Seen on eBay:
Wise words, even if your name isn’t Bill. Life isn’t easy, but you can attempt to choose how much of it you have to take in at a gulp.
May your happiness increase!
Seen on eBay:
Wise words, even if your name isn’t Bill. Life isn’t easy, but you can attempt to choose how much of it you have to take in at a gulp.
May your happiness increase!
Here’s a lovely swinging miniature swung and recomposed on the spot — the spot being Armando’s in Martinez, California, May 31, 2014 — by two of the Ivory Club Boys, Paul Mehling, guitar; Evan Price, violin, as part of their delightful evocation of Stuff Smith and his Onyx Club Boys.
You’ll recognize the theme. I knew it in childhood as having the opening phrase, “Go to sleep, my dusky baby,” but it is officially known as HUMORESQUE:
I’ve posted other delights by the Ivory Club Boys, who will be appearing on August 19, 2014, for one show at Yoshi’s in Oakland, California — an occasion I look forward to — featuring Paul, Evan, Clint Baker, trumpet; Isabelle Fontaine, guitar; Sam Rocha, string bass. (At the Armando’s gig, cornetist Marc Caparone took Clint’s place for the night.) Here is a recent post that has a link for the Yoshi’s appearance. JAZZ LIVES readers, wise folks, surely can take a hint.
May your happiness increase!
Posted in "Thanks A Million", Bliss!, Generosities, Hotter Than That, Irreplaceable, It's All True, Jazz Titans, Pay Attention!, Swing You Cats!, That Was Fun!, The Heroes Among Us, The Real Thing, The Things We Love
Tagged Antonin Dvorak, Armando's, Clint Baker, Evan Price, Fifty-Second Street, HUMORESQUE, Isabelle Fontaine, Ivory Club Boys, Jazz Lives, Marc Caparone, Michael Steinman, Onyx Club Boys, Paul Mehling, Sam Rocha, Yoshi's
This post isn’t a nostalgic celebration of the Doublemint Twins and their chewing gum. I offer here two live performances of a wonderful song — a spiritual in swingtime, evoking Stuff Smith and Louis Armstrong at once.
This marvel took place at the Ivory Club Boys’ triumphant May 31, 2014, evening at Armando’s in Martinez, California. The ICB are devoted to evoking the Onyx Club Boys, violinist / singer / composer Leroy Hezekiah “Stuff” Smith’s hot little band — with Jonah Jones and Cozy Cole — from Fifty-Second Street in New York City (when that street featured music rather than high-rise apartment buildings).
The Boys (and a Girl) are Paul Mehling, guitar, vocal; Evan Price, violin; Marc Caparone, cornet (subbing for Clint Baker); Isabelle Fontaine, rhythm guitar, vocal; Sam Rocha, string bass, vocal.
Here is the “rehearsal take” of NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I’VE SEEN — performed in an empty room for the soundcheck. A marvel, no arguments:
And Song Number Five of the actual Show. Another marvel, and comparisons are odious. The music isn’t:
The Ivory Club Boys will be performing at Yoshi’s in Oakland, California, on August 19. Details here!
If you don’t like this — I mean these — in the words of Professor Harold Hill, you got trouble.
May your happiness increase!
Posted in "Thanks A Million", Bliss!, Generosities, Hotter Than That, Ideal Places, Irreplaceable, It's All True, Jazz Titans, Pay Attention!, Swing You Cats!, That Was Fun!, The Heroes Among Us, The Real Thing, The Things We Love, Wow!
Tagged Armando's, Clint Baker, Cozy Cole, Evan Price, Isabelle Fontaine, Ivory Club Boys, Jazz Lives, Jonah Jones, Louis Armstrong, Marc Caparone, Michael Steinman, Onyx Club Boys, Paul Mehling, Sam Rocha, spiritual, Stuff Smith, swing, Yoshi's
Hot music straight from their hearts: NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I’VE SEEN, as performed by the IVORY CLUB BOYS, Paul Mehling’s evocation of Stuff Smith’s delicious swing on Fifty-Second Street circa 1946-45. They are, for this hot concert, Paul, guitar; Evan Price, violin; Marc Caparone, cornet (subbing for Clint Baker); Sam Rocha, string bass; Isabelle Fontaine, guitar. This was recorded on May 31, 2014, at Armando’s in Martinez, California. I was behind the camera, so you can’t see how much I was and am grinning. emotionally deep but very light-hearted improvisations, the work of swing masters:
Oh, and for those in the know . . . that was the soundcheck. Draw your own conclusions about how wonderful this band is.
Here is the first posting — a riotous BUGLE CALL RAG from that same session. More to come, thank goodness. And the IVORY CLUB BOYS (with Clint on trumpet) will be appearing at Yoshi’s in Oakland on August 19. Make a note of that, please.
May your happiness increase!
Posted in "Thanks A Million", Bliss!, Generosities, Hotter Than That, Ideal Places, Irreplaceable, It's All True, Jazz Titans, Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!, Pay Attention!, Swing You Cats!, That Was Fun!, The Heroes Among Us, The Real Thing, The Things We Love, Wow!
Tagged Armando's, electric violin, Evan Price, guitar, Hot Club of San Francisco, hot jazz, Isabelle Fontaine, Ivory Club Boys, jazz guitar, Jazz Lives, Le Jazz Hot, Marc Caparone, Michael Steinman, NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN, Onyx Club Boys, Paul Mehling, Sam Rocha, spiritual, Stuff Smith, swing, Yoshi's
A second helping of The Ivory Club Boys, a hot band that satisfies. (Here is the first helping, for those who’d rather listen than read.)
On Sunday, March 2, 2014, while the rest of America was watching the Oscars, the Beloved and I were having a wonderful time with the Ivory Club Boys (presented by the Hot Club of San Francisco) paying tribute to violinist Stuff Smith and his Onyx Club Boys, at Rancho Nicasio in Nicasio, California.
The Ivories were (for this occasion) Paul Mehling, guitar and vocal; Evan Price, violin; Clint Baker, trumpet, euphonium, clarinet, and vocal; Sam Rocha, string bass, and guest star Mike Lipskin, piano.
And before we proceed: the Ivories aren’t a repertory band devoted to reproducing Stuff and Jonah’s hot sounds right off the record — so the scholars may find a certain liberty in their improvisations. (Whisper this: the Ivories even perform songs Stuff never recorded.) But they don’t want to make history; they just want to swing. Four-four, if you don’t mind. Charlie Christian and Teddy Bunn are at the bar, too.
Here are more rocking numbers from their second set:
ROSETTA (vocal Sam Rocha):
Stuff’s own IT’S WONDERFUL:
SOME OF THESE DAYS:
I COVER THE WATERFRONT:
‘S’WONDERFUL:
MOONGLOW:
SOLID OLD MAN:
MOTEN SWING:
This band was so rewarding. I’m looking forward to their next gig, their CD, their DVD, the world tour, the t-shirts, keychains, their own Facebook page. Until the Ivory Club Boys come to your town, enjoy this set.
May your happiness increase!
Posted in "Thanks A Million", Bliss!, Generosities, Hotter Than That, Ideal Places, Irreplaceable, It's All True, Jazz Titans, Pay Attention!, Swing You Cats!, That Was Fun!, The Heroes Among Us, The Real Thing, The Things We Love, Wow!
Tagged Academy Awards, Clint Baker, Evan Price, Fifty-Second Street, Gypsy jazz, Ivory Club Boys, Jazz Lives, Michael Steinman, Mike Lipskin, Onyx Club Boys, Paul Mehling, Rancho Nicasio, Sam Rocha, Stride piano, Stuff Smith, Swing Street, The Beloved, the Oscars
On Sunday, March 2, 2014, while the rest of America was watching the Oscars, the Beloved and I were muggin’ lightly with the Ivory Club Boys (presented by the Hot Club of San Francisco) paying tribute to Stuff Smith and his Onyx Club Boys, at Rancho Nicasio in Nicasio, California.
The Ivories were (for this occasion) Paul Mehling, guitar and vocal; Evan Price, violin; Clint Baker, trumpet, euphonium, clarinet, and vocal; Sam Rocha, string bass, and guest star Mike Lipskin, piano.
And before we proceed: the Ivories aren’t a repertory band devoted to reproducing Stuff and Jonah’s hot ecstasies right off the record — so the scholars among us may find a certain liberty in their improvisations. My goodness, they even perform songs Stuff never recorded! But they don’t want to make history; they just want to swing. Four-four, if you don’t mind. Charlie Christian and Teddy Bunn are at the bar, too.
Here are eight rocking numbers from their first set:
CRAZY RHYTHM:
SARATOGA SWING:
I’M CRAZY ‘BOUT MY BABY (vocal by Paul Mehling):
DESERT SANDS (a Stuff original, very atmospheric):
CHINA BOY (Mike strides in):
I’M CONFESSIN’ (with commentary by Mister Lipskin at the start):
JEEPERS CREEPERS (ditto and likewise — hear the band shift into tempo after the verse!):
ONE HOUR (vocal by Clint Baker after Mike’s lovely exposition of the verse):
We were with them two hours that night, and the band was so very rewarding. I’m looking forward to their next gig, their CD, their DVD, the world tour, the t-shirts, keychains, their own Facebook page. Until the real thing comes along, enjoy this set — and there’s more to come.
May your happiness increase!
Posted in "Thanks A Million", Bliss!, Generosities, Hotter Than That, Irreplaceable, Jazz Titans, Pay Attention!, Swing You Cats!, That Was Fun!, The Heroes Among Us, The Real Thing, The Things We Love, Wow!
Tagged Academy Awards, Clint Baker, Evan Price, Fifty-Second Street, Gypsy jazz, Ivory Club Boys, Jazz Lives, Michael Steinman, Mike Lipskin, Onyx Club Boys, Paul Mehling, Rancho Nicasio, Sam Rocha, Stride piano, Stuff Smith, Swing Street, The Beloved, the Oscars