Post 344: THE GENTILLY STOMPERS - A NEW ORLEANS JAZZ BAND

One of the best traditional jazz bands to appear in 2016 (even though it was formed only at the beginning of that year) was The Gentilly Stompers. When you see who's in the line-up you will begin to understand why. This picture shows the players who recorded the band's first CD. It was released on 24 January 2017. It is called 'Thanks A Million!' and comprises 12 tunes, mostly good old favourites.

You can watch a very happy video of the band - with excellent sound and picture quality (though without a reed player on the occasion) by clicking here. When I spent a few days visiting New Orleans in April 2016, one of the local musicians gave me the tip that I ought to seek out The Gentilly Stompers. I had not previously heard of them.

The Gentilly Stompers at Bamboula's

I managed to find them playing at Bamboula's in Frenchmen Street on 10 April. And a very enjoyable session it was. The Band played mainly the standard repertoire in good but uncomplicated arrangements. The teamwork and musicianship were outstanding.

The Band had been formed early in 2016 by yet another great lady trumpet-player - Catie Rodgers. Her own playing is first-class and she is a good leader - giving clear directions and encouraging all members of the band to show what they can do.

I managed to have a few words with Catie. She told me she studied Music at the local University of New Orleans, specialising in trumpet playing. She is a fine classical trumpet player. But classical trumpet players do not always make good traditional jazz players. Catie is an exception. She is an outstanding player in the New Orleans jazz idiom, whether stating a melody with minimal decoration, or improvising a solo chorus with great technical proficiency.

Catie told me she is 'going for clarity and soul'. One of her main influences is the cornet player Connie Jones, who recently retired. She told me 'His lines and feeling really can't be beat'. She said her policy has been to recruit musicians who are sharp, sensitive listeners and really good, fun people. 'I believe that creates an inviting dynamic, and a positive environment to hang in. I'm always looking for more inspiration, whether it be recordings, old or new, or in my fellow peers as we grow and change together'.

Her core players at July 2016 were: Haruka Kikuchi (trombone), Chloe Feoranzo (reeds), Alex Belhaj (guitar), Miles Lyons (tuba) and Sean Clark (drums).

But how did Catie come to be leader of a band called The Gentilly Stompers?

While still a student (in about 2012), she started gigging in the City. She did quite a bit of deputising for absent trumpet players. As they were often the band leaders, she found herself in both a directing as well as a deputising role. Soon people began to suggest that she should officially become a band-leader and run a band of her own.

Why call it The Gentilly Stompers? It is named after Gentilly, the New Orleans suburb about four miles north of the French Quarter. Gentilly is on the south side of Lake Pontchartrain and it is also where The University of New Orleans is situated.

How has Catie mastered the art of playing the trumpet so well? By putting in many years of hard work, I am sure. But she also told me the secret lies in loving the instrument. 'I have great respect for the trumpet and I think that's very important.'

I made a video during their performance on 10 April. Unfortunately, because of the conditions in the bar, the lighting and sound qualities are far from perfect, but I hope it will give you some idea of how good this band really is: CLICK HERE for a performance of 'Honeysuckle Rose'.

Some months later, Catie decided to head to Kansas City to pursue yet higher classical trumpet music studies at the University of Missouri. Though she was missed in New Orleans, I am sure we all wished her well. The good news is that she was back in New Orleans at the end of December 2016, leading The Gentilly Stompers in some gigs, no doubt during her vacation. Here she is, on December 29th, 2016, at Buff'a's, leading the band through Milneberg Joys:

Even later news is that Catie returned 'permanently' to New Orleans in March 2017. I hope she will keep the band going.


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FOOTNOTE

The book Enjoying Traditional Jazz by Pops Coffee is available from Amazon.

Post 343: TROMBONE GLISSANDOS; 'I'D RATHER DRINK MUDDY WATER'

One of the special effects that any trombonist can contribute to a performance by a traditional jazz band is the glissando, where he uses his slide to move (sometimes down but more often up) from one note to another. Most commonly, it is used on the last beat of a bar, dragging up to the first beat of the next bar, and in the process moving either the melody or the chord progression or both on to the next change.

Barnabus Jones, with Shaye and Erika

Well, let me tell you about an amazing use of trombone glissandos. The trombonist is Barnabus Jones and the band is Tuba Skinny on its CD called 'Rag Band'.

In the song I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water (a 12-bar blues from 1936 performed in the key of G), Barnabus plays nothing but glissandos. There are - I think - 96 bars (i.e. eight choruses) - not counting the Introduction - and Barnabus plays a glissando leading into every odd-numbered bar. So he plays 48 glissandos in all. AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ELSE! He begins every glissando on the 4th beat of a bar, slides up to the required note by the first beat of the next bar and then sustains the note for several beats, thereby underpinning all that is going on in the rest of the band.

I don't know whose idea this was. But I suspect it's because the trombonist on the later Smiley Lewis recording of this song did something similar. When Smiley recorded it, he changed the title to Don't Jive Me. I wonder why.

The glissando works amazingly well. Whether accompanying Erika's singing, or Shaye's piano chorus, or the clarinet solo, the glissandos are unrelenting; and they are very effective in pumping the tune along.

What a tour de force!

You can listen to the performance by going to:
https://tubaskinny.bandcamp.com/album/rag-band

Then click on the second tune. You will hear it - completely free. But I hope you will also consider helping this wonderful band by buying the CD. You can do this online: just follow the instructions on the page. I have done it; and it works easily and well. You can also watch the band performing this number on YouTube:

CLICK HERE.

Just keep your eye on that trombone slide! The indefatigable Mr. Jones works the trick again, though in this YouTube performance he  also plays a more 'standard' out-chorus.

And there's a more recent YouTube performance:
CLICK HERE.

Incidentally, here's how the tune sounds to me (three choruses).