The Best-loved Songs of the Last 104 Years

Anyone who wants to know what some of the standard songs are in dixieland should have listened to Phil Armstrong's Crystal City Jazz Band between 2 and 5 pm on Sunday afternoon at the Capital City Comedy Club. That was the venue for the November 11, 2006, concert hosted by the Austin Traditional Jazz Society, and the attending members and guests were treated to expert renditions of some of the best-loved songs of the last 104 years. (Readers are encouraged to submit their opinion on which song played is 104 years old. The mathematically inclined may be amused to know that the average age of the 30 songs played was 77 years old.)

Playing clarinet and leading the band was San Antonio's Phil Armstrong, who also favored the enthusiastic audience with some vocals reminiscent of another Armstrong named Louis. On trumpet was Danny Wilson, who is one of the top trumpet-players in Houston, and many years ago was a band-student of Mr. Armstrong's when he was a teacher in Alvin, Texas. Playing trombone (with both a slide and valves) was Jay Thomas, Bobby Black presided at both banjo and guitar, Ted Conerly played the electronic piano, Dave Deering was on string bass, and Dick Thomas was on drums. Ms. Jesse Boatright brought a vibrant stage-presence to her jazzy song-stylings. Most of these musicians are members of the 20-piece Sentimental Journey Orchestra (http://www.sjoswing.com), a re-creation of a big band era from the 30s and 40s led by Conerly.

The first set kicked off with "San Antonio Rose", with a vocal by Phil Armstrong, and continued with "Some of These Days" and "Basin Street Blues". Jesse Boatright sang "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Bill Bailey", and Phil Armstrong continued the floral tribute with a clarinet solo with only rhythm accompaniment on Sidney Bechet's "Petite Fleur". Nice bass and trumpet solos and a good bouncy tempo were then the highlights of "I've Found a New Baby", followed by a reverent playing of "Just a Closer Walk with Thee", with a thoughtful trombone solo by Jay Thomas. Jesse Boatright returned to sing "Bye Bye Blackbird", and she teamed up with Phil Armstrong on a duet in "On the Sunny Side of the Street". The set ended with "Washington and Lee Swing".

The second set began with crowd favorites "Bourbon Street Parade" and "Tin Roof Blues", with good solos by Jay Thomas on trombone and Dave Deering on string bass, and then guest artist Larmon Maddox from Austin (celebrating a birthday) joined the band on cornet to play (and sing) "Doctor Jazz". On "When It's Sleepy Time Down South" he then showed why he's one of the premier cornet-players in central Texas, with a fine solo and improvisations. Dancers crowded the new dance-floor for "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "All of Me", sung by Jesse Boatright. Another long-time favorite of "Walking Stick" followed, with Phil Armstrong on clarinet, and the dance-floor quickly filled up again when the band went into "Sheik of Araby". The set ended with "Indiana" and "Makin' Whoopee" sung by Jesse Boatright, to enthusiastic applause.

After a short ATJS business-meeting chaired by Secretary-Treasurer Malcolm Rodman, the third set featured a nicely inventive trumpet solo by Danny Wilson on "That's a-Plenty", and he continued his fine playing with a solo on "Georgia". Phil Armstrong then sang a Louis-Armstrong inspired version of "Hello Dolly", and Jesse Boatright responded with vocals on good old standards "It Had to Be You" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love". Bobby Black then demonstrated his expertise with a fine banjo-solo on "Sweet Georgia Brown", and Jay Thomas played his solo using mostly the valve-section of his trombone (called a 'SuperBone'). Another (Louis) Armstrong favorite, "What a Wonderful World" sung by (Phil) Armstrong followed, and the afternoon's concert ended with the all-time favorite "When the Saints Go Marching In", in which Malcolm Rodman led the parasol parade around the room, followed by Budge Mabry and others.

Next up for the Austin Traditional Jazz Society is the annual jam-session on January 14th, which will be held at the Capital City Comedy Club. Musicians are encouraged to sign up now (http://www1.onr.com/atjs/includes/index.html) for the event, which will be coordinated by ATJS Director Dave Stoddard.