Bands - April 27

Paulin Brothers Brass Band

I only saw this group while passing by on my way to something else. They were performing at the Jazz and Heritage Stage rather than in Economy Hall. The Paulin Brothers are the sons of Doc Paulin, one of the old-time brass band leaders who died a few years ago.

Tim Laughlin

This band's members included Tim Laughlin on clarinet, Connie Jones on cornet, Rick Trolsen on trombone, Matt Perrine on bass and tuba, Ronnie Magri on drums, Tom McDermott on piano and Larry Scala on guitar. The set included Magnolia Dance, Dumaine Street Breakdown, Blues for Faz, Wang Wang Blues, Crescent City Moon, Avalon, If You See My Mother (a Sidney Bechet piece) and The Isle of Orleans.

Leroy Jones

Leroy Jones plays in a more modern style than many of the traditional bands. He is a fine musician who has toured with Harry Connick, Jr. The band featured Leroy Jones on trumpet and flugelhorn, Craig Klein on tombone, Alonso Bowens on tenor sax, Paul (someone) on piano, Mitchell Blair on bass and Gerald French on drums. The set included Chinatown, My Chinatown, Some of These Days, Pennies from Heaven, Soft Shoe, C Jam Shuffle, Sweeter Than a Summer Breeze, Dinah and Beale Street Blues.

Gregg Stafford's Jazz Hounds

Gregg Stafford plays the trumpet with more heat than anyone else I know. His band performs hard-driving straight-ahead jazz mixed with slower pieces (often spiritual). The band members included Gregg Stafford on trumpet, Fred Lonzo on trombone, Ralph Johnson on clarinet, Seva Venet on banjo, Dewey Simpson on bass, Gerald French on drums and Marie Watanabe on piano. The set included Milneberg Joys, Algiers Strut, When You're Smiling, Panama, What a Friend We Have in Jesus and Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans.

Pete Fountain

Pete Fountain had coronary bypass surgery two years ago, only four weeks before Jazzfest that year. Amazingly, he was able to perform, although he took it easy and allowed Tim Laughlin to take his place on several numbers. This is the first time I've seen Pete Fountain since then. He looked like he had aged quite a bit in only two years - I suspect his health hasn't been good.

I didn't get the names of all of the band members. The group included Tim Laughlin on clarinet, Connie Jones on cornet, Alan Young on guitar and David Bodinghouse on piano. The set included Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans, Basin Street Blues, St. Louis Blues, Just a Closer Walk with Thee, Muskrat Ramble and When the Saints Go Marching in.

Lars Edegran's New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra

I left early because of bad weather, so I didn't see much of this group. I didn't get the full personnel, but I do know the orchestra included Lars Edegran on piano, Tom Fischer on clarinet and Lionel Ferbos on trumpet. I heard them play Kiss Me Sweet before I left.