2020 fall rambler 1.pmd - san diego jazz fest

Festival Favorites AppearingOnline at Virtual Festival #41

JAZZ RAMBLER

The Virtual 2020 San Diego JazzFest will be presenting a great musicallineup online from Thursday, Nov. 26to Saturday, Nov. 28 with a specialprogram on Sunday, Nov. 29.

Bands and musicians scheduledfor the Virtual Festival include 2020Ameripolitan Award Winner (andSyncopated Times featured coverartist) Dave Stuckey, with his HotHouse Gang; the Chicago CellarBoys; After Midnight Jazz Band;Capt. John Royen’s New OrleansRhythm, featuring clarinetist KimCusack; Carl Sonny Leyland; HighSociety Jazz Band; Clint Baker’sJazz Band; the Mad Hat Hucksters;and Gino and the Lone Gunmen invideos shot specifically for the 2020San Diego Jazz Fest. On Thursday,Nov. 26 the Katie Cavera – John GillDuo wi l l k ick of f the on l ine

Message fromThe President

By Bill AdamsPresident/Executive DirectorWho is ready for 2020 to be over

already?As we move through the year with

minimal contact from friends, and littlelive entertainment or travel, the abilityto hold a live, physical jazz festival at theTown & Country Hotel is just notpossible. As with the rest of the country,the County of San Diego and the Stateof California are not allowing gatheringsof our size and type anytime soon.

While this is a disappointment formany, the precautions taken arenecessary to protect all of us and reducefuture cases, which will hopefully allowus to gather soon without the fear ofgetting sick. Your AFCDJS Board ofDirectors has been working this year toprovide online live entertainment,supporting non-working bands whilewe have all been at home. The experienceis not the same as being onsite, but it isrefreshing to see and listen to the bands(and sometimes having people dance inthe background!).

For Thanksgiving, the Board hasdecided to produce and promote anonline, Virtual Festival, startingThanksgiving Thursday and con-t inuing through Sunday of thatweekend. This event is being fundedby the Society and generous sponsorsjust for you.

Supporting musicians during thisdifficult time is important, with mostvenues across the U.S. being closed,and options to gather and play musicbeing suspended. Many of the musicianswe love to watch depend on music as aprimary source of income. Watching andsupporting these bands online and viasocial media has been a refreshing breakfor many of us.

AFCDJS is working with theCounty to safely find options forhosting in-person events in the future,and until then we look forward toeveryone staying safe, healthy andkeeping positive that we will see eachother again soon. I look forward tolots of hugs, handshakes and smilingwith all of you once we can be togetheragain.Dave Stuckey

performances with a set of sing-a-long music, followed by another bandto be announced. Videos by the otherartists mentioned above can be viewedon Friday and Saturday nights. Aspecial presentation on Sunday willfeature Stephanie Trick and PaoloAlderighi , in an invitation-onlyconcert for sponsors and AFCDJSmembers. Please check our website atsdjazzfest.org or Facebook page( facebook .com/sd jazzfes t ) fo rinformation on how to view theperformances online.

Please consider helping the 2020San Diego Jazz Fest as a donor!Donorships are available for bandsand individual musicians (see p. 3).

Though AFCDJS is not able topresent the 41st Annual San DiegoJazz Fest as originally planned, weare sure that our patrons will enjoythe variety of groups who will performfor you online. Meanwhile, we arealready making plans for Festival # 42– a LIVE weekend of great traditionaljazz, Ragtime, Swing, Boogie Woogieand Rockabilly music! Be sure tocheck our website for information onthe Festival as soon as it becomesavailable. The website will also haveupdates concerning the AFCDJSAdult Jazz Camp, monthly concertsand the monthly jazz workshops, aswell as other important information.

Fall (November) 2020

Published by America’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz Society • San Diego, CA • www.SDjazzfest.org

$8.00 Per Issue Vol. XXXVIII No. 3

Education OutreachFor more info about our youth

program including Jazz Campscholarships, check the Societywebsite under Education.

FALL (NOVEMBER) 2020

The JAZZ RAMBLER is published quar-terly for $20 per year ($25 foreign) byAmerica’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz So-ciety. Address all correspondence to P.O.Box 880387, San Diego, CA 92168-0387.

America’s Finest City Dixieland JazzSociety is a Non-Profit 501 (c)3 organiza-tion. For information about the Society,call (619) 297-5277.Website: www.SDjazzfest.org

Single copy price $8.00. Editorial con-tributions welcome. Contents of JazzRambler are copyrighted © (2020) byAmerica’s Finest City Dixieland Jazz So-ciety and may not be reprinted withoutpermission. Jazz Publications and JazzClub Newsletters may reprint articles pro-vided the following credit is included: “Re-printed from the Jazz Rambler, San Di-ego, California.” The Jazz Rambler andSociety functions are funded in part by theCity of San Diego Commission for Artsand Culture.

BOARD OF DIRECTORSBill Adams, President/Executive DirectorBob Solsbak, Vice PresidentEd Adams, Bob Andersen, TonyConnors, Morgan Day, Claudia Gomez,Joe Jensen, Dean Turney, Susan Turney

AFCDJS STAFFHal Smith, Artistic DirectorCrystal Solsbak, Office ManagerKristin Schulte, Treasurer

RAMBLER STAFFEditor: Jay F. LevineStaff Writers: Hal Smith • Bob SolsbakStaff Photographer: Alex Matthews

(To have events included in the JazzRambler or on the AFCDJS website,submit updates by the 28th of eachmonth to [email protected].)

THE THE THE THE THE BIG BUTTER JAZZ BANDBIG BUTTER JAZZ BANDBIG BUTTER JAZZ BANDBIG BUTTER JAZZ BANDBIG BUTTER JAZZ BANDbigbutterjazzband.com

CJ SAMS and KATIE CAVERACJ SAMS and KATIE CAVERACJ SAMS and KATIE CAVERACJ SAMS and KATIE CAVERACJ SAMS and KATIE CAVERAkatiecavera.com

CROWN CITY DIXIELAND BANDCROWN CITY DIXIELAND BANDCROWN CITY DIXIELAND BANDCROWN CITY DIXIELAND BANDCROWN CITY DIXIELAND BANDcrownci tyd ix ie landband .com/

upcoming-performances/

STUCKEY & HOT HOUSE GANGSTUCKEY & HOT HOUSE GANGSTUCKEY & HOT HOUSE GANGSTUCKEY & HOT HOUSE GANGSTUCKEY & HOT HOUSE GANGWeekly Facebook Live show (“Ten

Tunes on Tuesday at Two”):https://www.facebook.com/hothousegang/

EUPHORIA BRASS BANDEUPHORIA BRASS BANDEUPHORIA BRASS BANDEUPHORIA BRASS BANDEUPHORIA BRASS BANDeuphoriabrassband.com

GINO & THE LONE GUNMENGINO & THE LONE GUNMENGINO & THE LONE GUNMENGINO & THE LONE GUNMENGINO & THE LONE GUNMENCheck Facebook for upcoming

events and “Gino’s Live Home Show!”h t t p s : / / w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m /GinoandtheLoneGunmen/

HIGH SOCIETY JAZZ BANDHIGH SOCIETY JAZZ BANDHIGH SOCIETY JAZZ BANDHIGH SOCIETY JAZZ BANDHIGH SOCIETY JAZZ BANDMore info: Larry (858) 277-5294

highsocietyjazzband.com

JAZZ JAMMERSJAZZ JAMMERSJAZZ JAMMERSJAZZ JAMMERSJAZZ JAMMERSf acebook .com/Jazz - Jammers -

382089555263254/More in fo : (619) 561-8236 [email protected]

Jazz Alive — Here, There, Everywhere

Advertise in the RamblerAdvertising in the Jazz Rambler is one of

the best ways to reach a large exclusive audienceof Trad Jazz fans. With our circulation ofapproximately 2,000 and an estimated reader-ship of 3,500, you will be reaching thousandsof people who are interested in all aspects ofTraditional Jazz.

The Rambler is published quarterly. Dead-lines are the 5th of the month, prior to the dateof issue. Feb. 1, May 1, Aug. 1 and Nov. 1.

Advertising RatesFull page — $275.00

One Half page — 150.00One Third page — 110.00One Quarter page — 85.00One Eighth page — 50.00

For a rate sheet, write AFCDJS, P.O. Box880387, San Diego, CA 92168-0387 or call(619) 297-5277.

MAD HAT HUCKSTERSMAD HAT HUCKSTERSMAD HAT HUCKSTERSMAD HAT HUCKSTERSMAD HAT HUCKSTERSCheck Facebook page for lots of

new virtual content:facebook.com/madhathucksters/

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ CLUBNEW ORLEANS JAZZ CLUBNEW ORLEANS JAZZ CLUBNEW ORLEANS JAZZ CLUBNEW ORLEANS JAZZ CLUBOF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAOF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAOF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAOF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIAOF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Facebook.com/New-Orleans-Jazz-C l u b - o f - S o u t h e r n - C a l i f o r n i a -570161196333038/

ROYALE GARDEN DIXIE BANDROYALE GARDEN DIXIE BANDROYALE GARDEN DIXIE BANDROYALE GARDEN DIXIE BANDROYALE GARDEN DIXIE BANDA n g e l f i r e . c o m / c a 3 / r g d b /

upcoming.htmlMore info: (760) 585-8899

S. BAY N. ORLEANS JAZZ CLUBS. BAY N. ORLEANS JAZZ CLUBS. BAY N. ORLEANS JAZZ CLUBS. BAY N. ORLEANS JAZZ CLUBS. BAY N. ORLEANS JAZZ CLUBF a c e b o o k . c o m / g r o u p s /

895900660746780/

SUE PALMERSUE PALMERSUE PALMERSUE PALMERSUE PALMERCheck out KSUE Radio & other

new content at: suepalmer.com

UPTOWN RHYTHM MAKERSUPTOWN RHYTHM MAKERSUPTOWN RHYTHM MAKERSUPTOWN RHYTHM MAKERSUPTOWN RHYTHM MAKERSBusking Sundays on the

Embarcadero (by the Midway)Check Facebook page for more info:facebook.com/URMjazz

JAZZ RAMBLERFALL (NOVEMBER) 2020 VOL. XXXVIII - NO. 3

PAGE 2 JAZZ RAMBLER

AFCDJS is a member of:• San Diego Regional

Chamber of Commerce

• San Diego Convention &Visitors Bureau

FALL (NOVEMBER) 2020JAZZ RAMBLER PAGE 3

Thank You, Ruthe!At the March 2020 AFCDJS Board

of Directors meeting it was announcedthat officer Ruthe Monteith would bestepping down. We all know Ruthe asan active volunteer and dancer, butyou may not know her long historywith San Diego. Ruthe grew up in aNavy family that settled in San Diegoin time for her to attend high schoolhere. She graduated from SDSU andraised her family in nearby SanBernardino before returning andworking 20 years with the San DiegoCounty Office of Education. In 1982,she discovered our beloved SD JazzFes t and has been spendingThanksgiving with us ever since. Shehas been a long-time hostess for HighSociety as well as the organizer of ourannual Sponsor party, a big hit amongat tendees . She managed ourvolunteers for several years, workedour monthly concerts, and spent adecade on our Board of Directors. Shewill be missed as a team member, butwe know she’s eager to spend timewith her daughter’s family in LasVegas and we fully expect to still seeher at our future events with herdancing shoes on! The AFCDJSthanks Ruthe Monteith for her yearsof service and wishes her the best ofluck in all future endeavors.

Donations are StillNeeded for Fest #41!

We may not be able toprovide bright lights and largedance floors this year, but ourVirtual Festival still needsyour help to cover our behind-the-scenes production costs.To donate to this year’s event,please send your check toAFCDJS, P.O. Box 880387,San Diego, CA 92168-0387 oryou can go onl ine a tw w w . s d j a z z f e s t . o r g( informat ion on Socie tymembership and links to oursocial media can be found hereas well). Thanks for yoursupport, and don’t forget tojoin us November 26-28 forVirtual San Diego Jazz Fest#41!

We are saddened to announce thepassing of our dear friend, Pat Coe, onSept. 4, 2020. Pat worked in our officefor many years, volunteered for manymore , and was a s tap le in ourorganization. Along with her behindthe scenes work, she graced our stagesmany times with her banjo in hand. Herwinning smile and “how can I help?”attitude will be sorely missed. R.I.P.Pat.

R.I.P. Pat Coe

Things To Do Online:• Sponsor a Band

• Join the Society

• Read the Jazz Rambler

• Make an Educ. Donation

• Enroll in Jazz Camp

• Get Volunteer Info

Some of our members haveupdated or changed their emailaddresses. We are unable to sendconcert notices or even the JazzRambler password to those whohave requested it.

If you have changed your emailaddress within the past year, pleaseemail the AFCDJS Office Manager,Crystal Solsbak, with the new e-mail address to [email protected].

If you want to start receiving theRambler online, you may indicatethat as well.

Online subscriptions help to cutpostage costs so we can use thatmoney for promoting “The Music.”

Update AFCDJSWith New Emails

Updated Website!If you haven’t been on our

website lately, it’s time to takea look. A more streamlineddesign, with better function-ali ty and a more visuallyappealing look are what you’llfind. Direct links to everythingyou need, from membershipand education programs toFest ival info and concer titineraries can be found on thehome page. Be sure to checkout our new and improved lookat www.sdjazzfest.org.

FALL (NOVEMBER) 2020PAGE 4 JAZZ RAMBLER

Small BandMusic Archives

By Bob Solsbak

The Small Band Music Archiveshas grown again! A passion projectlovingly curated by long-time banjoplayer extraordinaire and AFCDJSstalwart Howie “Wicked Fingers”Nielsen, the Archives started from ahandful of charts and fake book entriesto 2,400 files strong by the time of hisret i rement in 2014. A few newselections trickled in over the nextcouple years, but a resurgence ininterest and the kind generosity ofmusicians and arrangers has seen theArchives grow by an additional 300+files in the last three years!

In 2017, teacher and sax playerDouglas Smink of Gaithersburg, MD,reached out about donating the 80+tracks he had transcribed over theyears. We accepted, of course, andwere thrilled to add to our expandinglibrary. Making it an even sweeter deal,Douglas had already digitized all ofthe charts, saving us time and a wholelot of money in shipping! Douglas’sarrangements can be found in our mainindex (more on that shortly) andinclude a plethora of Christmasclassics (it’s that time of year again!),a great waltz medley (“Daisy Bell”/”Band Played On”/”Mack The Knife”)and tons of standards and TraditionalJazz favorites.

Jay Rice, friend of the Society andinstructor/ leader of our popularmonthly jazz workshops, reached outin the summer of 2018 to let us knowRudy Lusti, local clarinet player (andowner of Lusti Motors, for all you SanDiego readers) had passed off his 74manuscr ip t a r rangements fo rdonation. Jay very carefully wentthrough each one, cataloguing thebasic composition, style, arranger, etc.(again making our job easy!). Eachone had its own manila folder and waskept and handed off in a very nice,

brown, vintage Samsonite suitcase.The number of arrangers in this list isplentiful, with Jack Mason, JohnnyWarrington and Will Hudson havingthe most entries and all arrangementsspanning from 1930-1950.

Our most recent additions from2019 of 70+ files come from Kent Blairof New Jersey. Kent led the Trad-based Summit Stompers for many yearsand wanted to find a good home forthe arrangements he had amassedover the years.

Most are songs played by TurkMurphy, with the majority of thearranging done by either Lu Wattersor Charlie Sonnanstine and RobinWetterau. Lots of Trad favorites inthis donation that we are thrilled toround out our collection with.

The SBMA and AFCDJS would liketo extend our heartfelt gratitude toDouglas, Rudy, Jay, and Kent. Thankyou!

For more information on the SmallBand Music Archives, visit our websiteat sdjazzfest.org and click on “MusicArchive.” To get the recently updatedindex of tunes , emai l us a [email protected].

VVVVVolunteer Spotlight:olunteer Spotlight:olunteer Spotlight:olunteer Spotlight:olunteer Spotlight:Mary Helen Jones

By Bill Adams

The need for talented people withdifferent skill sets can make or breakmany not-for-profit organizations.Mary Helen Jones (one of those verytalented people!) has been workingwith AFCDJS and the SD Jazz Fest forover 13 years, supporting travelarrangements for our bands. As avolunteer, she is one valuable pieceof this puzzle who allows us to hostsuccessful events by working tocontrol travel costs. With 35 years ofexperience following trends in theindustry and constantly watching forcost savings, she has a unique abilityto find the best deals available. MaryHelen has also supported the Adult

Jazz Camp flights each year, workingclosely with our Camp instructors andstaff. As you might have guessed,she’s an avid Jazz follower and pastband sponsor at our Festival of theYerba Buena Stompers. She’s traveledthe world on flights and cruise ships,enabling her with special insight andvaluable skills, and has chosen tosuppor t our o rgan iza t ion bycontributing these skills for a fewhours a month. This example ofvolunteerism is at the core of ourorganization, and we are honored andlucky to have Mary Helen as part ofour team.

Providing your special skills orsimply volunteering your time issomething we are always looking for.From sponsoring bands, attending/viewing concerts or just givingapplause to the band for a song wellplayed, we all have a little volunteer inus. Don’t you think?


Jazz Society Continues EJazz Society Continues EJazz Society Continues EJazz Society Continues EJazz Society Continues Education Emphasisducation Emphasisducation Emphasisducation Emphasisducation Emphasis

By Kayla Solsbak

For many teenagers, a high schoolband class can be a respite—a positivespace encouraging collaboration,confidence, and self expression. Butamidst a pandemic and rapid transitionto online learning, students andteachers are challenged to reinventmusic education while maintaining thebenefits of a traditional learningenvironment.

Jean-Paul Balmat, music director atMission Bay High School, is up to thechallenge. Music is celebrated atMission Bay, as the school boastsseven ensembles representing stylesfrom Swing to Mambo. Balmat’s jazzensemble, The Preservationists hasplayed at our Festival for many years,in addition to winning awards andperforming around the globe.

“We probably perform more thanany other school I know,” Balmat said.He estimates the program held 70performances last year. “It’s a hugeadjustment.”

As a teacher, his priority is toensure all students have the chanceto play their instrument — no small

Music Education in the Age of COVIDHow Do You Teach Band Over Zoom!

feat over video-conferencing platformZoom. Every lesson includes a “calland response” portion, in which allstudents repeat a musical phrase, butonly one turns the microphone on at atime. Students with similar instrumentsof ten break in to smal le r Zoommeetings to work on technique andpractice in a more intimate virtualspace.

Though many s tudents a reexcelling under the circumstances,Balmat says distance learning hash igh l igh ted inequi t i es be tweenstudents from different backgrounds.Unequal access to technology andreliable Wi-Fi has been an enormouscha l lenge , regard less o f theChromebooks and other resources theschool district has deployed. Somestudents get kicked out of meetings,can’t hear what’s happening or areunable to share their video due to aweak signal.

“Everyone’s having trouble, butit’s problematic for me to see studentsthat just don’t have the resources toaccomplish the same things as otherstudents.” Balmat said. “We just don’thave the answer yet.” continued on page 8

Despi te s ign i f ican t hurd les ,Mission Bay Music students arelearning to meet the moment throughinstruction in recording. Since beforethe pandemic, studio recording hasbecome a more remote industry, a trendBalmat has seen himself as a recordingartist. Students submit recordings ofthemselves to Balmat, who edits the


program benefits from his technicalexperience and confidence in hisstudents’ adaptability.

Fest ival at tendees may knowBalmat from the award-winningEuphoria Brass Band, who commencesthe Thanksgiving weekend with anannual parade through the conventioncenter. It’s been a devastating periodfor live musicians everywhere, butEuphor ia has managed to s ta r tperforming again, socially distancedin Balboa Park. Balmat says it’s a wayto safely give back to the communitythat has done so much for them.

“Music always plays the role oftherapist,” he said, for audiences,students and professionals alike. “It’sa necessity in this world, especiallywhen people are faced with suchdifficult times.”

To support the next generation ofmusicians, visit Mission Bay Music’swebsite and Facebook page, wherefundra i s ing e f for t s a re pos ted .Donations aid the program in severalways, including the purchase ofinstruments, workshops with guestartists and efforts to ensure studentsthrive in an unconventional year.

Continued from page 6Music Education ...

Small BandMusic

ArchivesAFCDJS ma in ta i ns an

archive of over 2,700 smallband music arrangements,which we make available toschoo l and youth bands,community, church, start-up,and non-profit music groups.

Ask abou t t he TopThousand most- requestedsmall band music arrange-ments, on a DVD disc.

Go to www.sdjazzfest.organd click “Small Band Music”at the bottom of the page orcon tac t Bob So l sbak a tarchive@ sdjazzfest.org.

Because AFCDJS is a registered501 [c] 3 non-prof i t char i tab lecorporation, some of our sponsors candouble or even triple their society,band or musician donation to AFCDJSby having their company match theirdonation through a Matching GiftProgram. Such programs are offeredas a benefit by many companies tocurrent and retired employees. Just a

Maximize Your Sponsorship With aMatching Gift From Your Company

few example companies include:General Electric, American Airlines,Dell, Home Depot, Verizon, WellsFargo and Morgan Stanley. Checkwi th your company’s humanresources department to see if theyoffer a matching gift program and getthe needed forms to complete. Yourdonation or sponsorship will go evenfurther.


Jazz Society’s Virtual Concerts

Dave Stuckey & Nate Ketner – July 19

Besos Jazz Trio – August 23


Gordon Au Trio – September 20

Holy Crow Jazz Band— August 18

Gino Meregillano and his hard-drivingRockabilly group are now a fixture onthe West Coast jazz festival circuit, aswell as the Southern California clubscene. The Lone Gunmen play anentertaining mix of classic Rock andGino’s originals, and during theseCOVID-19 days, Gino has performedLive Streaming concerts on Facebookfor his fans. Check out his FB page forhis next show.

Carl Sonny Leyland will perform at ourupcoming Virtual Festival. Initiallyinfluenced by the boogie woogie greats,he became fluent in rockabilly &western swing, the blues, ragtime andearly jazz styles which enabled him tobecome part of the traditional jazz scene.One of SDJF’s favorites, his repertoireincludes much self-written material.Whether playing solo or with his trio,his playing displays an infectiousspontaneity, providing plenty ofsurprises for the listener.

Captain John Royen leads his NewOrleans Rhythm, featuring clarinetistKim Cusack, at our Virtual Festivalthis year starting Nov. 26th. The bandwill play music associated with JellyRoll Morton, Fats Waller and manyothers. Royen is one of the premierstride pianists active today. Says thegreat Butch Thompson, “John Royenplays real traditional jazz piano, thekind that takes two hands and a lot ofsoul.” This will be quite a treat forjazz piano fans!


Answers are on page 12


Let the trumpets sound. . .Our public schools are still providing instrumental musicinstruction. Regrettably, there is a shortage of funds forinstruments.

Deserving students who are unable to rent or purchase aninstrument may never know the joy of learning to play amusical instrument.

YOU CAN HELP! Donate your unused instrument – atrumpet, violin, clarinet, flute, etc., for loan to anaspiring young musician. Your donation is taxdeductible.

We at the Community Council for Music in the Schools (CCMS)will see that your contribution makes it possible for aneager student to participate in the school band or orchestra.

Please call CCMS at (619) 594-5405 for further information orto arrange for an instrument pick-up.

YES, I WILL HELP!

I would like to give an instrument: ____________________________

and/or a donation: $_______________

Name: __________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________

City: ____________________________________________________

Phone: _________________________________________________

All contributions are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE. Please make yourcheck payable to CCMS-SDSU FOUNDATION. Mail to CCMS,P.O. Box 22471, San Diego, CA 92192


George Mitchell. . .Continued from back pageHarrison, Al Casey and Jonah Jones:Louisville, Kentucky. Mitchell wasborn with a spinal deformity whichshortened his height considerably –resulting in the nickname “LittleMitch.” He took up the trumpet at age12 and within a short time was playingin school and brass bands aroundLouisville. He toured with the Rabbit’sFoot and A.G. Allen Minstrel shows,then returned home to work with localgroups. In 1919 he moved to Chicago,where he played with the legendaryNew Orleans pianist Tony Jackson,among others.

In the early ’20s, Mitchell playedwith various groups in Detroit, backhome in Louisville and in Milwaukeebefore re tu rn ing to Chicagopermanently in 1923.

Af te r pu t t ing down roo ts inChicago, George Mitchell worked withsome of the c i ty ’s bes t danceorches t ras , inc lud ing Car ro l lDickerson’s, Doc Cooke’s and bandsled by Jimmie Noone and Lil Hardin.During this time Mitchell changed fromtrumpet to cornet; a wise move, as theshorter horn was the perfect way toshowcase his warm, attractive sound.In March, 1926 he made records with a

small group led by pianist Luis Russell.Next, in July, he recorded with a groupbi l l ed as the “New Or leansWanderers” and the “New OrleansBootb lacks” – wi th Kid Ory(trombone); Johnny Dodds (clarinet);Lil Hardin (piano); Johnny St. Cyr(banjo) and Joe Clark (alto sax) addedon some titles. This was actually LouisArmstrong’s Hot Five, minus theleader! Mitchell was not a fiery, risk-taking improviser like Armstrong, buthis surefooted lead, unique tone, well-modulated volume and creative mutework fit this outstanding ensemblelike a glove.

In September and December of1926, George Mitchell made his best-known recordings – with Jelly RollMorton’s Red Hot Peppers, for RCAVictor. In addition to Mitchell, andthe leader on piano, the sidemen were:Kid Ory (trombone), Omer Simeon(clarinet), Johnny St. Cyr (banjo andguitar), John Lindsay (string bass)and Andrew Hilaire (drums). The 11sides recorded by the Red Hot Peppershave justifiably been hailed as jazzmasterpieces since the records werereleased. The consensus among jazzfans, critics and musician is thatMitchell’s cornet work is one of themain ingredients that made the RedHot Peppers such a terrific ensemble.

His playing is by turns haunting andmelancholy (“Smokehouse Blues”),sweet (“Dead Man Blues”), soulful(“Cannon Ball Blues”) and red-hot(“Doctor Jazz” and “Grandpa’sSpells”). Mitchell’s skill with the muteand his judicious use of severalphrases played by Joe “King” Oliverare in a class with the best recordingsof Oliver himself.

Mi tche l l p layed on morememorable recordings in 1927 and1928, including another session withthe Red Hot Peppers plus record dateswith Johnny Dodds’ Black BottomStompers and Jimmie Noone’s ApexClub Orchestra. His last recordingswere made in 1929, with Earl Hines’Orchestra and with a recording unitdrawn from Hines’ Orchestra calledthe Dixie Rhythm Kings. Fans ofMitchell’s cornet playing will bedisappointed in the final sessionswith Hines and the Dixie RhythmKings, as he was primarily a sectionplayer on the records, rather than asoloist. However, it is a delight tohear Mitchell in duet with trumpeterShirley Clay on “Beau Koo Jack.” AlexHi l l , the composer , wro te anarrangement for Hines based on LouisArmstrong’s recording of the song.Mitchell and Clay sound magnificenttoge ther as they in te rpo la teArmstrong’s spectacular lead linesand breaks.

After leaving Hines in 1931,Mitchell worked as a freelancemusician. During the Depression, hetook a ful l - t ime job as a bankmessenger. Mitchell played sporadi-cally during the mid-30s, but neveragain played music professionally.He retired from the bank in 1960 andpassed away in Chicago on May 22,1972. It is definitely worthwhile tol i s ten to Mi tche l l ’ s wonder fu lrecordings – particularly those withthe New Or leans Wanderers /Bootb lacks , Mor ton’s Red HotPeppers, and Noone’s Orchestra. Youwill hear similarities to King Oliver,but even so there is no mistaking thedistinctive tone and sound of “LittleMi tch” – a g ian t among jazzcornetists!

Traditional Fun Answers

ACROSS: DOWN:1. Beiderbecke2. Sax4. FatsWaller6. Oliver8. Crosby9. HotJazz10. Jam11. EarlHines13. Spin14. Goodman17. Drum18. Krupa

3. New Orleans5. Trombone7. Dance10. JellyRollMorton12. Armstrong15. Banjo16. WildBill18. KidOry19. Condon20. Bass


June - September 2020

Barbara Bennett

Janet Bouma

Rick & Isabelle Corlett

Josephine Dougher

June Entringer

Jackie Estrada

Bill Fischer

Paul Goldman

Marshall Head

Rich Hulquist

Virginia Kuhle

Ann Moffette

Rick & Judy Oakes

Tina Rakowski

Robert Schaefer

Mark St Cyr

Paula & Errol Tonsky

Dean & Susan Turney

Welcome New and Renewal Members

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION/RENEWAL /SUBSCRIPTION FORMPlease check the applicable boxes and mail to:

AMERICA’S FINEST CITY DIXIELAND JAZZ SOCIETYP.O. Box 880387 • San Diego, CA 92168-0387 • Phone: (619) 297-5277

NEW RENEWAL Enclosed is $25.00 for a single membership (includes Jazz Rambler)

$40.00 for a couple membership (includes Jazz Rambler) $20.00 for annual subscription / Jazz Rambler only $25.00 — foreign

SUPPORT THE EDUCATION FUND $1,000 Cotton Club $250 Storyville Club $100 Dawn Club Please contact me regarding volunteer work for the AFC Dixieland Jazz Society

NAME ___________________________________________________________

MAILING ADDRESS _________________________________________________

CITY _________________ STATE _____ ZIP _______ PHONE_____________________

EMAIL ___________________________________________________________

Donors:Dawn ClubDavid & Bonnie AustinPeter S. GlaserRich HulquistIra & Karen MeislikLarry & Betty MillerJennifer RichardsFrank & Jane SigonaDean & Susan Turney

Festival SponsorsJoel AlbertPaul & June DaspitDavid T. DicksonBarbara EllisSusan FancherJoseph & Jane JensenDavid Lamott In Memory of

Mike FayHal Smith

HELP WANTED!Your Society always

has a need for volun-teers to help withadvertising and otherfunctions.

Get involved and seehow you can help keepyour favorite musicalive in San Diego.You'll be happy youdid!

General Society DonationJoel AlbertDavid & Bonnie AustinCleve BakerAnonymousRick & Isabelle CorlettBarbara EllisJackie EstradaGoran FreskeMarshall HeadRich HulquistJoel N. JohnsonKenneth & Sandra JohnsonSteve & Donna KreinickJohn LuxenburgJoseph & Florence MarcaDonald PerrinThe Estate of Stanford

RedischRob SawyerRobert SchaeferPeter SimonsPhilip K SolomonMike & Sylvia Swall


TTTTTraditional Jazz: A Quick Lraditional Jazz: A Quick Lraditional Jazz: A Quick Lraditional Jazz: A Quick Lraditional Jazz: A Quick LookookookookookGeorge Mitchell — Little Giant of the Cornet

AMERICA’S FINEST CITYDIXIELAND JAZZ SOCIETYPost Office Box 880387San Diego, California 92168-0387

NON PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

P A I DP A I DP A I DP A I DP A I DPermit No. 821San Diego. CA

(This is the 13th mini-biographyin a continuation of a series ofbiographies of great traditionaljazz mus ic ians . The ser iesstarted with the March/April1991 issue and was developedby Rambler founding publisherand Board Member, the late LenLevine.)

By Hal SmithAFCDJS Artistic Director

Years after his stint with MuggsySpanier’s Jazz Band, bassist GeneMayl reca l led one l a te -n igh tconversation between Spanier and his

jazzmen they admired during theirmusical coming-of-age in Chicago.When the topic turned to cornetists,Wettling said, “Louis, of course.”Muggsy responded, “And Joe Oliver– the best.” Wettling: “FreddieKeppard.” Muggsy: “Great muteman.” Then Wettling said, “Don’tforget ‘Little Mitch’.” George Mitchell(a/k/a “Little Mitch”) was a wonderfulcornetist whose career in music wasrelatively brief, though he played onsome of the most highly regardedrecordings of the 1920s.

Mitchell was born on Mar. 8, 1899in the city which also produced greatjazzmen such as Lionel Hampton,Jimmy Blythe, Johnny Wells, Jimmy

continued on page14drummer, George Wettling. The twoold friends were recalling the great

2020 fall rambler 1.pmd - san diego jazz fest

Documents