Volume 29, Number 4 Published by C. Robie Booth Winter 2018–19

Teresa Broadwell Sextet to Swing for Swingtime on January 13

Clockwise from Teresa: Leo Russo, Cliff Brucker, Mike Lamkin, Pete Toigo, Mike Novakowski. See pages 6 and 7 for details. The Night Owl By C. ROBIE BOOTH On one of her rare I’m not sure how long this nights out – she was a old owl can continue to produce widowed mother rearing the nicest cats I met dur- Swingtime magazine. It seems a fifth grader -- she visit- ing a career spanning 70 like a good time to thank our ed a Cleveland night years so far (from 15 to old friend Jerry Gordon. He has club (I believe it was The 85). been the power behind the Alpine Village) and heard George Shearing was throne for the last eight years an unknown singer who once asked if he had been and has earned my undying happened to be one of blind all his life. His reply: her co-workers in the “Not yet.” thanks. Likewise our stalwart Straight ahead, little friend. proofreaders, who have correct- war plant. He was ed many of my mistakes over Frankie Laine. those years, Tim Coakley and Years later, as arts ed- Patti Melita. All of them are itor of the late lamented fine musicians and members of Knickerbocker News, I Swingtime Society’s exec- had lunch with the now utive committee. famous singer. He had married the actress Nan Twice Told Tales Gray after making a Margaret Kennedy small name as a mara- Robie was personnel thon dancer. He was im- director of Parker Appli- pressed that I knew his ance, a war plant in Eu- earlier arranger, Carl clid, Ohio, in 1943. One Fisher, and that he day she was directed to (Laine) had been a jazz escort a lovely lady singer. (Listen to his rec- around the plant, intro- ord of “Stars Fell on Ala- duce her to the workers, bama” with the Buck and maybe sell a few Clayton All-Stars, Jazz war bonds. My mother Spectacular, Columbia.) always said she was the He had made his fame classiest woman she ev- with Western songs, er met: Greer Garson. “Mule Train” and “Ghost (She holds the record for Riders in the Sky,” but consecutive years nomi- had debuted with the nated for an Academy jazz-inflected “That’s My Award: seven.) Desire.” He was one of

Page 2 SwingtimeJazz.org Swingtime Winter 2018-19 Cats and Jammers

Beginning of the Big Bands We’ve often contended Art Hickman had the first big band. That was in 1913. Earl Dabney and Wilbur Sweatman had West Coast bands in 1911, but they were not organized, travelling dance bands. Paul Specht, a huge attraction at the Kenmore Hotel ballroom in Albany, began in 1916, as did King Oliver and Ted Lewis. Jan Garber, Meyer Davis, Paul White- man and George Olsen were in busi- ness by 1918. The 1920s bore the beginnings of the great swing bands. Ben Pollack and Whiteman were breeding grounds for Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, , Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa, Glen Gray and a host of others. The first really big jazz band was the 369th Infantry regiment band conducted by James Reese Europe during World War I. Leonard Feather, whose Encyclo- pedia of Jazz is a constant reference of ours, claims that leader Europe “had no direct relationship to jazz.” Local musicians brightened the big bands. Helen Pratt, mother of singer Rennie Crain (photo by C. Robie Booth) Colleen and pianist Noreen, headlined with Tommy Reynolds. Rennie Crain with Glenn Miller (he’s on 41 record- played piano and arranged for Glen ings), Red Norvo and . Gray and Bob Chester. Al Quaglieri Carmen Mastren won three Metronome played trumpet and arranged for Ches- magazine guitarist of the year awards in ter. Mickey Folus played saxophone for the 1940s when he was with Jimmy Woody Herman, Artie Shaw and Claude Dorsey. He also played with Woody Her- Thornhill. man, Wingy Manone-Joe Marsala Band, The Mastren Brothers of Cohoes really Mel Powell and other top-flight groups. made their mark. Al played trombone --C. ROBIE BOOTH

Winter 2018-19 Swingtime SwingtimeJazz.org Page 3 Sng Snp Photos by Jerry Gordon

Louis Armstrong’s first cornet Champion Silver Piston Lyons and Healy, Chicago, ca. 1913 At Swingtime’s October concert at the Wishing Well in Wilton, the jam session included Howard Gift of the New Orleans Jazz Club Lester, Scott Bassinson and Tim Coakley accompanying a bevy of singers: Maggie MacDougall, Louisiana State Museum 1978. Jeanne O’Connor and Patti Melita Armstrong played this cornet as an adolescent at the Colored Waif’s Home. In 1962, Manuella Jones, widow of the home’s superintendent, donated the horn to the New Orleans Jazz Club’s museum. Dur- ing Armstrong’s 1965 visit, he identified the cornet by the grooves he had cut into the mouthpiece.

Anna Ray and Ned Spain watch C. Robie Booth blowin’ up a storm to celebrate his 85th this Veronica Swift backed by the Berkshires Jazz All -star Trio. And all-stars they are: Benny Kohn, piano; Mary Ann past September at Swifty’s. McSweeney, bass; Conor Meehan, drums.

Page 4 Swingtime Winter 2018 -19 Page 5 Teresa Broadwell Band on Jan. 13 Vocalist and jazz violinist Teresa Broadwell is for- , Major Bowes, Woody Herman, mally trained, holding a bachelor’s in music from Bobby Sherwood and many other top names. He the Crane School of Music, and a master’s in jazz holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music studies from the College of St. Rose. Her vocal in- and, in addition to his performing, has taught instru- fluences include: Lambert, Hendricks and Ross; mental music in public schools and at the college Eddie Jefferson; King Pleasure; Sarah Vaughan; level. Betty Carter; Ella Fitzgerald; and Anita O'Day. On Pete Toigo, a versatile and masterful bassist, fiddle, she draws from Stuff Smith, Joe Venuti, Matt propels Teresa's groups with a relentlessly swing- Glaser and Stephan Grappelli. ing energy. His bass lines are the rhythmic and har- She has recently released a recording, “Just We,” monic foundation for the ensembles and his bowed with her jazz group on CD and online that features (arco) solos delight audiences wherever he per- music inspired by Nat King Cole. Cole’s repertoire forms. He has played and/or toured with NRBQ, included many of the most popular standards of his The Lustre Kings, Jay Unger and Molly Mason, and day, but Broadwell and her group have focused on contributed his bass playing to many artists’ record- Cole's jazz repertoire with some of his rarely heard ings. songs. Jazz pianist and organist Michael Lamkin is from Other recordings include: "Sunny Side of the the Boston area via Miami, where he attended Mi- Street" with the New Moon Swing Band (a group ami Dade College and studied with the late pianist that performed on Garrison Keillor's “A Prairie Wally Cirillo of Red Norvo and Joe Diorio fame. He Home Companion” radio show) and "Everything's also led a number of trios and quintets. In Miami he Jake,” featuring her swing band Thrivin' on A Riff. has performed with multi-horn man Ira Sullivan and Broadwell moved to the Capital Region in the ear- altoist Jay Corre of the Buddy Rich band. He relo- ly ’80s, where she formed her own groups, perform- cated to Los Angeles for various studio sessions ing at concerts, festivals, radio and television shows before returning to the northeast. Michael has per- and jazz clubs in the greater northeast. Teresa’s formed extensively throughout the northeast region. groups have performed with and/or opened con- Groups he has performed with, among others, are certs for musical luminaries such as Stan Getz, Jon his jazz organ trio We B3, the Latin jazz group Car- Hendricks, Marc O’Connor, Asleep at the Wheel, ibe Mambo, Groove Nouveau, One-Eyed Cat, sax- Leon Redbone and baritone sax great Nick Brigno- ophonist Charles Neville and swing band Nitro Jive. la. Broadwell has performed at musical hotspots Drummer Cliff Brucker is an incredibly versatile including Jazzmania in New York City, the Cellar musician who, in addition to being a world-class Door in Washington DC, Ryles in Cambridge MA, drummer-percussionist, is a pianist, keyboard- Sandy's Jazz Revival Bar in Beverly MA, the Van ist, composer, producer, arranger and educa- Dyck in Schenectady and Red Creek in Rochester, tor. Cliff has a bachelor’s in music from The Crane NY. School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a master’s Guitarist Mike Novakowski plays in the post- in music from The College of Saint Rose in Albany bebop jazz style made popular by Wes Montgom- and has taught extensively on the college level. ery, Pat Martino and Jim Hall. Mike provides taste- He’s been performing as a professional musician ful support for the group's improvisations and adds for over 40 years and has worked with some of his own warm and swinging solos to the powerful the finest talent in the capital district, including the front line. He has performed regularly in the capital Albany Symphony Orchestra, Capital Region Wind region with many groups, including Cliff Brucker’s Ensemble and the Empire Jazz Orchestra. He has Full Circle, the Jon Leroy Trio and the We B3 organ also performed with a variety of internationally trio. As the guitarist with the Empire Jazz Orches- known jazz and pop artists including Aretha Frank- tra, a 19-piece big band, he has backed many jazz lin, Buddy Greco, Rex Richardson, Bob Mintzer and luminaries including Rufus Reid, Randy Brecker, Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack. His latest project, Full Ray Vega, Lee Konitz and John Fedchock. Circle, (featuring Leo Russo and Mike Novakowski) Leo Russo, local jazz saxophone master, has recently released their second CD entitled “Cliff been a mainstay and inspiration of the capital dis- Brucker & Full Circle Vol. 2.” Both recordings have trict jazz scene for many decades. With his buttery been getting much national attention and airplay, tone and formidable improvisational mastery, he most notably on PRI's Jazz After Hours with Jeff captivates listeners and makes each song a unique Hanley. treasure. In his long career, he has performed with

Page 6 SwingtimeJazz.org Swingtime Winter 2018-19 Winter 2018-19 Swingtime SwingtimeJazz.org Page 7 Join Swingtime Jazz Society

The Swingtime Jazz Society roster of members has reached 92. You are encouraged to join us by using the Enclosed find my lifetime membership fee coupon on this page. of $100. The Society’s mission is to promote quality jazz by employing the finest Name ______regional artists for four or five events every year. The format is two hours of Address ______concert-cabaret music by the fea- tured artists, followed by a one-hour ______jam session open to all cats. All members have a full vote on fu- Phone ______ture attractions and electing officers of the non-profit corporation. We also E-mail ______have a wonderful series of dinner meetings hosted by members. There Mail to: Patti Melita, SJS Treasurer is a once-only fee of $100 to join. PO Box 1906 See Pages 1, 6 & 7 for our Jan. 13 Schenectady, NY 12301 attraction, Teresa Broadwell Band.

C. Robie Booth 6 Briarwood Road Loudonville, NY 12211-1102 (518) 428-7618

The Index

Cats and Jammers …………….……. Page 3 Night Owl ……...….………………….. Page 2 Swingtime Jazz Society …..…..…… Page 8 Swingtime Snapshots …….....… Pages 4, 5 Teresa Broadwell Band …..,,.. Pages 1, 6, 7