[Dixielandjazz] sitting-in at New York and Montreal

[Tito Martino]

Hi Rich

you and some listmates gave me hints about my trip to New York and Montreal.

The trip was a real pleasure notwithstanding the occasional showers
 in Montreal (12 days)  and in New York (4 days the Easter weekend).

I was introduced to Jazz in University, by a friend who had learned it in
London together with all the (then young) now famous Brit jazzmen; he gave
me lessons and taught me of the respectable and noble jazz tradition of
sittin-in.
I greatly admire our listmate Steve Barbone who sat in with Sidney Bechet
(actually, he *worked* with him, because Bechet insisted he had a pay!)

In NY, other than the funny Easter Parade, I did the regular Museums visits
and sight-seeing; unfortunately, I had to accompany my wife and son and
daughter-in-law in their ramblings and didn't had time enough to reach to
Katz's Deli.

Anyway, I had the extraordinary opportunity to see the Show of one of the
best Jazz Bands in the World (no  exageration at all) in Sofia's Restaurant
- the Nighthawks of Vince Giordano.    He invited me to play a tune, I chose
Rosetta, and was amazed to see the public rushing to the floor to dance.  I
am indebted to Vince to give me that unforgettable experience, he is
actually a very talented jazzman and a clever manager and bandleader.  He
was so generous to tell my wife "He's fantastic". I don't agree, but I got
certainly very flattened with that !     I also went to the Ears Pub to see
Jon-Erik Kelso.

In Montreal, due to a contact given by our listmate Brian Towers from
Toronto,  I was invited to sit-in all night with the very good Jazz Knights
Dixieland Band
at the Kelly's Pub.  The public mostly in the 50-60 age bracket was
certainly much more
enthusiastic and communicative than their equivalent in the USA.  It is to
be considered  that Montreal/Quebéc has strong French influence.
The trombonist David Rilley was very nice, and I was impressed by the female
trumpet player, Manon Guerin.  The Clarinet player Arent Nieuwkamp had
played for years with Brian; he lend me a soprano sax for some tunes, I had
bring my own mouthpiece. It happened that Arent is a Dutch and was a great
friend to Bob van Oven, the great  bass-player with the Dutch Swing College
Band, who playied for one year in São Paulo with my Original Traditional
Jazz Band.
It was a great night and the band members sent me mails telling how they
liked it.

All in all, it was a great experience for me and a pleasure to meet so many
amiable people, so different but having  in common  the passion for OKOM.

I wish other travelling listmates can have such good time.

keep on swinging,

Tito

=============================================


On Sun, May 8, 2011 at 5:24 AM, RICHARD PEARL <banjomobile at msn.com> wrote:

>  Hi Tito -
>
> I guess your back home - so how was your trip?
>
> Did you get to Katz's Deli?
>
> Hope that all is well -
>
> Rich Pearl
>
>
>


-- 
Tito Martino Jazz Band
www.titomartinojazzband.com.br
titomartino at gmail.com