Date: 2010-09-10
Wolverine Jazz Band
The Wolverine Jazz Band is a seven-piece group that roams over the tradition of American Popular music from the first half of the 20th Century. Dixieland, swing, pop and even a little R&B and Bebop thrown in from time to time keeps the music from stagnating or becoming predictable. Comprised of the top Traditional Jazz musicians in New England, the Wolverines have been successful at festivals and concert appearances throughout the region and nationally as well. Jeff Hughes – cornet ; John Clark – clarinet ; Tom Boates – trombone ; Jimmy Mazzy – banjo and vocals ; Rick MacWilliams – tuba ; Dave Didriksen – drums ; Robin Verdier – pianoBand BioThe Wolverine Jazz Band has been performing throughout New England since 1995. In addition to appearances at a long list of local summer concerts, Jazz venues and private functions, the WJB has played concerts at the University of New Hampshire, Foothills Theatre, Arlington Theatre and Cape Cod Community College. Since 2006 they have brought their engergetic and historically informed dixieland and swing playing to national Jazz festivals in Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Ohio and Connecticut, garnering great acclaim. There are currently nine Wolverine Jazz Band CDs available (including one backing national recording star Chris Trapper) with the tenth in production.John ClarkClarinet, SaxophoneBorn and raised in Natick, John Clark began playing professionally in the Boston area as a substitute with various dixieland and big bands, including the Dixieland Strutters, the Legacy Jazz Band, Commonwealth Jazz, the New Black Eagle Jazz Band and the Paramount Jazz Band of Boston, with which he toured England and Wales in June, 1995. Clark also regularly appears with Lucinda Ellert’s Happy Feet Dance Orchestra, Dave Whitney and His Orchestra and Robin Verdier’s Monte Carlo Jazz Band. He performs with the Mood Elevators and can be heard on their CDs as well. He has also played and recorded with Ross Tucker’s Hot Cat Jazz Band of Connecticut and with the Back Bay Ramblers, appearing at numeous Jazz festivals in Canada and the U.S. with each.Jeff HughesCornet, TrumpetJeff Hughes (dubbed “Mr. Melody” by Ray Smith) has made a name for himself as a Bix-styled cornet player in the Boston area with the Paramount Jazz Band of Boston, New Yankee Rhythm Kings and numerous other groups. By day, he is a mild-mannered marine biologist, but by night he is the leader of both the Brahmin Bellhops and Lost In The Sauce, and is also a disciple of Bunny Berigan.Tom BoatesTromboneTom Boates has been active on the Connecticut jazz scene for a number of years and has toured extensively with both the Hot Cat and Hot Jam bands. As a career school teacher and band director, Tom is uniquely qualified to deal with the rest of us. Tom’s playing, singing and arranging talents are all invaluable to the Wolverine Jazz Band.Jimmy MazzyBanjo, VocalsTo fans of traditional jazz, Jimmy Mazzy needs no introduction. Suffice it to say that he has been a central part of the jazz scene in New England for many years and his presence in the Wolverine Jazz Band has been a key part of our success. Jimmy plays regularly at the Colonial Inn (Concord) and Angelica’s restaurant (Middleton) and travels extensively with Eli Newberger, Butch Thompson and the Paramount Jazz Band of Boston.Rick MacWilliamsTubaRick, the co-founder of the Commonwealth Jazz Quartet, has been lending his talents to Jazz groups in the area since the 1960s. Prized for his faultless rhythm and harmonic sense, Rick also brings to the band a wealth of experience both as player and leader.Dave DidriksenDrumsDave Didriksen, another Chicago native, also plays with the Happy Feet Dance Orchestra and is considered one of the most versatile drummers playing in the hot dance style. While he is an expert on the stylistic elements, he never sacrifices swing.Robin VerdierPianoRobin is a retired MIT physicist whose piano career in New England goes back to the 1960’s with Stan MacDonald, the East Bay City Jazz Band, Yankee Rhythm Kings, Paramount Jazz Band of Boston and his own Monte Carlo Jazz Band. Specializing in Ragtime and Jazz of the 1920’s, Robin brings a wealth of knowledge to the keyboard.
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