[Dixielandjazz] PA Jazz Society Annual JazzFest 7/20/03

[SelmerFudd at aol.com]

PA Jazz Society Annual Jazz Festival
Sunday, July 20th --- 11:45am to 6:15pm
Planfield Township Fire Hall
6480 Sullivan Trail
Wind Gap, PA
Price $15 door, $20 advance
Bring your own food and drink or buy it there.
Indoors and air-conditioned
no steps, no smoking
The Tarnished Six; Cynthia Sayer & Friends; Cakewalkin' JB
more info -  610-258-2082
www.PAJazzSociety.org


Jazz Fest - July 20, 2003



The Tarnished Six

July 20, 2003 at 11.45 pm



THE TARNISHED SIX

AT JAZZFEST JULY 20, 2003



The T-6 is a very popular and busy band. It continues to be in great demand 
not only by connoisseurs of traditional jazz but by the general public as well. 
A typical month will find the band performing at a variety of functions: 
private parties, conventions, country clubs, jazz societies, and one-nighters. The 
personnel:

John Kovalchik – Tuba/Leader – John is a complete bassist. He sings bass, 
plays the tuba, Sousaphone, string bass, third base, and tells low down stories. 
John’s creative juices occasionally cause him to join the front line for a 
four part cacophony. He graduated from Penn State, got married, started teaching 
and first played with T-6 in 1971, becoming their full time bassist in 1972. 
He is the third of the past presidents of the Penn State Blue Band in the 
group.

Roger Munnel – Trombone, 1967 The first leader of the band, Roger passed the 
mantle to John Kovalchik in 1996, but he still controls the microphone.He’s 
another of the past presidents of the Penn State Blue Band in the group. His 
Turk Murphy style of trombone playing and peerless washboard technique makes him 
a rarity on the East Coast. Since 1982 he has also been a member of the 
reunion band the Rent Party Revelers.

Jim Ressler – Cornet, 1967 An original (You can say that again!). King James 
is an ex-navy musician and retired instrumental music teacher. His skill in 
big band playing is recognized by the various show bands that borrow him. He 
also sets the pace for the front line of our band. He has written and arranged 
many of our tunes, the latest of which was "Emperor Norton’s Hunch" for jazz 
band and symphony orchestra. He’s another past president of the Penn State Blue 
Band.

Jim Chapman – Soprano and alto sax, 1983 Jim makes the third front line 
player to graduate from the U.S. Navy School of Music and the one least likely to 
talk about it. Then again, he’s most quiet about everything until it’s time to 
play. His highly developed harmonic sense allows him to perfectly fill the 
holes that the rest of the front line leaves for him. His weight training 
qualifies him to definitively refuse all of the fans’ requests for "Star Dust."

Phil Charles – Drums, 1999 Phil graduated from Penn State with a B.S. in 
music education and has been a music educator for 22 years. He was a president of 
Phi Mu Alpha (Mens Honorary Music Fraternity) and a member of Pennsylvania 
Music Educators Association, the Percussive Arts Society and the International 
Association of Jazz Educators.

Mike Evock – banjo, 2000 Mike’s a late bloomer, one of those guys who took 
some time off from school to work for a while. After about 17 odd years (what 
else?) Mike earned two degrees from Penn State and was accepted into Pi Kappa 
Lamda and Phi Kappa Phi. Mike’s learning to sing with us and we’re hoping that 
he actually gets good enough for us to give him a microphone WITH A BANJO ON 
HIS KNEE.

Cynthia Sayer

July 20, 2003 at 2:00 pm



CYNTHIA SAYER HOT JAZZ TRIO

AT JAZZFEST JULY 20



Cynthia Sayer is internationally acclaimed as one of the leading jazz 
banjoists, and is also known for her vocal, entertaining and multi-instrumental 
talents. Ms. Sayer has worked with such artists as Woody Allen, Dick Hyman, Milt 
Hinton, Bill Cosby, George Segal, Odetta, Marvin Hamlisch, Bucky Pizzarelli, 
Kenny Davern, Dick Wellstood, Bob Wilber, Doc Cheatham, Warren Vache and Ken 
Peplowski. She tours regularly and is featured in concert and at jazz festivals 
worldwide.

Dan Levinson (clarinet) and Mike Weatherly (string bass) will join Cynthia on 
July20th to produce some excellent traditional jazz.

Cakewalkin' Jass Band

July 20, 2003 at 3:15 pm



CAKEWALKIN’ JASS BAND

AT JAZZFEST JULY20, 2003



The Cakewalkin’ Jass Band (CJB) was organized in December of 1967. After 
playing three short nightclub jobs, the band opened at Tony Packo’s Café in July, 
1968. Eleven and one-half years later, the CJB was still packing them in every 
Friday and Saturday night at the Hungarian style restaurant.

On Friday May 9, 1980, the CJB began a new era in Toledo by opening at Lulu’s 
Storyville Saloon. Expanding to four nights (Wednesday through Saturday) the 
band played in a total New Orleans setting especially created for them – 
including three authentic Creole dishes.

The band now plays every Friday at Ragtime Rick’s First Draught, owned by the 
band’s pianist and banjoist.

CJB has played for numerous jazz clubs in the Midwest and East. The 
personnel:

Ray Heitger (12/15/43) Clarinet, soprano saxophone, vocals. Born Beaver, PA. 
Self taught. Started playing at age 19. To Toledo in 1965. June 1967 organized 
"Dixieland 5 ½," disbanded after 6 months. Organized CJB in December1967. 
Married; Elizabeth. Four children; Duke (a trumpeter), Renee, Andrea, Nicole (a 
vocalist). Mathmatics instructor at Bowling Green State University.

Frank Ward (3/29/30) Cornet, vocals. Born Blackburn, England. Cofounder in 
1951 "New Independence Jazz Band." To Canada 1956. To Toledo 1957. Joined CJB 
early 1969. University of Toledo library (retired).

Russ Damschroder (6/2/48) Trombone. Born Elmore, Ohio. Started trombone fifth 
grade. Plays with Genoa American Legion Band. Eb tuba. Married; Debbie. Three 
children. Librarian at University of Toledo.

Betsy Grafing (5/8/52) Banjo. Born Toledo, Ohio. Started taking banjo lessons 
in January 1975. Started performing at Shakey’s in April 1975 with Ragtime 
Rick. Also performs at Ragtime Rick’s First Draught with Rick. Married; Rick. 
Two children.

Jim Fagnano (1/7/32) Drums. Born Niles, Ohio. Public school band director for 
21 years. Has performed with many bands. Joined CJB in December 1980. 
Marreid; Pat. Two Children. Five grandchildren. Now a retired electroplater.

Rick Grafing (5/4/52) Piano. Born, Brooklyn,NY. Started on piano about seven 
years old. Started playing at Shakey’s Pizza in Toledo in 1973. Went on to 
play and manage the Shakey’s in Fort Wayne, IN until 1979. Played and managed at 
Olde Towne in Toledo until opening Ragtime Rick’s First Draught (his own 
place) in 1981. Married to Banjo Betsy.

Bob Miller (10/13/48) String bass. Born Detroit, MI. Began playing guitar 
professionally at age 14. Has played washboard, banjo and string bass with the 
CJB. Now a professional musician and tax preparer during tax season.

Nicole Heitger (3/4/74) Vocals. Born, Toledo, Ohio. Has formal training in 
voice and ballet. Began singing with CJB at about age sixteen. Was featured with 
Tommy (tuba) Saunders’ band in Decatur 1993. Also sings for weddings.