TAILGATE RAM BUNGS November 1978 Vol. 8 No. 11 Rhythm Kings Reign at Marriott Summit to Swing Again There was a prayer meeting of sorts at Soprano Summit, the highly acclaimed^ the Twin Bridges Marriott last month. and innovative group which fell victim The Yankee Rhythm Kings, sometimes of the divergent professional goals of described as the other Boston-area band, its principal players earlier this year, were in charge of the proceedings. The will be reunited for a night at the 1978 gospel preached by this 8-piece, 2 Mannassas Jazz Festival, according to tpt/crt band is the Oliver/Armstrong/- impresario Fatcat McRee. Watters/Scobey edition. The YRK plays Bob Wilber and Kenny Davern are both from the Hot Five, Red Hot Peppers, and scheduled to appear at the festival on pre-1950 Watters books - putting them Friday evening, Dec. 1, and have promised in pretty good company. the one-night reunion. They will be Lest any inaccurate impressions be accompanied by Marty Grosz, the guitarist created, let the record show that this and singer who was part of their act for is not a re-creation or "sounds like" several years. Also in attendance will band. It is a fine group of talented be Wilber's new wife, singer Pug Horton, musicians at ease with themselves and and a galaxy of jazz players and singers. their work, playing a lot of fine tunes Veteran drummer Tommy Benford is in a relaxed but disciplined manner. signed for the three-day bash at the This band has done its homework - and battlefield, and others on hand will it shows 0 It is largely an ensemble include ex-Basie reedman Buddy Tate, band, providing a solid base from which trumpeters John Thomas and Billy Butter­ Blair Bettencourt launches occasional field; pianists Dick Wellstood, Sammy and tasteful 16 and 32 bar clarinet Price, Larry Eanet; singers Beverly solo efforts. Cosham and Maxine Sullian, and many The rhythm section is superbly solid, others. Organized bands appearing will and is given an opportunity midway be Sammy Duncan’s JB, the Sons of Bix, through each set to do its stuff while and Annapolis's Original Crabtowne the front line retires from the band­ Stompers. Also on the bill will be stand. Smoky Mokes gets the nod here, the house band, Fatcat's Manassas probably because I have a nearly worn- Festival Jazzers. through full, band version on a green The Festival will take place in Jazzman label by the original Yerba Manassas on Dec. 1, 2, and 3, this year. Buena group. Except for its mid-set Exact sites have not yet been completely spotlight period, the rhythm section worked out, but the Hayloft Dinner remained happily and in my judgement Theater and the Osborne High School appropriately unobtrusive. A tuba in auditorium seem to be likely spots with the hands, or on the lip, of a a couple of others yet to be chosen. frustrated trumpet player can become a PRJC SINGLES MEETINGS bit trying0 1st Sunday - Devil’s Fork Brunch; Bob Conners, trombonist and leader, 3rd Friday - Bratwursthaus, Arlington contributes a low-key master of Info - call Joe Godfrey 829-^664; ceremonies role with a steady-state Evelyn Franklin (H) 9^6-5325; (0) marching Turk trombone to create a rock 295-0952; or Jim Nielsen (H) 562- of Gibralta image. The band does few 7235, (0) 693-6500. vocals - more, I suspect, as a change- up technique than to satisfy any real N. VA. JAZZ FANS: New Sunshine LP - need. The Armstrong standard, Skeleton Too Much Mustard - Now Available at in the Closet, would have qualified in Giant Music, 109 E.Broad, FIs Ch. both departments, although my personal preference was Cakewalking Babies. There I seems to be an underlying principle in Important Note to all Jazz Clubs: this kind of music which holds that, if With this issue, Tailgate Ramblings uncertain, play it loud or play it fast; picks up a new address as well as a or better yet play it loud AND fast,, new editor. Please hereafter send all- The YRK are blessedly buying none of exchange publications to Ken Kramer this. The forte rarely reached triple at ^4-829 Randolph Drive, Annandale, and the temp never super "up." Even i Va.. 22003. | !________ J (cont. on p 3 ) rapidly. Good luck and quick recovery to both PRJC Board members. Another Aloha - Dismayed to learn that Amber and Mort Middleman of Baltimore, who Tailgate Eamblings rarely miss an event, may be moving to Florida. Amber’s good looks and superior November 19 78 dancing will be sorely missed by local Vol. 8 No, 11 dancers, as will Mort's steady presence. Editor - Ted Chandler Plan to come back for events. Renata Contributing Editors - Fred Starr Monroe, who moved last year to Norfolk, Jack Doyle came back for the picnic and announced Mary Doyle that wedding bells had rung for her. She PRJC President - Dick Baker (703)698-8017 is now Mrs. Bols. V.P. - Ray West (703)370-5605 Buck Creek Anniversary - The first anniversary of the Buck Creek gang was TR is published monthly for members of held in Wahler's basement right after the the Potomac River Jazz Club, a nonprofit picnic, since they got their name and group dedicated to the preservation of their start there. Many familiar faces traditional jazz and its encouragement in from B'haus and PRJC. Local media was the Washington-Baltimore area. Signed represented by Royal Stokes, John Lyon, articles in TR represent the views of and Sam Allred, who also sat in on their authors and should not be construed trombone. as club policy or opinion. Articles, YANKEE RHYTHM KINGS - The band members ad copy (no charge to members for class­ were hosted by Grays, Stimsons, Bakers, ified ads), and letters should be mailed Blossom Kramer, Don Rausch, Joe Shepherd, to the new editor: and the Doyles. We were ready for supper, Ken Kramer and they hadn't had lunch or much break­ 4-829 Randolph Drive fast after an exciting plane ride, but we Annandale, Va. 22003. managed. A good group. Paul Monat, one of the trumpets, was proud of his newly- Is It True What They Say . acquired horn which had been owned by the Picnic Flashback A grand time, even thgugh late Bobby Hackett. Tables were full, and a few coiffured heads didn't look the many turned out. Velveteen jackets were same after the rains came. Many thanks in (this item should be inoffensive, since to those who helped at the sales table I was wearing one), there was a sprinkling which did a thriving business in t-shirts, of various colors, and no one seemed to mugs, tapes, and buttons. However, sev­ be wearing the same style. eral of everything can be reserved for YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY BABY Highlight at you at Christmas. Imagine your gray­ B'haus - Lady drummer sat in with one of the haired mother (or is she blonde now?) bands._She provided champagne for the band ripping off the tinsel and exclaiming for being so kind. We hear she was good, over the PRJC logo. too! Sympathy Department - Really sorry Now that the series is over, get out to hear that Del Beyer, in the throes of and hear a PRJC band this month. Don't moving and renovating his house, has forget that another important election fallen off a ladder and was in/hospital besides the national and state ones is the with broken vertebrae. Lu Byers was also PRJC Board election. hospitalized with major surgery, but Mary H. Doyle according to reports is recovering PRJC MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION (Please Print) NAME SPOUSE'S NAME_________________________ _ STREET_____________________________ CITY _______________________________ ___ STATE AND ZIP_______________________ TELEPHONE NO. (optional) _ MUSICIAN?________WHAT INSTRUMENTS?__________________________________________ _ PRESENTLY MEMBER OF BAND?___________ CARE TO JOIN ONE?_______________________ DESCRIBE JAZZ INTERESTS BRIEFLY (WHAT STYLES, ARTISTS YOU PREFER. WHY? optional) PRJC DUES THRU 1979 - $10.00 Checks payable to Potomac River Jazz Club. Mail to: Doris B. Baker, Membership Sec'y 7004- Westmoreland Rd. Falls Church, Va. 2204-2 But On the Other Hand An Editorial Outcry A Heavy Word from the New Editor And so it's hail and farewell. I nearly refused to set up Ken’s Let me say this about Ted Chandler - remarks about me to be found elsewhere he performed an amazingly swinging on this page. I decided, however, it job as the editor of Tailgate would not be advisable for me to edit Ramblings. He broadened the role of the editor too sharply as there may PRJC, he stood up for what he be a time up ahead where I’ll need to believed, and he always wrote with depend on his editing. grace and feeling. In any event, he was far too generous. The new editor is me, Ken Kramer. There is in this final column, one Sure, I heard Bix live and just about thing to which Ken alluded that I’d all of the jazz greats. But I didn't like to address because I think it is know how great they were until the important. music they played sank in over the Traditional jazz is a form of jazz years. Like all great art, great jazz well worth preserving and extending. is ahead of its times, this indeed, is It is not - nor must it be allowed to one measure of its greatness. become - a cult. I think that some­ Enough of philosophy. Traditional times when we insist on the unique jazz to me is enjoyment, relaxation, primacy of "our" music we are endangering happy times.