The StrutterTraditional Jazz in the Philadelphia Tri-State Area

The Strutter is published by Tri-State Jazz Society, Inc. - P.O. Box 896 - Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 1

FEBRUARY 2018VOLUME 28 NUMBER 7

OUR NEXT CONCERTSue Keller - Solo Piano

Concert Admissions$10 First-time attendees and Members

$20 General AdmissionHigh school/college students with ID andchildren with paying adult admitted free

Pay at the door

Sunday, February 11, 20182:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Haddonfield United Methodist Church29 Warwick Road

Haddonfield, NJ 08033Directions at

http://www.tristatejazz.org/directions-haddonfield.html

In This IssueLooking Ahead.................Page 2Posmontier Review...........Page 2Mike Davis.......................Page 3Concert Schedules………….. Page 6

Photo by Sue Keller

“Ragtime Sue” Keller brings her high-spiritedvocals and virtuosic pianism to Tri-State for thefirst time. The Lehigh Valley native and DelawareCounty-raised Ms. Keller is the recipient of the2010 Lifetime Achievement Award from the ScottJoplin International Ragtime Foundation.

A 1970 alumna of Marple-Newtown High School inNewtown Square, PA and Indiana’s DePauwUniversity four years later, Sue has beenperforming since childhood, not only as a singerand pianist, but also as a sometime actress, vocalcoach, and musical director of Off-Broadway shows.For several years, she was a regular ragtime

performer at Atlantic City’s now-defunct ShowboatHotel/Casino, during which time she was also achampion on TV’s Jeopardy! Currently Sue residesin Orleans, MA with her husband, percussionistHoward Vigorita, where they maintain theirproduction company, Ragtime Press, for which Suehas recorded over a dozen CD’s. Sue has also beena regular at most of the trad and ragtime festivals,including annual appearances in Sacramento andthe Scott Joplin Festival in the composer’sbirthplace of Sedalia, MO.

On the Web:

“I Love a Piano”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmpGrA9cwXQ

“Dizzy Fingers”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOwuQvuPk-A

Sue’s website is http://rtpress.com.

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LOOKING AHEAD TO OURMARCH 2018 CONCERT

On March 11, 2018, our concert will feature theConservatory Classic Jazz Band at the CommunityArts Center in Wallingford, PA.

DAVE POSMONTIER’S DIXIEKINGS CONCERT REVIEW

By Jim McGann

Photo by CCJB

The Conservatory Classic Jazz Band, led bycornetist and jazz educator Dave Robinson, makesa return visit to TSJS from its home in WashingtonD.C. The band consists of some of the finest DC-based performers in the traditional jazz genre.They specialize in the New Orleans and Chicagostyles plus small-group swing, featuring the musicof such legends as W. C. Handy, Duke Ellington,Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and EddieCondon.

Watch the band in action, with

(Back Home Again In) Indianahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kayH9k3Ko2w

and Tiger Raghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH2KcMN5ZYQ

The Time: Sunday, January 7th

The Place: Community Arts Center, Wallingford,PA

The Band: Dave Posmontier, piano; Stan Slotter,trumpet; Bob Butryn, clarinet; Fred Scott,trombone; Pat Mercuri, guitar and banjo; DaveBrodie, string bass; Grant MacAvoy, drums

The Ed Wise New Orleans Jazz Band was a popularTSJS fixture when its leader resided in thePhiladelphia area. I thought Ed put a creative spinon the trad jazz music, writing arrangements in afresh new way, and adding music that may not beassociated with traditional jazz but somehow fit.Pianist Dave Posmontier reassembled members ofEd's band for today's concert. Rechristened theDixie Kings, Posmontier and company producedmusic that would make Mr. Wise proud.

Posmontier's group opened the concert with aswinging version of Way Down Yonder In NewOrleans, featuring soli from all the band members,prompting a flurry of notes from clarinetist BobButryn and fat sounds from cornetist Stan Slotter.The leader displayed his homage to pianist ErrollGarner in his solo on Riverside Shuffle. ClarinetistButryn was featured on Just A Closer Walk withThee with excellent brass backing by Slotter andtrombonist Fred Scott and press rolls by drummerGrant MacAvoy. Noteworthy too, was MacAvoy'sdrum solo on "Lady Be Good”, which was donewithout the use of drumsticks - just his hands!

Photo by Paul Macatee

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Mike Davis Finds the Way BackThe ‘Transcendent’ Purpose and

Relevance of Early Jazz by Brian R. Sheridan

Mike Davis may be the most ubiquitous trumpetplayer in New York City. On any given night, youare likely to see him playing with Glenn Crytzerand his Famous Orchestra, sitting in DandyWellington’s band, woodshedding at Mona’s, orleading his own group, the New Wonders. If atraditional jazz trumpet player is needed, a callgoes out for the dapper Davis, who also playstrombone and sings Jazz-Age songs melodiouslyand in a period-correct style. Incredibly, histeachers at the Manhattan School of Music triedtalking him out playing the music he loves. Davissays every time he learned a classic song, like “ICan’t Give You Anything But Love,” he found apaying gig which his professors couldn’t believe.

“That started my life in between how much Ienjoyed that and how much active discouragementI was getting from the school like ‘you can’t do this’and ‘no one wants to hear this,’ or ‘that music isold and irrelevant’ and ‘you’ll never make it.’ Ideveloped a real chip on my shoulder. I concludedthat I had to do my own musical research,” Davissaid.

He said his jazz history professors just paidsuperficial “lip service” to contributions and musicof Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. Theperspective that old music didn’t matter did not sitwell with the young jazz musician.

“[It] was so slanted towards [the idea] that nothingmatters before John Coltrane and I thought that Ihave to educate myself because this is not thewhole truth,” Davis said.

So Davis immersed himself in the work of BixBeiderbecke, Jean Goldkette, Frankie Trumbauer,and Paul Whiteman. He recalls listening to themusic from the Jazz Age as a “transcendentexperience.”

“If I could make that music myself, that’s all I everwanted to accomplish in life,” Davis said. “I neverfelt such a sense of purpose as when I first heardthat [music].”

The musicianship shined throughout. Thearrangement of Four or Five Times, originallyperformed back in 2010 in a quartet version of EdWise's band, was expanded to seven pieces, stillmanaging to capture the essence of the MuggsySpanier-Sidney Bechet Hot Record Societyrecording of 1940. Another beautiful chart wasPete Kelly's Blues, featuring Slotter's trumpetbacked by lovely horn voicings. Finally, theperformance of Potato Head Blues which containeda three horn transcription of Louis Armstrong'strumpet solo from the original 1927 recording.

Other highlights include…two exciting versions ofPaul Barbarin's compositions, Bourbon StreetParade and The Second Line, the latter of whichwas most funky with exploding rhythm. Theexcitement applies to two of Jelly Roll Morton’scompositions - Frog-I-More Rag and MilenburgJoys.

Photo by Jim McGann

Everyone contributed to this party. MacAvoy'spulsing rhythm kept the music swinging, PatMercuri's guitar is always most welcome, dittopraise for trombonist Fred Scott, bassist DaveBrodie was a more than capable replacement for EdWise, and for trumpeter Stan Slotter and the leader.It is nice to know that there are musicians notassociated with the trad jazz genre, but can holdtheir own in like company.As with all performances in the New Orleans arena,the concert concluded with a rousing version ofWhen the Saints Go Marching In. A fittingconclusion to a great concert with DavePosmontier's Dixie Kings.

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Davis’s parents raised him with classical music, asthey were members of the Seattle Symphony. Hepicked up the trumpet and began playing jazz inschool bands. As he searched for colleges, hisparents told him if he wanted to play music, heshould attend a music college. Davis loved jazz andthought applying as a jazz major at the ManhattanSchool of Music would help him achieve his dreamof becoming a professional jazz musician.

But Davis said his classes left him cold. Theprofessors taught him music that was either“obnoxiously complex and academic” or “totallyout in left field with no rules at all.” He tried hisbest and practiced the homework they assigned.

“I never felt any emotional connection to any of it,”he said. “I didn’t have any drive to make music.”

Then Davis saw fellow trumpet player DrewNugent’s jazz band perform in Philadelphia. Hesays he had never heard a band playing 1920smusic and trying to sound like the old 78-rpmrecords he had heard. It wasn’t the Dixielandrevival sound that became popular in the 1950s.To Davis, this music felt alive and invigorating.

“I enjoy Drew’s band so much, I felt like I had anepiphany,” Davis said. “I met him and said ‘I haveto play this music. I have to do it. How do I learn,where do I go?’ And he sent me to the Mona’s jamsession. And I went there every week for sixmonths, wrote down every song that was taught,and learned them all every week.”

Davis’s education quickly migrated from thehallowed halls of academia to the brick walls andtight space of a New York City tavern whereTuesday night jam sessions offered the collegejunior both undergraduate and master’s lessons inhot jazz. The informal schooling at Mona’s ledDavis to paying gigs with jazz bands throughout theBig Apple. The opportunities just kept coming forhim while his fellow music school graduatesstruggled to find work.

“They [musicians at Mona’s] not only let prettymuch anybody sit in who is polite and asks, butthey let you sit in even if you don’t know the songs.And I’m lucky to have had that. We’re all lucky tohave that right here in town every week. Look atwhat those guys are doing. I mean they deserve alot more credit for educating young musicians,”Davis said.

Playing as a sideman in groups big and small paysthe bills, but Davis exercises his creative side bybeing the leader of his own band, the New Wonders(named after Beiderbecke’s Conn cornet model).However, the mantle of “bandleader” doesn’t siteasy with Davis.

“I don’t like being in charge. I don’t like being aleader. I don’t like the responsibility. I’m terribleat self-promotion. I’m not a good schmoozer but itsort of fell to me because I had all of this musicbuilt up that I wanted to play. I had stylistic goalsfor playing songs that we know a certain way and Igot more and more interested in arranging. So Icould only do that if I’m in charge,” Davis said.

So far, Davis has been happy with the performancesof the seven-piece New Wonders. He recognizesthat seven people can take up a lot of space in smallNew York City clubs. Sometimes room size meanshaving to do without a piano or a trombone andthat can impact the music. Davis, as bandleader,tries his best to direct the solos and keep the lengthof each tune concise, like those 78-rpm recordingshe loves.

Davis also understands that if his new band is toflourish, he may have to pass on sideman work. Ittakes time to telephone and email owners ofnightclubs, bars, and restaurants seeking a venuefor the band. The music doesn’t arrange itselfeither. He can spend hours writing charts thatkeeps his musicians, and audiences, on their toes.

There is also an album for the New Wonders inproduction. They recorded the tracks lastNovember and it is currently being mixed andartwork is being designed for the CD. Davis hasfinal say but all of that work is out of his hands,which makes him a tad uneasy. He hopes thealbum will help give the New Wonders a wideraudience.

When audiences do see Davis play, whether withhis own band or with others, it is often not just hisoutstanding phrasing on the trumpet that grabs alistener’s attention. Davis has been dubbed “adandy” for his sartorial choices. He, along withfellow NYC musicians Dandy Wellington andMichael Arenella, were featured in the book I AmDandy, written by Nathaniel Adams withphotography by Rose Callahan. The photos in thebook show Davis in vintage finery right down to a

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Quiz TimeBy Rabbi Lou Kaplan

Bunny Berigan-like pencil mustache. He says it’san honor to be featured for his personal style.

“I think every single person in the book doesinteresting things with expressing themselves withtheir clothes. And there aren’t really any otheroutfits in that book that I would copy becausethey’re so personal. I think that’s a fun thing andit’s a very similar idea to me to having a personalvoice improvising on an instrument,” Davis said.

The attraction to a vintage look came after hisdiscovery of pre-war jazz. Davis said he began justemulating the musicians he saw in photographs likethe sharply dressed Jean Goldkette orchestra andLouis Armstrong in his 1920s and 1930s publicitypictures. Like the music itself, he found thewardrobe to be a perfect fit. More work came tohim because the people who hired him knew he’dbe well dressed. It also distanced him further fromhis music school peers.

“I had had enough with music school and I thoughtthe music they were selling me was so soulless. Andthey’re still trying to persuade me away fromplaying music that did speak to me and towardplaying music that didn’t speak to me. I concludedthat I wanted to play the kind of jazz I like—all thetime—to the exclusion of any music that I don’t like,if I could. And that’s what I have done. Then Idecided I wanted to dress like that all of the timetoo,” Davis said.

It’s his attention to detail, and a passion forauthenticity, in both music and dress, that hasprovided Davis a spot in the New York music scene.With his horn, he demonstrates that success is theresult of sticking by your instincts no matter what“the experts” may tell you.

Brian R. Sheridan, MA, is the chair of theCommunication Department at MercyhurstUniversity in Erie, PA (hometown of Ish Kabibble)and a longtime journalist in broadcast and print.He also co-authored the book “America in theThirties” published by Syracuse University Press.Sheridan can be reached atbsheridan@mercyhurst.edu. Find him on Twitter@briansheridan and brianrsheridan onInstagram.

Reprinted by special permission with TheSyncopated Times

1. Who was the man who hired cornetist LouisArmstrong in 1924 for his New York City band?Later, the bandleader sold arrangements to BennyGoodman.2. Name one of the four musicians in the Marsalisfamily.3. Chris Barber, Humphrey Lyttleton, MontySunshine, and George Webb were famous dixielandmusicians in what country?4.Give the first names of the Midiri brothers.5. What was the name of the 1969-1978 bandcomprised of Billy Butterfield and Yank Lawson(trumpets), Bob Wilber (clarinet, sopranosaxophone), Bud Freeman (tenor saxophone), VicDickinson and Lou McGarity (trombones), BobHaggart (bass), Ralph Sutton (piano), and GusJohnson (drums)? (Personal note: I attended oneperformance of the band in Philadelphia'sFairmount Park.)6. Give another name for "Sugarfoot Stomp."7. What was Peter Davis's connection with LouisArmstrong?

Answers elsewhere in this issue

VOLUNTEERS WANTEDThe work of Tri-State Jazz is done by its board andinterested volunteers. We need new volunteers forthe following jobs and training will be provided:

● Refreshments volunteer at Wallingford, PA.We're looking for a volunteer to take on theshopper-delivery role for the events inPennsylvania. This person shops for theconcerts, buying the packages of cookies, candy,bottles of beverages, and an order of softpretzels (and the pretzels mean mustards too).Besides the food there are the supplies ofnapkins, beverage cups, paper plates, andserving plates. (Tri-State pays cashreimbursements at the concert.) The shopper-delivery job includes bringing the food andsupplies to Wallingford, early before the start ofthe concert, so other volunteers can finishsetting up and putting everything out.

● Web publicity submissions - use web forms tosubmit pre-concert publicity information toPhilly Funguide, The Courier Post, andPhilly.com.

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OTHER JAZZ CONCERTSPENNSYLVANIA JAZZ SOCIETY

www.pajazzsociety.org(610)-625-4640

Dewey Banquet Hall, 502 Durham Street,Hellertown, PA.February 25, 2018 Mardi Gras

NEW JERSEY JAZZ SOCIETYwww.njjs.org

(800)-303-NJJSNJJS also co-sponsors events at the BickfordTheatre and Ocean County College.

THE BICKFORD THEATRE6 Normandy Heights Road

Morristown, NJwww.njjs.org/p/services/bickford.html

Concert 7:30 p.m. (973)-971-3706.February 22, 2018 T.S. MonkFebruary 26, 2018 Dan Levinson and FriendsMarch 12, 2018 Bix Beiderbecke Birthday Bash

OCEAN COUNTY COLLEGEToms River, NJ 08754

www.njjs.org/p/services/ocean.html(732)-255-0500

All concerts start at 8:00 p.m. Ocean CountyCollege campus, Grunin Center, College Drive.February 14, 2018 The Birdland All-Starsfeaturing Tommy IgoeMarch 7, 2018 Bucky Pizzarelli

CAPE MAY TRADITIONAL JAZZ SOCIETYVFW Post 386, 419 Congress St.,

Cape May, NJwww.capemaytraditionaljazzsociety.com

March 11, 2018 Midiri Brothers Traditional Jazz

FUTURE CONCERTS

All Concerts from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.April 15, 2018 Richard Barnes BlackbirdSociety OrchestraFollowing last year's sold-out concert atWallingford, the 13-piece Blackbird SocietyOrchestra returns with a rousing performance of20s and early 30s hot jazz. Haddonfield, NJMay 20, 2018 Neville Dickie and the MidiriBrothersNeville is coming from England and is on piano,Joe Midiri is on clarinet, Paul Midiri is on drums.It’s an annual tradition. Come early; it’s usually afull house. Haddonfield, NJJune 3, 2018 Danny Tobias and FriendsTrumpeter Danny Tobias will return to TSJS withhis quintet, featuring Paul Midiri on vibes, Joe Holton piano, Joe Plowman on bass and Jim Lawlor ondrums. Wallingford, PAJune 24, 2018 Al Harrison Dixieland BandTrumpeter Al Harrison will be returning to TSJSwith a sextet. The program will again featureauthentic early New Orleans jazz and traditionaljazz standards. Haddonfield, NJJuly 15, 2018 Tri-State Jazz All-StarsReedman Bob Rawlins again leads a core band ofTSJS top artists drawn from local bands. They willbe jamming on Dixieland tunes with invited sit-inguests. Wallingford, PAAugust 19, 2018 Cynthia Sayer and herJoyride BandBanjo virtuoso and vocalist Cynthia Sayer has beencalled top 4-string jazz banjoist in the world, leadsNYC quintet with banjo, clarinet, trumpet, bass anddrums. Haddonfield, NJWallingford: Concerts are held at the CommunityArts Center, 414 Plush Mill Rd; just west of exit 3 of I-495 (“The Blue Route”).Haddonfield: Concerts are held at the HaddonfieldUnited Methodist Church, 29 Warwick Rd., just south ofKings Highway; about a ten minute walk from thePATCO train station.

POTOMAC RIVER JAZZ CLUBCheck out the numerous traditional jazz eventssponsored by PRJC at www.prjc.org

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ABOUT TRI-STATE JAZZ SOCIETYBOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sanford Catz, President, 2019,president@tristatejazz.org , webmaster@tristatejazz.orgChris Jones, Vice President, Photo Editor, 2018,vp@tristatejazz.orgMike Mudry, Treasurer, 2019,treasurer@tristatejazz.org

Bill Hoffman, Music Committee Chairman, BandsContact, 2020, booking@tristatejazz.org

Dewaine Osman, Secretary, Strutter Editor, 2018Chic Bach, Sound Coordinator, 2019,sound@tristatejazz.orgSally Cannon, Refreshments Manager, 2020Bob Rawlins, Music Committee, 2020Steven Peitzman, Programs Editor, 2018Robert Robbins, Publicity & Assistant StrutterEditor, 2018

COMMITTEE CHAIRMENJay Schultz, Membership Chairmanmembership@tristatejazz.org

More Volunteers are listed on our website at:www.tristatejazz.org/officers.html

TSJS CONTACT INFORMATIONMailing Address: PO Box 896, Mount Laurel, NJ.08054E-mail: info@tristatejazz.org

Hotline Phone for updated concert information:(856) 720-0232

TSJS SUSTAINERSVery Special - $200 or more, $220 couples

● Chuck Haggerty & Sarah Burke● Sanford Catz● Mary Ann & Dr. Charles H. Emely● William N. Hoffman● Richard & Peggy Hughlett● Chris Jones and Amy Galer● Bob Mackie● Dewaine & Clare Osman● DeWitt Peterson● Bob & Nancy Rawlins● Dr. Myron E. & Phoebe R. Resnick● Sylvia Rosenberg● Alice V. Schmidt● Jay & Orinda Lou Schultz

TSJS PATRONSThe Big Time - $100 or more, $120 couples

● Jack & Joan Adams● Elaine Berkowitz● John & Susan Bingley● Walt Brenner● Stephen Faha● Bruce Gast● Carl Meister, Jr. & Linda Hickman● James & Lorraine Maitland● Mike Mudry● Selina Higgins & Bill Nixon● John Otterson● Jolyne Dalzell & Richard Scarlett● Robert Carr & Barbara Steele● Jerry & Josephine Yocum

TSJS SPONSORSHeadliners - $50 or more, $70 couples

● Chic Bach● Joan Bauer● Jack Boesch● Louis DePietro● Robert & Cynthia Freedman● Gerald Carter & Janet S. Graehling● J. Mervyn & Peg Harris● John H. Hoover● Jack Jennings● Robert Kerns, Jr.● Sheila Larson● Michael & Irene Lastra● Michael Lefkowitz● Steven Peitzman & Nancy Pontone● Katherine & Michael Perloff● Peggy de Prophetis & Louis Kaplan● Terry Rave● Mark Raymond● Peter Reichlin● R. Adam Rogers III● Lynn Ryan● Bob & Kay Troxell● Anne Uniman● Fred Weber● Constance & Donald Windus● Mary Lou Adams & Sandra Zullo

QUIZ TIME ANSWERS

1. Fletcher Henderson2. Pianist-father Ellis and sons Branford, Delf, andWynton3. United Kingdom4. Joe and Paul5. The World's Greatest Jazz Band6. "Dippermouth Blues"7. Because of a New Year's Eve prank, little LouisArmstrong was sentenced to the Colored Waifs' Homefor Boys outside New Orleans. Davis, bandmasterthere, gave Armstrong some musical instruction as wellas teaching him discipline and self-respect.

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TRI-STATE JAZZ SOCIETY, INC.P.O. BOX 896MOUNT LAUREL, NJ 08054

Membership Form

Basic Dues: q Individual $20 q Couple $40Sponsor Dues: q Individual $50 q Couple $70Patron Dues: q Individual $100 q Couple $120Sustainer Dues: q Individual $200 or more q Couple $220 or moreAmount Enclosed $________________ Date_________________ Check No._________

Members are admitted to all regular concerts at half price. Memberships renewed prior to expiration start at the end of current membership; expired memberships start on receipt of payment. All memberships run for 12 months, expiring on the last day of the 12th month.Email and Newsletter Options: q TSJS concert announcements and membership notices(Check all boxes that apply.) q Strutter Newsletter by Email q Strutter by U.S. Mail (Patrons, Sponsors, Sustainers Only)

Mail with check payable to Tri-State Jazz Society, Inc., P .O. Box 896, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

First and Last Name(s) _________________________________________________________Street_______________________________________________________________________

City_________________________________________________State______Zip___________

Phone (_____)_______________ E-mail ___________________________________________