Jazz Raconteurs
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Volume XLIV, Number 1 – February 2016 JAZFAXFounding Member – American Federation of Jazz Societies Book review Jazz raconteurs Rowe’s Jazz Tales revel in recollections and reminiscences By Michael Steinman Monk Rowe is a jazz musician back, and I have been slow to – saxophonist, pianist, composer, write about it – for two reasons. arranger – and he has a day gig One, the semester got in the at Hamilton College in Clinton, way, unforgivably, and two, I was as the Joe Williams Director of often making notes and laughing the Fillius Jazz Archive there. The so hard that I couldn’t read Archive will be 21 years old in much at a sitting. But my instant 2016, and it is indeed remarkably recommendation is buy it. So adult. those of you who want to skip the So far, Monk has conducted evidence can zoom to the bottom video interviews with more than of this post. Others can linger. 325 musicians, ranging from the A brief prelude. I am immensely great forbears (Doc Cheatham, in favor of oral history although it Eddie Bert, Kenny Davern, cannot replace the best analysis Jerry Jerome, Ray Conniff, Joe or aesthetic criticism. I wouldn’t Williams, Milt Hinton) to the give up Whitney Balliett, Martin living legends of the present Musician, author and archivist Monk Rowe, Williams, Gary Giddins, Anthony and future (Nicki Parrott, Kidd director of the Fillius Jazz Archive at Hamilton Barnett, Frank Buchmann- Jordan, Sherrie Maricle, Bill College in Clinton. ROMY BRITELL PHOTO Moller, Manfred Selchow or John Charlap, Holly Hofmann, Maria Chilton…the list goes on, and Schneider). And excerpts from I know I am leaving two dozen those interviews, thematically and The Hamilton College Jazz Archive, established worthy writers out. But what intelligently arranged, now form a in 1995, was recently renamed The Fillius Jazz wouldn’t we give for a 10-minute compact yet impressive book with Archive in honor of its founder, Milton Fillius Jr. interview with Tony Fruscella, a brief foreword by jazz eminence ’44, and his wife, Nelma, better known as Nikki. Frank Teschemacher, Jimmy Dan Morgenstern. Their vision and support made the archive’s oral- Harrison, Herschel Evans, Eddie A friend at Hamilton sent me history project possible. Lang, Jimmy Blanton or Buster a copy of the book some weeks Bailey? continued on page 4 President’s message Let the good times roll! To save our jazz club, we all need to sign up new members By Bobby Morris, JASS President During the last few years we have seen a significant decline the admission price for our concerts. We have resisted in the membership of JASS and with that a corresponding implementing either of these ideas as it is generally felt that decline in our bank accounts. The JASS Board of Directors increasing the dues or admission prices would most likely has had several discussions about possible ways to remedy result in corresponding reductions in our membership and this situation including raising the membership dues and concert attendance. continued on page 7 HAPPY MARDI GRAS! – laissez les bon temps roulez Tuesday, Feb. 9! JAZFAX Mimi’s musical meanderings New drummer drives Rhythm-Airs Board of Directors 2016 By Mimi Osmun Bill Adsitt Eleanor Collins Bob Morris Editor’s note: While Mimi continues convalescing at Loretto, Richard Ames Burt Dunlap Anne Norris we’ll catch up with the big band with which she played piano Carl Borek Sue Hodge Neil Novelli for decades, The Rhythm-Airs . Allen Kosoff — Officers Toward the end of the year, The Rhythm-Airs hired a new Bobby Morris, President drummer, Joe Cortini from Fulton. 8020 Ginger Road, Liverpool, New York 13090 “He’s fantastic and fits well with the guys,” reported (315) 652-0547 bandleader Maureen Clum. “Joe even got us a job already!” Burt Dunlap, Vice-President 31-8 Westbrook Hills Drive, Syracuse, NY 13215 Cortini replaces longtime Rhythm-Airs drummer Jack (315) 469-7034 McGreivey, who died on Oct. 27. Elly Collins, Secretary The Rhythm-Airs perform from 7 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday 235 Academy Place, Syracuse, NY 13207 at the Camillus Elks Club, 6117 Newport Road, just north of Sue Hodge, Treasurer 501 Summit Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13207 the village of Camillus. Admission costs $5/per person, $7/per Russ Tarby, Editor, Jazfax couple; food and drinks available including a buffet dinner for 105 N. Willow St., Liverpool, NY 13088 $10. For information, call 488-3477. [email protected] — Richard Ames, President Emeritus Music runs in the Cortini family. In fact the new Rhythm-Airs 201 Euclid Drive, Fayetteville, New York 13066 drummer is the third Joe Cortini. (315) 637-6398 The first Joseph Cortini – Joe’s grandfather – moved to JASS, Inc. is a tax exempt [501(c)(3)] not-for-profit corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. Dues are Fulton from Italy in 1907. He returned to the boot to bring $20.00 per year ($22.00 U.S. funds to Canada), including spouse, back his wife, Doralda, and his three daughters, in 1911. Their and sometimes entitle members to two membership discount admissions to a club event. Membership is for twelve full months sons, John and Joseph C. Cortini Sr., were born in Fulton, and and entitles members to one full year of Jazfax. Memberships can be Joseph opened Cortini Shoe Store. It was passed down from purchased from any Board Member or mail check payable to JASS father to son – Joe’s father. to the Treasurer. The Cortinis lived and worked on Oneida Street, near the Dizzy Block. Young Joe and his brother, Kimo, would help out Upcoming JASS concerts: in the store. “Even as a young child, I was allowed to come Jan. 31, 2016: Djug Django. downtown by myself,” Joe recalled. He would save the money he earned at his father’s shoe March 20: Skip Parsons Riverboat Jazz Band. store to buy hot fudge sundaes from Foster’s, model cars from Woolworth’s and record albums from Greco’s. “Downtown May 22: The Jambalaya Jazz Band. was my playground,” Joe said of growing up during Fulton’s July 17: The Bear Cat Jass Band. golden days, before urban renewal. Like Joe, his dad was a drummer who led his own groups, Sept. 13: The Chicago Hot Six. Jay Corta’s All-Stars, The Commodores and The Star Dusters. Nov. 13: TBA. He often shared the spotlight with his brother, trumpeter John Cortini, and even performed with his sons in the Cortini All performances 4 to 7 p.m. at Pensabene’s Casa Grande, Brothers Jazz Combo. He was a past president of Musicians 135 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse. Admission prices: $12 for JASS Union Local 267. Joe’s dad died on Christmas Eve 2006 at members, $15 for others; 652-0547. age 79. Directions to Pensabene’s Casa Grande Now Joe’s 8-year-old son, Joey, smacks the congas. From 690 heading east, exit at Hiawatha Boulevard; take “Playing music is a great way to make other people happy right onto the boulevard and proceed west about a block; take while making yourself happy,” Joe said. a left onto State Fair Boulevard; Pensabene’s Casa Grande will Brother Kimo Cortini lives in Jamesville and works as a be on the right. nurse at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. From 690 heading west, exit at Geddes Street, take a left and — head south three blocks to the traffic light on West Genesee By the way, Mimi celebrated her 89th birthday on Jan. 18! Street; proceed 4.5 blocks west and, immediately after — passing Harrison Bakery, turn right onto State Fair Boulevard; Mimi Osmun’s friends and fans can contact her at: Pensabene’s Casa Grande will be on the left. Mimi Osmun - Room 435 From Interstate 81, exit at Hiawatha Boulevard, head west for Cunningham Nursing and Rehab several blocks on the boulevard past Carousel Center, turning left 700 East Brighton Ave. onto State Fair Boulevard; Pensabene’s will be upcoming the right, Syracuse, NY 13205. indirectly across the street from the Syracuse Fire Department training center. Please use front entrance only; 466-0312. ___ 2 JAZFAX Black History Month Bamboozled by blackface Syracuse’s ArtRage Gallery explores the minstrel show tradition By Russ Tarby Though now scorned by politically free screening of Spike Lee’s 2000 satire, correct critics, minstrel shows dominated Bamboozled, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, American entertainment during the 19th Feb. 17. The plot revolves around a century. Initially performed by white actors frustrated African-American TV writer in blackface, the genre was adopted by who proposes a blackface minstrel show African-American performers in the 1850s. in protest, but to his chagrin it becomes These enterprising Negro entertainers a hit. The movie stars Damon Wayans, willingly played the grinning black fool to Jada Pinkett Smith, Paul Mooney and entertain audiences of all races. Michael Rapaport. “We now consider minstrelsy an The following, week at 7 p.m. Thursday, embarrassing relic, but once blacks and Feb. 25, ArtRage presents pianist Dick Ford whites alike saw it as a black art form – and performing a program called “Blackface! – embraced it as such,” write researchers Race: The American obsession nurtured Yuval Taylor and Jake Austen in their and affirmed through popular music 2012 book, Darkest America: Black (1850-1940).” Admission is free. Minstrelsy from Slavery to Hip-Hop. The founder of Signature Music in The authors make a strong case for Syracuse, Ford will lead a discussion and black minstrelsy’s deep relevance to play songs ranging from the Civil War contemporary black entertainment, era to the Roaring ’20s, and will display particularly in the work of popular artists more than 100 racist images from sheet such as Dave Chappelle, Flavor Flav, music which helped popularize racism in Spike Lee and Li’l Wayne.