Perhaps two Sundays of every month, Terry Waldo’s Gotham City Band descends the wide stairway to the expansive basement that is Fat Cat (75 Christopher Street, New York City) for a hot session from about 5:45 to 7:45. Ragtime, blues, W.C. Handy, Morton, Louis, vintage pop tunes, and more are the delightful offerings. I took my camera down there on Sunday, March 13, and captured a dozen highlights — music created by Terry, piano / vocal; John Gill, banjo / vocal; Brian Nalepka, string bass / vocal; Daniel Glass, drums / no vocal yet; Jim Fryer, trombone / vocal; Evan Arntzen, clarinet / soprano saxophone / vocal; Jon-Erik Kellso, trumpet / no vocal yet.
Here are the first six delights.
MANDY, MAKE UP YOUR MIND, which begins as a duet for Jim Fryer and John Gill and then takes on passengers:
AT THE JAZZ BAND BALL:
HESITATING BLUES, at a faster-than-usual tempo, with a soulful vocal by John Gill:
CAKE WALKING BABIES FROM HOME, delivered enthusiastically by Evan Arntzen:
THE SONG IS ENDED, happily not true, sung earnestly by Jim Fryer:
MAHOGANY HALL STOMP, Jon-Erik Kellso’s majestic evocation of Mister Strong:
Another half-dozen to come. Look for Brian Nalepka’s up-to-the-minute announcements on Facebook for which roving masters will be with Terry on Sundays to come. And remember — you CAN keep a good band down. At least for two hours in the Fat Cat basement and rec room.
May your happiness increase!
