Volume 25, Number 1 Published by C. Robie Booth Winter-Spring 2014 Steve Lambert Quintet Will Be at The Wishing Well on March 9 Steve Lambert (top) stars for Swingtime Jazz Society. From left: Adam Siegel, Bob Halek, Bobby Kendall, George Muscatello, See Pages 8 and 9 for details. The Night Owl Ye Newe Puzzler His first band was in the early 1930s, idled, and was successfully launched in Rome and Grimaldi’s in Utica (there with 1939 in New York City. He had been with the late Lou Palmer). Smith Ballew, Joe Venuti, Vincent Lopez Dorothy Lamour sang for Herbie Kay (to and Artie Shaw. whom she was married from 1935-39) His sidemen included Buddy Morrow, from 1934 to 1936, when Hollywood Lou McGarity, Hank Freeman, Max beckoned. Horace Heidt’s band vocal- Kaminsky, and Al Quaglieri, singers Kay ist (not necessarily talent show winners) Little and Rosemary Clooney. He was a included Frank De Vol, Art Carney, the tenor saxophonist and singer whose King Sisters, Gordon MacRae. Phil “Indian Love Call” on Bluebird label be- Harris was an accomplished drummer but came a hit. His big band continued its wanted to be a trombonist. success throughout the 1950s. Andre Watts was stunning in Brahms’ What was the name of this star? First Piano Concerto No. 2, Opus 83 with the answer to C. Robie Booth wins a lifetime ASO Jan. 11 at the Palace Theatre in Al- subscription to Swingtime. bany. The soloist used no sheet music Half-Notes during the 48-minute piece. I greatly en- Jean Gordon was a sultry singer for joyed the orchestra traipsing through Em- sweet band maestro Ray Pearl. He peror Waltz and the merry Pleasure Train gained fame for blasting union president Polka in which ASO conductor David Al- James Petrillo for ruining the music busi- len Miller played the train conductor com- ness. Art Hickman is more and more plete with tooter. credited with having the first organized Dave Bournazian, educator, band- dance band. It was 1913 in San Fran- leader and artist on all reeds, is in im- cisco. proved health. He played for Neal Hefti. Rocco Coluccio, a mar- Subscribe to Swingtime magazine. A lifetime subscription is just ten velous pianist from Rome, smackers, and it’s delivered to you by e-mail or first-class mail. Send NY, was Patti Page’s con- checks to: ductor and accompanist. As C. Robie Booth Rocky Cole, he did a trio 6 Briarwood Road Loudonville, NY 12211 album, ”Smooth and Rocky” Name ____________________________________________________ that is a gas. He and the Address __________________________________________________ versatile organist-pianist- cellestist Milt Munn often _________________________________________________________ jammed at the Savoy in E-Mail ___________________________________________________ Page 2 SwingtimeJazz.org Swingtime Winter-Spring 2014 In Memoriam: Ronnie Partch Ronald H. Partch, 87, of Burnt Hills, died Jan. 8, at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady. Ronnie was a bassist, trombonist and bandleader who touched many lives. I knew him first as half of the John Park- Ronnie Partch Duo in the late 1960s. One of their regular venues was the Shadow Box, a night club featuring good music on Route 20 in Guilderland. They were named Photo by Jerry Gordon Duo of the Year in The Knickerbocker News Night Owl column. (John was a mar- velous pianist who introduced me to Denny Zeitlin.) Ron and Lew Petteys formed The Mel- lowtone big band, a swinging herd featur- ing the young vocalist Colleen Pratt. He performed with the Bob Whitman Trio, Charlie Doyle Quintet, Jody Bolden Duo, Bill Pearson Headliners big band, Sophisti- cated Jazz with singer Jan Eisen, and the Shenendehowa Big Swing Band. He played for Tony Bennett at Saratoga Kool Jazz Festival and several times for the Lake George cruise ships. Glenville until retiring in 1981. He was a He had been vice president of the Sara- regular artist on the early television Earle toga Musicians Union and arranged for na- Pudney Show on WRGB. Lew Petteys, tional musicians to appear at SPAC. He highly regarded saxophonist, met Ron leaves his wife of 59 years, June L. when both were freshmen at Potsdam (Anderson) Partch, a bassoonist who could State College. “We’ve been friends ever have played for any major symphony or- since,” he told me. “My best friend. He had chestra but chose to stay home, where she a hell of an ear, the best I ever heard. was principal chair at the Albany Sym- Many things I did would not have been, phony Orchestra and widely recognized as without him - like booking for SPAC and one of the finest classicists ever. forming our own band. Partch received the Asiatic Pacific Vic- “When we were young and broke, we’d tory Medal from the Navy in World War II. pool our money so we could eat. Our chil- He earned his teaching degree from Pots- dren called each of us their uncle.” dam State College, where he played with Ron Partch was wonderful man, a warm the Varsity big band. He taught middle friend and a superb musician. school math and science at Scotia- —C. ROBIE BOOTH Swingtime Winter-Spring 2014 SwingtimeJazz.org Page 3 LOOKING FORWARD Trombone, ASO and Song We’ll be running a pleas- It debuted in 1910. It is ex- ant gamut from classical to otic and happily tuneful. pop during the end of winter “Bolero” will conclude the and the entrance of spring. program. I loved it the first The Albany Symphony time I heard it in fourth Orchestra directed by David grade. Today, after about Alan Miller programs Wag- 900 hearings, I don’t want ner, Rouse and Ravel for to ever hear it again. 7:30 Feb. 8 at the Palace Stravinsky, Joan Tower, Theatre. Conor Brown and Beetho- The prelude and liebestod ven are on the March 1 f r o m “ T r i s t a n a n d (7:30) and March 2 (3 p.m.) Isolde” (1865) is short and program at Troy Savings emotional. Bank Music Hall. Blair Clarice Assad Christopher Rouse, last McMillen will be guest pi- year’s artist in residence for anist. songbook.” Now, that’s mix- ASO, composed Trombone Clarice Assad ’ s ing it up! They are fine mu- Concerto for the New York “Scattered,” Concerto for sicians; should be a great Philharmonic in memory of Piano and Scat Singing, will show. Leonard Bernstein. It won be a highlight of the May 17 Pat Metheny Unity Group the 1993 Pulitzer Prize in (7:30) ASO concert at EM- plays Proctor’s March 20 at Music. Soloist will be ASO’s PAC, Troy. The composer 8. The player of the year own principal trombonist is also an acclaimed pianist (Down Beat) has, for the Greg Spiridopoulos. He and jazz singer. Also on the first time in 30 years ac- has performed with the program is Dame Evelyn cording to the blurb, a horn Boston Symphony Orches- Glennie, called the world’s in front. tra under five major con- greatest percussionist. Capital Repertory Theatre ductors and has recorded Lincoln Mayorga, pian- presents “Mountaintop” until frequently with the Handel ist, and Sheri Bauer- February 9 and “Gypsy” and Haydn Society and Mayorga, vocalist, will pre- from March 18-April 13. other prestigious groups. sent “American Snapshots” Frank Loscavo, a fine Maurice Ravel, who has at 7:30 May 1 at Proctor’s saxophonist, and pianist influenced many jazz musi- Theatre in Schenectady. Jon LeRoy will be playing cians, and was in turn influ- They’ll perform works by Feb. 7 at the Nanola on enced by early jazz, wrote Stephen Foster, Randy Route 9 in Malta. Music is the “Mother Goose Suite” Newman, John Fogerty and from 7 to 10. in 1908 for dual pianos. “the people’s American Page 4 SwingtimeJazz.org Swingtime Winter-Spring 2014 January 16th - 18th, 7:30 p.m. St. Clement’s Church, Saratoga Springs January 23rd -25th, 7:30 p.m. Corpus Christi Church, Ushers Tickets $10 General Admission For more information, call 518-584-6122 Proceeds from these performances will go to St. Clement’s partnership with Water to Thrive to help build water wells in Ethiopia. Directed by Karey Hall-Trimmings Music Direction by Matt Declos Choreography by Tina Baird Swingtime Winter-Spring 2014 SwingtimeJazz.org Page 5 Swingtime Snapshots Photo by Paula McNulty Dave Gleason, Mike Lawrence and Pete Sweeney Photo by Jerry Gordon Eliza Lopez and Vito Davi Jammin’ with Swingtime ‘Twas a jumpin’ jam at the SJS January concert at Provence in Guilderland. A sur- prise guest was Brian Madden, tenor sax man, retired broadcaster now teaching at Photo by Jerry Gordon Photo by Jerry Gordon SUNY Oneonta. The next SJS concert fea- Photo by Jerry Gordon Peg Delaney, Patti Melita and Brian Madden tures the Steve Lambert Quintet at The C. Robie Booth and Dave Lawrence Wishing Well in Wilton. Story, Page 8. Paula McNulty Page 6 Swingtime Winter-Spring 2014 Page 7 Swingtime Presents the Steve Lambert Quintet in Concert On Sunday, March 9, the Swingtime Jazz So- degree in music at Skidmore College and stud- ciety will present the Steve Lambert Quintet at ied under Rich Syracuse. Later, he earned a The Wishing Well Restaurant, 745 Saratoga Rd. master’s degree in jazz studies at the Purchase (Route 9) in Wilton. The concert, from 4-6 p.m., College Graduate Program. While at Purchase, will be followed by an open one-hour jam ses- he studied double bass with Todd Coolman and sion. Space is limited, so call Doc Salvatore at Doug Weiss. In the jazz idiom, Bobby has been (518) 584-3548 for reservations.