October 2016 Volume 41, Number 08 BLACK SWAN RETURNS TO PSTJS ON OCTOBER 16! Alan Phillips, the banjoist, was originally a French horn player who then moved on to piano tuning and restoration. He has played with a variety of Oregon groups, including the Eugene Symphony. That was probably not a banjo gig, but who knows? Ask Alan. The versatile drummer, Ron Leach, is a lifelong student of percussion. He has performed in Latin, blues, jazz, bluegrass, symphonic and theater groups throughout Oregon and was for three years music director aboard the Queen Of The West. Finally, there’s Marilyn Keller, the band’s crowd-pleasing singer. With her flawless vocal styling audiences can well imagine her as one of the stars of the original Black Swan recordings. Marilyn by George Swinford has recently returned from an extended The Black Swan band we’ll be hearing performing tour of northern Europe. The Black Swan Classic Jazz Band, last in October declares itself “dedicated to the Continued on page 4 heard on our stage in 2014, returns for our preservation and performance of Dixieland, October 16th concert. This fine group hails old-time gospel, early jazz and ragtime Editor’s note: See page 4 for more complete bios from Oregon’s Willamette Valley. music”. Here are the musicians who will of Black Swan. The band takes its name from Black demonstrate all that dedication: Swan Records, a Harlem-based company First, Kit Johnson, founder of the band, WHERE: founded in 1921. It was a black-owned and as he points out, owner (and operator) of Ballard Elks Lodge company and the first widely distributed the tuba. 6411 Seaview Ave. NW, Seattle label to be marketed to an African-American On cornet, Rick Holzgrafe, a twenty- WHEN: audience. The company was founded by year member of the Mission Gold Jazz Band, 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. October 16 Harry Pace; just after his music publishing before he moved to Oregon. Playing trombone, ADMISSION: partnership with W. C. Handy had dissolved. Andy Hall, familiar to us as a regular in the $12 PSTJS members By 1924 the company had foundered and was Uptown Lowdown and Hume Street bands. $15 non-members. Pay only at door. sold to Paramount Records, another legendary On clarinet, Steve Matthes, former director of FURTHER INFO: label. In the short span of its existence Black the OSU Concert Band; now he’s the director Carol Rippey 425-776-5072. Swan created a lasting jazz legacy, having of the Corvallis Community Band. On piano, Or - website: www.pstjs.org. Plenty of issued recordings by such well-remembered John Bennett, Playing piano in a burlesque free parking; great view & dance floor, vocalists as Lucille Hegamin, Alberta Hunter, theater helped John pay his college tuition. snacks, coffee, and other beverages Trixie Smith, Eva Taylor and their best seller, He claims to be the only pit pianist who available. the wonderful Ethel Waters. never looked up. Jazz Soundings October 2016 Page 2 Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society Gigs for Local Bands 19031 Ocean Avenue BELLINGHAM TRADITIONAL JAZZ SOCIETY Edmonds, WA 98020-2344 425-776-5072 www.pstjs.org 1st Saturday, 2-5 pm VFW Hall 625 N. State St., Bellingham, WA Oct. 1 Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band (6 pcs.) UPCOMING EVENTS Nov. 5 Market Street Jass Band & Silent Auction Elks Lodge, Ballard, 6411 Seaview Ave N.W., Seattle Dec. 3 Crescent City Shakers /AGM & Jewelry Party Oct. 16 Black Swan Classic Jazz Band Nov. 20 Evergreen Classic Jazz Band BOURBON STREET ALL STARS Dec. 18 Ray Skjelbred & the Yeti Chasers Jan. 15 Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band 1st Tuesday, 5-9pm at McCloud’s Grillhouse 2901 Perry Ave, Feb. 19 Jacob Zimmerman and His Pals Bremerton, WA 98310 Res: 360-373-3093 Mar. 19 Gerry Green’s Crescent City Shakers PRESIDENT Judy Levy [email protected] DAVE HOLO TRIO 425-890-6605 Salty’s on Alki 1936 Harbor Avenue. SW Seattle, WA 98126 VICE PRESIDENT Jack Temp 425-242-0683 206-937-1600 http://saltys.com/seattle SECRETARY Cilla Trush [email protected] 206-363-9174 Oct. 7 5-8pm TREASURER Gloria Kristovich [email protected] Oct. 21 5-8pm 425-776-7816 BOARD OF DIRECTORS GREATER OLYMPIA DIXIELAND JAZZ SOCIETY Keith Baker [email protected] Verna Eriks [email protected] 206-363-6171 2nd Sundays 1-4:30pm Elks Lodge. 1818 Fourth Ave E., Olympia, WA Joanne Hargrave [email protected] 206-550-4664 Oct. 9 Gerry Green’s Crescent City Shakers John Heinz [email protected] 425-412-0590 Edmunde Lewin 360-297-6633 George Peterson [email protected] 425-453-5218 PEARL DJANGO Carol Rippey [email protected] 425-776-5072 Oct. 1 8pm North City Bistro We love this place! Reservations George Swinford [email protected] 425-869-2780 recommended. Tickets and reservations made directly MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR through the Bistro will be required to guarantee seating. Carol Rippey [email protected] 425-776-5072 Call (206) 365-4447 Or email [email protected] for EDITOR reservations. 1520 NE 177th St; Shoreline, WA Anita LaFranchi [email protected] 206-522-7691 Oct. 14 7:30pm Water Music Festival. Joining us will be Gail Pettis. Inn at Harbour Village 120 Williams Ave, Ilwaco, WA 98624 WEBMASTER (360) 642-0087 George Peterson [email protected] 425-453-5218 Oct. 15 8pm The Old Stone We will also feature accordianist David Lange 157 Franklin Ave, Bend OR 97701; 541-322-7273 JAZZ SOUNDINGS Gigs continue on page 5 Published monthly except July and August by the Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society. Anita LaFranchi, Editor, [email protected] Ads must be submitted in a jpeg or PDF format Payment in advance to: Gloria Kristovich, P.O. Box 373, Edmonds, WA 98020-0373 Advertising Rates: Full page $100. 7 1/2” wide by 9 1/2 “ tall On Your Dial........ Half Page $60. 7 1/2” wide by 4 1/4 “ tall Saturday Quarter Page $40. 3 5/8 Wide by 4 1/4 “ tall 7 - 12 pm Swing Years and Beyond KUOW 94.9 FM Sunday Deadline is the 10th of the month for the next month’s issue 3 -6 pm Art of Jazz, Ken Wiley, KPLU 88.5 FM Jazz Soundings October 2016 Page 3 JAZZ STORY by Ray King My exposure to traditional jazz started his first child when he was 67. Recently, I In the early 1980s, I had Dick Knutson in the late 1940s and early 1950s. My had the great pleasure to spend the day and with his Desert City Six and Vince Saunders brother, 7 years my senior, started bringing have dinner with Ory’s daughter Babette. with his South Frisco Jazz Band play at a home 78s and the love of traditional jazz has party I hosted. lasted a lifetime. Here is a picture of Babette and me in Those were the days! Damn, I love I had a nightly ritual, with my mother and May 2016. this music. brother, of listening to Frank Bull and Vice President Benson Curtis’ “Dixieland Jazz, Barrel House, Boogie & the Blues” program Below - is a photo from on KFWB radio in Los Angeles. It started 1953 of Kid Ory’s band at and ended with a great Panama Rag. the Beverly Cavern. I still see my mom doing housework Names are: and cooking to Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Teddy Buckner, Minor and later to Claire Austin and Kid Ory. Hall, Joe Darensbourg, Ed The first record I purchased was in Garland, Kid Ory, Harvey 1951, a 45 RPM of Kid Ory from the Jazz Brooks (Photo: Louisiana Man Record Shop in Hollywood - it’s still State Museum) playable! It has 3 songs: Ory’s Boogie, Blues for Jimmie Noone, and St. Louis Blues. First live concert: the 1953 Frank Bull and Gene Norman “Dixieland Jubilee” in L.A. Great bands played that night: Kid Ory, Bob Scobey, George Lewis, Red Nichols, Pete Daily, Firehouse Five Plus Two, Castle Jazz Band and more. The special guest for the night was Sidney Bechet. Forever etched in my soul was a darkened stage with a single spotlight focused on the bell of Bechet’s I spent a lot of time horn which stuck out between the curtains (and money) at the Beverly on the stage. As Bechet began to play Cavern in L.A. I got to know “Summertime”, the curtains slowly opened the Firehouse Five Plus Two and gradually the spotlight encompassed members well. One evening Bechet - a memory was made! Don Kinch and George Bruns When I recall the “greats” I have came in with the band. Bruns seen in person, I am grateful for my had his horn - Kinch didn’t. good fortune: Armstrong, Ory, Buckner, Ward Kimball tossed me his car keys and My son asked me what my 5 “Desert Island Wingy Manone, Firehouse Five Plus Two, asked me to get the tuba from his car for Discs” would be. Here they are: Barney Bigard, Turk Murphy, Scobey, Don. I got about halfway to the door, turned 1. Louis Armstrong & His Hot Five The Pollack, Red Nichols, Matlock, St. Cyr, back and asked Ward which car was his. Louis Armstrong Story - Vol. 1 - Hackett, Teagarden, Billie & DeDe Pierce, He answered with his dry wit: “It’s the one Columbia - CL 851 Willie Humphrey, George Lewis, Marsala with the tuba in the back seat.” I found it. 2. George Lewis the “Red Record” - Brothers and more. I went to San Francisco with a friend American Music - 639 I had the opportunity to sit and talk who had played with Monte Ballou in 3.