG City of San Diego Commission for Arts Weekly Facebook Live show (“Ten S. BAY N. ORLEANS JAZZ CLUB and Culture. Tunes on Tuesday at Two”): Facebook.com/groups/ BOARD OF DIRECTORS https://www.facebook.com/hothouse 895900660746780/ Bill Adams, President/Executive Director gang/ SUE PALMER Bob Solsbak, Vice President Tony Connors, Secretary EUPHORIA BRASS BAND Check out KSUE Radio & other Ed Adams, Bob Andersen, Morgan Day, euphoriabrassband.com new content at: suepalmer.com Claudia Gomez, Joe Jensen, Dean Turney, Susan Turney GINO & THE LONE GUNMEN TRIO GADJO Playing outdoors in North Park and AFCDJS STAFF Check Facebook for upcoming events and “Gino’s Live Home Show!” Balboa Park Morgan Day, Online Content Creator https://www.facebook.com/ Hal Smith, Artistic Director https://www.facebook.com/ besosmusic Crystal Solsbak, Office Manager GinoandtheLoneGunmen/

RAMBLER STAFF JAZZ JAMMERS UPTOWN RHYTHM MAKERS Editor in Chief: Jay F. Levine facebook.com/Jazz-Jammers- Busking Sundays on the Managing Editor: Bob Solsbak 382089555263254/ Embarcadero (by the Midway) Staff Writers: Hal Smith • Bob Solsbak More info: (619) 561-8236 or Check Facebook page for more info: Staff Photographer: Alex Matthews [email protected] facebook.com/URMjazz Advertise in the Rambler Advertising in the Jazz Rambler is one of the best ways to reach a large exclusive audience of Trad Jazz fans. With our circulation of approximately 2,000 and an estimated reader- ship of 3,500, you will be reaching thousands of people who are interested in all aspects of Traditional Jazz. The Rambler is published quarterly. Dead- lines are the 5th of the month, prior to the date of issue. Feb. 1, May 1, Aug. 1 and Nov. 1. Advertising Rates Full page — $275.00 One Half page — 150.00 One Third page — 110.00 One Quarter page — 85.00 One Eighth page — 50.00 For a rate sheet, write AFCDJS, P.O. Box 880387, San Diego, CA 92168-0387 or call (619) 297-5277.

PAGE 2 SPRING (MAY) 2021 JAZZ RAMBLER Busking . . . Continued from front page environment. Dozens of passersbys stop to enjoy the proceedings, and we hope you will too. More information can be found on its Facebook page at facebook.com/URMjazz. Lots of fun, sunshine, good vibes and, as URM’s trombonist (and AFCDJS Board Member) Bob Andersen puts it, a “good chance to reconnect with old friends.” Another great act bringing live music to the masses is the Euphoria Brass Band. They’ve been a mainstay since last summer, setting up camp in Balboa Park. They had to call it off for a few winter months when the infection rates Uptown Rhythm Makers shot up but are happily back at it again. of up to 100 people. A lot of his students, born in July of last year. With Jeremy “I love being able to play outdoors,” having spent most of the last year Eikam and Jason Durbin on guitar, enthuses band leader JP Balmat. Along cloistered in front of a computer screen, Harley Magsino on bass and AFCDJS with Euphoria’s parade style kick off, have taken the opportunity to come out Board Member Claudia Gomez on regular SD Jazz Fest attendees may and take in the scene. Many of them, as drums and tap dance, the group does recognize Balmat as Mission Bay High well as some graduates, have even sat two socially-distanced sets (the second School’s instructor as well as his work in with the band. As much as the group a jam session!) on Saturdays from with the MBHS Preservationists. “Balboa looks forward to a return to normalcy, 3:45pm until sunset in the North Park Park is beautiful and there is plenty of they are relishing this chance to play for area of San Diego. Crowds have been room for people to gather and socially the community, and hope you’ll come good and concertgoers have been distance.” Truer words were never join in the fun. Get the latest updates on respectful, wearing masks and staying spoken as the historic spot is a well- their Facebook page at facebook.com/ in their “pods.” Another hotspot that’s known gem to San Diegans and full of euphoriabrassband. “I love the families recently reopened on Fridays and beautiful, wide open spaces. The band’s that come out and bring their kids,” Saturdays is Panama66 (at the San regular fan base has come out in droves, says Balmat. “People are dancing and Diego Museum of Art), where Gomez and with regular parkgoers taking in having a good time. You can tell our city has had the thrill of frequenting with Euphoria’s signature brand of fun, is hungry for live music!” both Trio Gadjo and recent Virtual Balmat estimates they’re seeing crowds “The Hot Club of Bird Park” was Monthly Jazz Concert hit, the Besos Jazz Trio. Although the restaurant is following safety guidelines and only operating at limited capacity, excitement is high and crowds are loving the ability to be outdoors and of course, the music. “Hot Club” is located at 28th & Thorn, and a schedule of events for Panama66 can be found at www.Panama66.com/livemusic. Hopefully the strange days will be a thing of the past soon. For now, we hope you’ll come check out one of the many outdoor events happening in our great city. We ask that you continue to be respectful and exercise caution, but that you’ll come join us for good times, good friends and good music! Euphoria Brass Band JAZZ RAMBLER SPRING (MAY) 2021 PAGE 3 Exec. Director Update The start of spring has always held Virtual Monthly Jazz Concerts the memory of warmer weather, Sponsored by America’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz Society longer days, and the planning of the Thanksgiving SD Jazz Fest. May 16 – The California Feetwarmers Conversations with bands, vendors, June 20 – The Big Five (led by Clint Baker) hotel staff, Festival staff and patrons July 18 – TBD about producing an exciting and music filled weekend is what is usually on Society members receive priority access to the online my mind during these months. concerts on the dates above. Concerts will be posted to Last year was tough on everyone. the public the week following these dates. We all held on with hope early in the year that having a festival was possible Links to concerts can be found at www.sdjazzfest.org over the Thanksgiving weekend. or www.facebook.com/sdjazzfest/live Having to go online for the 2020 Festival was painfully difficult but the Also… refer to Jazz Alive on p. 2 for bands and right decision to keep our jazz family websites to get up-to-date information on who is safe. playing where and when! With the spring of 2021 upon us, we are hoping to see the continued reduction of COVID cases as well as • Virtual Festival, as presented in lighter state and county restrictions Options . . . 2020. for San Diego and elsewhere. With Continued from front page At this point we are considering all options as we monitor the local as well the County Health Department of San being said, we won’t be the litmus Diego updating the requirements in as the national situations with regard test. The safety of our patrons and the following months due to expected to travel and large gatherings. Please staff is paramount, so we’ll follow changes in case numbers, we are the state, county and city guidelines stand by and continue to check on the hopeful that planning a live SD Jazz diligently, then take the extra step status of Festival #42 at Fest is possible. As we get closer to of making sure whatever we decide, www.sdjazzfest.org while we see what the beginning of summer, updates transpires. However, rest assured that about how many people we can it’s the right thing to do. – one way or another – we will present accommodate will allow us to We are fortunate to have a the 42nd Annual San Diego Jazz Fest determine the size and scale of a number of options for planning potential live event. Festival #42. Depending upon the on Thanksgiving weekend, 2021! The Town & Country Hotel has circumstances, we are considering been completely renovated, from the the following: Education Outreach sleeping rooms to the convention halls. • Indoor Festival, using the regular The front desk has been moved to a venues, at the Town & Country For more info about our new location, and new and updated • Outdoor event, utilizing tents youth program including Jazz restaurants and poolside bars can be • Smaller scale Festival with Camp scholarships, check the found on site. The hotel website limited venues and performers Society website under (towncountry.com) has great • Festival with reduced number of Education. pictures of all the updates. performance days As we get closer, updates and details will become available. Just like you, we are all experiencing these changes together and appreciate your understanding as our concern for your safety is the primary goal in planning an event. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Bill Adams Executive Director, A.F.C.D.J.S. The beautiful, newly-remodeled home of the Jazz Festival, the Town & Country

PAGE 4 SPRING (MAY) 2021 JAZZ RAMBLER JAZZ RAMBLER SPRING (MAY) 2021 PAGE 5 Jazz Camp Highlights!

PAGE 6 SPRING (MAY) 2021 JAZZ RAMBLER Writers Needed AFCDJS and the Council Updated Website! The Jazz Rambler needs your For Music In the Schools help! We’re looking for feature If you haven’t been on our website writers for our quarterly remind members that lately, it’s time to take a look. A more publication. Some qualifications the donation of used streamlined design, with better we’re looking for — the ability to functionality and a more visually write short articles (obviously), a instruments is not appealing look are what you’ll find. love of Jazz (of course), a passion limited to during the Direct links to everything you for (or at least interest in) music need, from membership and education and a desire to talk to Festival. Anyone who education programs to Festival info interesting people in order to tell their stories. If interested, or for wants to contribute and concert itineraries can be found more information, please send an should contact us at on the home page. email to [email protected]. Check out our new and improved Thanks! [email protected]. look at www.sdjazzfest.org.

Instrumental Fun!

Answers on p. 10

JAZZ RAMBLER SPRING (MAY) 2021 PAGE 7 In Remembrance of Help Wanted! AFCDJS is looking for a part- Fred Allee and Chuck Hukari time bookkeeper to fill the position AFCDJS is sad to announce Chuck Hukari also passed of Treasurer for our organization. that last January we lost two men away on January 11 following a CPA status not mandatory who were part of the support team long struggle with cancer. Chuck (although preferred), but the for the Society. was always willing to help at the candidate must have prior Fred Allee died on January 11 Jazz Fest wherever he might be bookkeeping experience and be from coronary infarction. He had needed, including stepping in and well versed in QuickBooks. This been working with Jay Rice at the handling the instrument storage person will oversee bill paying, AFCDJS Monthly Workshops on room. Furthermore, he helped set record keeping, and be required the 2nd Thursday of each month. up the classrooms and assisted at to attend the monthly Board of He provided the drums, which at registration during the annual Adult Directors meeting. The position times workshop attendees played, Jazz Camp. will only require a few hours a but usually Fred kept the beat and Chuck and Fred were truly week, so perfect for a retiree or ensured that Jay’s large group dedicated to the music, and were someone looking to pick up a little would be in rhythm. both active in the Jazz Jammers extra work. If you or someone you Jazz Band, on trumpet and drums know is interested, send a resume respectively, that played at and/or direct your inquiries to Fuddruckers in Grossmont Center. [email protected]. Over the years they both have performed at the SD Jazz Fest, attended Jazz Camp and performed Festival #42 Cannot with numerous other San Diego Happen Without You! groups. They will be missed. Thanksgiving and SD Jazz Fest #42 are coming sooner than you think, and we need your help. Our Festival continues to be one of the most popular in the country, thanks in no small part to all of you that have chosen to donate in previous years, as your support has helped to bring in some of the best musicians in the world. Though none of us can predict the future, we are hopeful and confident that this year’s Festival will be a LIVE event, and your Festival Steering Committee is Things To Do Online: working feverishly to put together another stellar lineup (check our • Sponsor a Band website and future Jazz Ramblers • Join the Society for updates). Donations can be made online • Read the Jazz Rambler AFCDJS is a member of: at www.SDJazzFest.org, or you • Make an Educ. Donation • San Diego Regional can send a check to AFCDJS, Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 880387, San Diego, CA • Enroll in Jazz Camp 92168-0387. • San Diego Convention & Thank you so much, and we • Get Volunteer Info Visitors Bureau hope to see you in November! PAGE 8 SPRING (MAY) 2021 JAZZ RAMBLER Maximize Your Sponsorship With a Johnny Wiggs . . . Continued from page 10 Matching Gift From Your Company New Orleans on Oct. 10, 1977. Because AFCDJS is a employees. Just a few example Many of his best recordings are registered 501 [c] 3 non-profit companies include: General currently available on the charitable corporation, some of Electric, American Airlines, Dell, American Music and GHB labels our sponsors can double or even Home Depot, Verizon, Wells as well as on YouTube videos. triple their society, band or Fargo and Morgan Stanley. Check Writer Michael Steinman has musician donation to AFCDJS by with your company’s human described Johnny Wiggs as “a having their company match their resources department to see if great sad poet: his melancholy is donation through a Matching Gift they offer a matching gift program always lightened by his joy in the Program. Such programs are and get the needed forms to rolling rhythms beneath him, but offered as a benefit by many complete. Your donation or his sound is autumnal, dark red companies to current and retired sponsorship will go even further. and gold.” Seek out the recordings by the Wiggs-Burke Big Four and Souchon’s Lakefront Loungers and enjoy the best of those dark red and gold sounds. Payment Update: Our online payment system has been fixed and is now 100% functional. Although no data was compromised or lost, there was an issue with the completion of credit card transactions. We recently moved to a more robust merchant account (via PayPal) and are back up and running, with the ability to receive payments via credit card or your PayPal account. Thanks for your understanding and patience.

Education Donor Dawn Club Mary Hargraves

The Society thanks you for your generous support.

JAZZ RAMBLER SPRING (MAY) 2021 PAGE 9 irresistible and he convinced a Mangiapane on bass; and Johnny Wiggs . . . manager at WSMB radio to give Souchon’s “Lakefront Loungers” Continued from back page him a slot with a jazz band. John with the same quartet, plus Paul hearing one of the city’s best brass knew that the school board would Crawford, trombone; Knocky bands playing in a parade, he “went not approve of his playing jazz on Parker, piano; and the wonderful crazy” for the cornet. After saving the air, so he adopted the New Orleans drumming of Paul his money for six months, John professional name “Johnny Barbarin. This session also bought a cornet by mail from Sears, Wiggs” — a shortened variation includes another Wiggs original Roebuck & Co. of his middle name, Wiggington. composition, “Pelican Panic.” He continued to play the string “Wiggs” continued to teach and After retiring from the Orleans instruments with groups such as to play jazz whenever he had the Parish School Board, Wiggs stayed “The Invincibles” but his musical opportunity. He was one of the active in the local jazz scene, world was turned upside-down founders of the New Orleans Jazz including performances at the when he attended a dance at Tulane Club and performed for that group recently-established Preservation University in 1917. The band with some of the city’s greatest Hall. He recorded a session there performing at the dance was led by musicians. Beginning in the late in 1965 with “Big Jim” Robinson, Joe “King” Oliver and the ensemble 40s he recorded extensively for a trombone; Raymond Burke, Bob also included Kid Ory, Johnny number of small labels, including Greene, piano; Dodds and drummer “Happy” many sessions with another owner-manager Allan Jaffe, Bolton. Oliver’s sound on the wonderful New Orleanian, helicon; and visiting Japanese cornet reminded John of the bluesy clarinetist Raymond Burke. drummer Yoichi Kimura. sounds made by the Bottlemen and Wiggs also composed several Near the end of the decade, also the blues-inflected singing of excellent New Orleans-themed Wiggs (and Burke) performed at the neighborhood washerwomen. songs, such as “Congo Square,” the Manassas Jazz Festival in Despite his admiration for “King Zulu on Parade,” “Chef Virginia. The live recordings from Oliver’s music, John left town to Menteur Joys,” “Gallatin Street the 1969 festival have mixed study violin in New York City. Grind” and others. His “Postman’s results, but there are some However, he returned to New Lament” was recorded by British memorable moments with Wiggs Orleans and began playing cornet traditional jazz icon Ken Colyer playing alongside Burke, Georg as his main instrument. He worked and the song is still in the repertoire Brunis, Paul Crawford, Bobby with a variety of bands including of contemporary traditional bands. Gordon, Don Ewell, Bob Greene, those led by Norman Brownlee and Two recording sessions from this Danny Barker, Clancy Hayes and Happy Schilling. period are must-haves for jazz Zutty Singleton. He graduated from Loyola fans, The Wiggs-Burke “Big Four” Wiggs had retired from playing University with a Bachelor’s Degree with Dr. Edmond Souchon on guitar music when he passed away in in music and later worked at Werlein’s and vocals and Sherwood continued on page 9 Music store. At some point during the ’20s he heard the recordings of Bix Beiderbecke, who became his Instrumental Fun Answers other major inspiration. In 1927 he ACROSS: DOWN: recorded with Tony Parenti and also with his own “Bayou Stompers” for 4. Trumpet 1. Voice Columbia. The Beiderbecke in- 6. Bass 2. Drums fluence is unmistakable on all these 7. Violin 3. Brass records. 10. Saxophone 5. Trombone During the Depression, John 11. Piano 8. Washboard went to work for the Orleans Parish School Board. He taught music as 13. Clarinet 9. well as mechanical drawing. The 14. Guitar 12. Banjo urge to play jazz eventually became 13. Cornet

PAGE 10 SPRING (MAY) 2021 JAZZ RAMBLER Welcome New and Renewal Members Jan. -March, 2021 Adrienne Pipes Ruth Richardson Small Band Dean & Nancy Abelon Doreen Runk Music Karen & Thomas Anderson Jerry & Shelly Silberberg Archives Steven & Marcia Balch David & Jane Sturmer AFCDJS maintains an Kaz & Yumi Fukukura Monte Turner archive of over 2,700 small Lee Genet band music arrangements, Barry & Julie Walson Lou Ann Gurney which we make available Dave Watters to school and youth bands, Barbara Hall Linda White community, church, start- Mary Hargraves up, and non-profit music Michael & Mary Whitehead William Heaton groups. Andrew & Kathleen David Johnson & Lauren Ask about the Top Wittenborn Thousand most-requested Hunton Carl L. Wright small band music arrange- Joel N. Johnson ments, on a DVD disc. Leonard & Kathleen Kellogg Donors: Dawn Club Go to our website at www.sdjazzfest.org and Jim & Julie Koch Mary Hargraves click “Small Band Music” at Larry Krymer the bottom of the page or General Society Donation Sandy Magallanes contact Bob Solsbak at Anonymous (in memory of Brian & Donna McCarthy archive@ sdjazzfest.org. Fred Allee, Cleve Baker & Anne McNaughton Chuck Hukari) Martha McPhail Update AFCDJS

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION/RENEWAL /SUBSCRIPTION FORM With New Emails Please check the applicable boxes and mail to: Some of our members have AMERICA’S FINEST CITY DIXIELAND JAZZ SOCIETY updated or changed their email P.O. Box 880387 • San Diego, CA 92168-0387 • Phone: (619) 297-5277 addresses. We are unable to send NEW  RENEWAL  concert notices or even the Jazz Enclosed is  $25.00 for a single membership (includes Jazz Rambler) Rambler password to those who  $40.00 for a couple membership (includes Jazz Rambler) have requested it.  $20.00 for annual subscription / Jazz Rambler only If you have changed your email  $25.00 — foreign address within the past year, please SUPPORT THE EDUCATION FUND email the AFCDJS Office Manager,  $1,000 Cotton Club  $250 Storyville Club  $100 Dawn Club Crystal Solsbak, with the new e-  Please contact me regarding volunteer work for the AFC Dixieland Jazz Society mail address to crystaljazzsociety @gmail.com. NAME ______If you want to start receiving the Rambler online, you may indicate MAILING ADDRESS ______that as well. CITY ______STATE _____ ZIP ______PHONE______Online subscriptions help to cut postage costs so we can use that EMAIL ______money for promoting “The Music.” JAZZ RAMBLER SPRING (MAY) 2021 PAGE 11 AMERICA’S FINEST CITY NON PROFIT ORG. DIXIELAND JAZZ SOCIETY U.S. POSTAGE Post Office Box 880387 PAID San Diego, California 92168-0387 Permit No. 821 San Diego. CA

Traditional Jazz: A Quick Look Johnny Wiggs — Inspired by Bottlemen, King Joe and Bix (This is the 15th mini-biography was attracted to the unusual sounds of the “Bottlemen” — junkmen in a continuation of a series of who collected bottles to be traded biographies of great traditional for cash and who advertised their jazz musicians. The series presence in the neighborhood by started with the March/April blowing on New Year’s Eve-styled 1991 issue and was developed horns, “bending notes” and playing by Rambler founding publisher the blues. and Board Member, the late Len He also admired the “beautiful Levine.) roughness” in the singing of African-American washer- By Hal Smith women. John was born on July 25, S.D. Jazz Fest Artistic Director 1899 to parents who enjoyed music In New Orleans just after the and encouraged his musical turn of the 20th Century, young interests. John played both John W. Hyman might have been Bolden, Tony Jackson or other mandolin and violin, but after drawn to jazz by hearing Buddy legendary musicians. Instead, he continued on page10 PAGE 12 SPRING (MAY) 2021 JAZZ RAMBLER