[Dixielandjazz] Merle Koch's Silver Stope Final Session

[Robert Newman]

The last weekend session at Merle Koch's Silver Stope at Virginia City, NV was held on October 18 and 19, 1986.   This link shows the last five numbers we played.   We, and the loyal audience knew this was the end for Merle and Michele and the 17-year tradition of the Stope sessions.   Merle was suffering from throat cancer.

http://www.youtube.com/user/bobbynewmie#p/u/4/G-cufnr9fyw

When you open this link, click on the "21 views" and you'll see the Stope numbers.   The right sequence to play them is DREAM, SWEET GEORGIA BROWN, DEED I DO, COOKIN' THE BLUES, and SMILE AWHILE.   We were all fighting off tears and so was Merle, as you can see.    The guys in the band were Ray Sherman and Merle (p), Dick Cathcart (tp), Bob Havens (tb),  Eddie Miller (ts), Bunky Jones (sb),  V.J. Bourgeois (d) and me on clarinet.

Bob Newman