Review dated August 29, 1988

Article headed "Noted Musicians Jam - Jazz Party Supplies Soothing Sounds."

Well, to paraphrase an old song title, the songs are ended, but the melodies linger on. The memories also linger on, and what wonderful memories they are!

The Seventh Annual Conneaut Lake Jazz Party, sponsored by the Allegheny Jazz Society, under president Joe Boughton, commended Friday evening and ended with a bang Sunday afternoon. A quick calculation indicates that during the three-day weekend, 17 top-notch jazz musicians, plus one sublime female vocalist, dispensed 23 hours of some of the finest traditional and mainstream jazz that this reviewer has ever heard.

The party was held entirely in the dining room of the Hotel Conneaut this year, which was a plus, mainly because of the room's superior acoustics and the more intimate setting. The party-goers, from such locales as Nebraska, Rhode Island, Michigan, Florida, Virginia, Canada, and many local points, enjoyed some fine music.

The two evening concerts were devoted to bands with set personnel, but the two morning brunches were another matter entirely.

Jazz has always had its strength in the ability to take musicians of various styles and backgrounds - some that have probably never played together before, or possibly even have never met before - and using the talents of these musicians to make music, usually using no written arrangements. This is what happens at the brunches.

Eight pages of notes were taken for this review. A blow-by-blow account, obviously, can't be done, so how about a few memories and observations?

The party was blessed this year with two outstanding clarinetists. Bob Reitmeier, a young Californian, is a master of his devilish instrument. It is fascinating to listen to him paint himself into a corner, then escape with no paint on his shoes. Reitmeier was a member of the superb little band that played for the dinner crowd Friday and Saturday afternoons.

Bobby Gordon, another Californian, uses the lower register of the instrument more than Reitmeier. His tone is wistful, almost like Pee Wee Russell on a very good day. Gordon distinguished himself in every setting he involved himself in.

The pianists, Ross Tompkins and Keith Ingham, are a study in contrasts. Tompkins, a member of the Tonight Show Orchestra, is the cool Californian, a master of the keyboard. He is usually buried in the TV studios, but this past weekend proved what an excellent, melodic musician he is. At Sunday's brunch his medley of "Straighten Up And Fly Right," "Sweet Lorraine" and "Mona Lisa" pleased the diners. He also added much to other groups during the party.

Ingham, born in London and educated at Oxford, majoring in classical Chinese, has developed into an outstanding pianist of the Teddy Wilson-Earl Hines school. He is also developing into a specialist of that most-exciting of piano styles - stride. His versions of "Birmingham Breakdown," the ragtime "Dill Pickles," and Mel Powell's "The Earl" were well-received, as was a lovely medley of "Keepin' Myself For You" and "Looking At You."

The trumpet-cornet-flugelhorn group was handled by three outstanding players, Joe Wilder, Ed Polcer and Peter Ecklund. Wilder, a jazz veteran who plays the Broadway musicals, presently is in the pit band of "42nd Street." His trumpet added vitality to the septet, led by saxophonist Harry Allen during the evening concerts, but he also had a lovely flugelhorn solo during his portion of a ballad set at the Saturday morning brunch, playing a beautiful "Am I Blue?"

Ed Polcer plays a driving, hard-swinging cornet in the manner of Wild Bill Davison, is a great organizer and leader during the jam sessions. At the Saturday evening concert his band, with Reitmeier on tenor sax instead of clarinet, Bobby Gordon-clarinet; Bob Havens-trombone; Ingham-piano; Marty Grosz-acoustic guitar; John Goldsby-bass; and Jackie Williams-drums, tore things up on "Ol' Miss," Louis Armstrong's "Swing That Music," and "Memories Of You," the last-named tune featuring a beautiful clarinet solo by Gordon.

Peter Ecklund plays a cornet style somewhere between Beiderbecke and Armstrong, specializing in the more traditional jazz styles. His work was joy all weekend, especially during the appearances of the Hot Four.

The guitar chairs were filled by Bucky Pizzarelli and Marty Grosz. Pizzarelli, playing a 7-string instrument, proved to be the consumate melodic artist of the entire party. His work gave fire to his appearances with the septet at the evening concerts, but his solo work at the brunches was a thing of beauty. Bix Beiderbecke's "In A Mist," originally scored for piano, transposed beautifully to the guitar, and a medley of "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," "Sophisticated Lady" and "Prelude To A Kiss" was exquisite.

Marty Grosz, who plays acoustic guitar, is a very talented musician. He is also a vocalist, an illustrator and author, and has more natural comedy talent than any stand-up comedian I can think of.

Marty was the leader of The Hot Four, which he subtitled "The Orphan Newsboys' Band," made up of "Lips" (Peter Ecklund), "Stinky" (Bobby Gordon), "Slats" (bassist Bob Haggart), and "Fat Stuff" (Grosz himnself). The quartet played some obscure gems, such as "Strut, Miss Lizzie" and "A High Hat, A Piccolo And A Cane," also some truly wonderful arrangements of "Beale Street Blues" and "Smiles." Great stuff; should be recorded.

At the Sunday brunch, Grosz organized an outstanding band consisting of himself, Bob Havens on trombone, Ecklund, Ingham, Gordon, Jackie Williams on drums, and Bob Haggart, bass, called The Hot Seven, and brought the crowd to its feet with "When Day Is Done" and "How Come You Do Me Like You Do?"

The string bass department was handled by the young John Goldsby and the veteran Bob Haggart. Goldsby has a beautiful, full tone, and played some outstanding arco solos with the septet.

Haggart was, as usual, a tower of strength, no matter what combinations of musicians he backed. One of the most under-rated musicians in the business, I think.

Trombonists were Bobby Pring and Bob Havens. Pring, out of the Les Brown big band, played some beautiful, buttery things with the septet, also with various combinations at the brunches.

Havens, who spent 25 years with Lawrence Welk, is a robust soloist of the Jack Teagarden school. His work throughout the whole weekend was outstanding, especially with the traditional bands.

Tenor saxophonists this year were the young Harry Allen, and the old veteran, Bud Freeman.

Allen, 21 years old, was with the 1983-84 McDonald's All-American High School Jazz Band as featured saxophone soloist. He has obviously been influenced by Hawkins and Webster, and managed to hold his own with the heavy weights.

Bud Freeman, 82, pleased the crowd, as is usual with Bud. There was a special, poignant moment at the Saturday brunch. Freeman and Pizzarelli were playing duets, and Bud called vocalist Barbara Lea to join in. Their versions of "Am I Blue?", "You Took Advantage Of Me" and "Someone To Watch Over Me" were charming.

Drummers this year were Jackie Williams and John Von Ohlen. Williams, a light, delicate drummer, has the ideal touch for small groups, much in the manner of ex-Basie drummer Jo Jones. His work through-out was superb.

Von Ohlen is a powerhouse drummer, very inventive, using unusual patterns that make his solos much more than the usual drum solos.

Which brings us to the sublime vocalist, Miss Barbara Lea. A jazz singer in the grand tradition, she would be at home in any era, with any jazz group. Specializing in the superior show tunes and rarely-heard numbers, such as "Old Folks," "Moonshine Lullaby" and "Dream Dancing," she was effective in any setting during the weekend.

It was a superb weekend of wonderful music, excellent food and amiable companions. Looking back, one reason for the general excellence of the music may have been due to the choices of songs played and sang. The artists picked music that has not been done to death. There are a great many songs that are really beautiful in melody and style, and aren't heard much anymore. The artists involved managed to unearth some of these numbers, and presented them to a willing audience.

More power to them.