Ed Reynolds |
Back Bay Ramblers Ed Reynolds, New England's premier collector of Traditional Jazz records, deftly draws rarely heard traditional jazz ditties from 1925 to 1931 out of outstanding jazz musicians from our area and New York City. Karen Cameron, right, is originally from North Dakota. She was with Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians, and has sung with the Artie Shaw Band and other commemorative big bands around the country. |
Karen Cameron |
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Ed Reynolds had a dream - a good Trad band that could/would record an LP.
At his own expense he contacted Scotty Philbrick cornet, Billy Novick clarinet
soprano sax, Johnny Battis alto sax, Robin Verdier piano & director, Jimmy
Mazzy banjo and vocals, Stu Gunn tuba, and Bill Reynolds drums; Bob Connors
& Robin Verdier did the arrangements. Their first LP was called 'Red Hot
Dance Tunes', and was well received in New England.
In 1996 Reynolds contacted Bob Erdos of Stompoff Records and asked him what kind of band he would like. After some discussion, Erdos and Edwards agreed on Butch Thompson for a piano player, definitely Peter Ecklund on trumpet, Bob Connors trombone, Billy Novick reeds, and Steve Wright to do the arrangements as well as play in the band and record with them. Reynolds also contacted Frank Powers, a great midwestern reed player, who contributed arrangements. This resulted in a fine CD, 'Leven Thirty Saturday Night.' (See below) These pictures are the Back Bay Ramblers FY2001 at the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival. Bob Connors trombone, Vince Giordano tuba, string bass, and bass sax, Jon-Erik Kelso on cornet, Billy Novick on clarinet and alto sax, John Clark clarinet and bari sax, Peter Bullis on banjo, and Ross Petot on piano (in Ed's estimation, one of the greatest piano players he's ever heard.) |
This band played some of the finest 1920's period music at the festival. This is not swing - this is Traditional Jazz-Hot Dance Music at its best!
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Ross Petot & |
Vince
Giordano |
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Red Hot Band, Back Bay Ramblers, Jon-Erik Kellso c; Bob Connors tbn; Billy Novick clt, as; John Clark clt, as, ts, bar; Ross Petot p; Peter Bullis bjo; Vince Giordano tba, sb, bsx; Bill Reynolds d; Karen Cameron vocals. Red Hot Band, Alcoholic Blues, Hello Lola, Gates Blues, That's What I Call Heaven, Viper's Drag, Marbles, Wherever There's A Will, Baby, Ridin' But Walkin', Just A Bird's Eye View Of My Old Kentucky Home, Dreaming "Bout My Man, Down My Way, Sweet Ida Joy, When Polly Walks Through The Hollyhocks, The Right Kind Of Man, Won't You Get Off It, Please? Overnight Blues, Too Late, I don't Mind Walkin' In The Rain, Top Of The Town, Little Lawrence, Congo Love Song, Feelin' Good, It's Unanimous Now, Sadness Will Be Gladness. Total: 78:06. $16 includes S&H, (USA Only) Payable to Edward H. Reynolds, 229 Oak St. Wakefield MA 01880.
