[Dixielandjazz] Re: River Boat Five

[Dan Augustine]

Bill and others--
     I have four of the River Boat Five albums, and the personnel 
(when given) seems to have varied (in both presence and naming).
     On _Ma! They're Comin' down the Street_ (Mercury SR 60034, c. 
1958) the players are: Ed Reed (clarinet), Gene Thomas (trombone), 
Jim Lunsford (drums), Louis Tedder (tuba, sax, and trumpet), Ted 
Butterman (trumpet), Milt Fitch (banjo), and Keller Merch (piano).
     No players are listed on _The River Boat Five Take the Train_ 
(Mercury SR 60094, c. 1958+).
     On _From Natchez to Mobile_ (Mercury MG 20378, no date given): Ed 
Reed (clarinet), Wray Thomas (trombone)(?), Jim Lunsford (drums), Ed 
Tedder (tuba), Ted Butterman (cornet), Dargan Fitch (banjo)(?), and 
Keller Merck (piano).
     On _The River Boat Five on a Swinging Date_ (Mercury MG 20509, c. 
1959?) the players are only mentioned in passing, but seem to be Ed 
Reed (clarinet), Nappy Lamare, and Ray Bauduc.  However, it sure 
sounds to me like Rich Matteson is on tuba, with perhaps Cougar 
Nelson on trombone (what a combination!).
     On _The Riverboat Five in the Roaring Twenties_ (Mercury 20629, 
recorded January 23/24, 1961) the players are: Ed Reed (clarinet), 
Joe Graves (trumpet (solo)), Dick Cathcart (trumpet), Eddie Miller 
(tenor saxophone), Bob Havens (trombone), Stan Wrightsman (piano), 
Nappy Lamare (banjo and guitar), Phil Stevens (_sic_; Stephens?)(bass 
and tuba), Jack Sperling (drums), Nick Fatool (additional 
percussion), and Matty Matlock (arranger).
     Hope this helps.  I don't know offhand if there are any other recordings.

     Dan
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Date: Thu, 06 May 2004 13:50:49 +1000
>From: Bill Haesler <bhaesler at bigpond.net.au>
>To: dixieland jazz mail list <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
>cc: Don Ingle <dingle at baldwin-net.com>
>Subject: [Dixielandjazz] River Boat Five
>
>Dear friends,
>I suppose this is really one for our Chicago friends.
>(Where are you Charlie Hooks and Jim Beebe when we need you?)
>Or perhaps me mate Don Ingle is back from his backwoods (backwards?) huntin'
>'n' 'fishin' trip, and can help.
>The River Boat Five (actually a septet) made several LPs in the late 50s in
>Chicago before the leader clarinettist Ed Reed moved to Los Angeles in about
>1960.
>The several discographies I have suggest that the personnel for the Chicago
>recordings for Mercury were:
>Ed Reed (cl, ts), Ted Butterman (t), Wray (or) Gene Thomas (tb), Keller
>Merck (p), Milt Fitch (bj), Ed Tedder (tu), Jim Lunsford (d).
>However an original LP owned by a friend of mine (I do not have any of the
>records) indicates on the cover that the lineup is: Ed Reed (cl, ts), Ted
>Butterman (tu/sb), Gene Thomas (t),  Keller Merck (d), Milt Fitch (bj),
>Louis Tedder (p), Jim Lunsford (tb).
>Can anyone who knows/knew these musicians please confirm the correct
>instrumentation ?
>Also.
>A 1960 Mercury LP by the River Boat 5 recorded in LA which includes leader
>Ed Reed, cl/ts; Eddie Miller, ts; Nappy Lamare, g; Ray Bauduc, d; also has a
>great tuba player, according to my mate who also has this LP. Could this
>unnamed musician be Phil Stevens?
>Later LPs made in LA by the band include Phil Stevens, Bob Havens, Stan
>Wrightsman, Nick Fatool and Dick Cathcart - the cream of the 60s LA studio
>musicians.
>Kind regards,
>Bill.

-- 
**--------------------------------------------------------------------**
**  Dan Augustine     Austin, Texas    ds.augustine at mail.utexas.edu   **
**    "We believe in musical evolution, not revolution.  There are    **
**     enough revolutionary musicians playing revolting music."       **
**                   -- Turk Murphy (1915-1987)                       **
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