The real thing — lyrical New Orleans jazz recorded on the steamboat Natchez sailing up and back the Mississippi River. In 2013, not 1926, too. What could be nicer?
All of this was the idea (the dream, perhaps) of our friend and hero Duke Heitger, who launched the first STEAMBOAT STOMP in October 2013.
Here’s some hot music by Duke and his pals — the Steamboat Stompers: Orange Kellin, clarinet; Tom Fischer, tenor saxophone; Steve Pistorius, piano / vocal; John Gill, banjo; Tom Saunders, tuba; Jeff Hamilton, drums.
One for Papa Joe, SWEET LOVIN’ MAN:
Sweetly dancing, those beauties, CREOLE BELLES:
A riverboat favorite, SAILING DOWN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY:
Duke never speaks roughly to anyone, so this traditional end-of-night New Orleans tune has to be taken as a gentle embrace rather than a rough shove out the door — GET OUT OF HERE (AND GO ON HOME):
I’ll keep you posted on the plans for the 2014 Steamboat Stomp, I promise. For the moment, admire these players: they can swing and they can float.
May your happiness increase!
JAZZ LIVES 
The same handsome kid I saw seven or eight years ago,. Still just as handsome, and better than ever on that horn. What a grand band!! I enjoyed!!
As a teenager in NYC in the 1950s I used to pick radio station WBAL out of Baltimore in the evening. I listened to the “Harley Show”, whose theme was Sailing Down the Chesapeake Bay. The video reminded me of those simpler days. Thanks, Michael and Duke.
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