MUSIC TO STOMP BY: HAL SMITH’S EL DORADO JAZZ BAND at the JAZZ BASH BY THE BAY: ANDY SCHUMM, BRANDON AU, NATHAN TOKUNAGA, BRIAN HOLLAND, BILL DENDLE, MIKIYA MATSUDA (March 1, 2024)

This delightful hot band played three sets at the Jazz Bash by the Bay, held in the Portola Hotel and Convention Center in Monterey, California, February 29-March 3. They are drummer-scholar Hal Smith’s evocation of the original El Dorados, who reigned in the early 1960s in Southern California. In 2024, for this gig, they were Andy Schumm, cornet; Brandon Au, trombone, vocals;
Nathan Tokunaga, clarinet; Brian Holland, piano; Bill Dendle, banjo; Mikiya Matsuda, string bass; Hal Smith (leader), washboard. Here are nine rousing performances from their first set.

ONE SWEET LETTER FROM YOU:

I’M A LITTLE BLACKBIRD:

FLAT FOOT:

SMOKE-HOUSE BLUES:

BIG CHIEF BATTLE AXE (although I prefer the title Dawn Lambeth told me, “BIG CHEAP CADILLAC”):

WHENEVER YOU’RE LONELY, JUST TELEPHONE ME:

OLE MISS:

ONLY YOU AND YOU ALONE:

HERE COMES THE HOT TAMALE MAN:

“Red hot! That’s what!”

Obviously, the band gets up a fine head of steam, a rocking momentum, even on slow tunes; they never falter, drag or race. Credit here goes to a fine rhythm section. The washboard, in less expert hands, can be merely an irritating scraping noise, but Hal is a master of sonic variety on it. Brian, Bill, and Mikiya aren’t a regularly working team, but they mesh wonderfully. And the front line is a triumph of individual sounds and approaches, players who know how to get along well in ensembles.

One of the real delights of Hal’s band is their expansive repertoire: New Orleans Revival, Bunk, Jelly, Dodds, Keppard, the New Orleans Wanderers, Clarence Willians, Fifties pop songs, and more. These aren’t the usual “traditional” tunes that get played to death.

It’s a great band, with two more sets to share. And more festivals to conquer.

And an essential postscript. We have video evidence of this set and many others thanks to the energetic generosity of Sunny Tokunaga, who is not only an expert archivist but a tireless one. I couldn’t atttend this set, so we are all indebted to her. Visit her very rewarding YouTube channel here.

May your happiness increase!