REMEMBERING - New Jersey Jazz Society

JerseyReviewsJazz“All of us who playjazz, or any kind ofAmerican music, arestanding on Louis’sshoulders…”Amen.that he wears around his neck whiledancing and spinning around the stage.His compositions have a tranceinducingquality.■ Singer Leah Chase recalled an Armstrongrarity: Louis joined with Leon Thomas inrecording Pharoah Sanderss’ “The CreatorHas a Master Plan.’’ Her version, completewith Thomas-like yodeling, paid homage toboth innovative singers.Trumpeters were in the spotlight all daySunday:■ Lionel Ferbos, at 98 the oldest workingmusician in the city, still has chops and hisvoice, too, and was featured in LarsEdegran’s Ragtime Orchestra.■ James Andrews’s Crescent City All-Starsfocused on the rhythm and blues music thatNew Orleans sent out to the world in the1950s, brassy versions of classics by legendssuch as Earl King, Allen Toussaint, ProfessorLonghair and Andrews’s own grandfather,Jesse Hill, whose “Ooh Poo Pa Doo’’ remainsa sing-along staple here.Brass band plays at start ofSatchmo Club Strut on Frenchman Street.■ Kermit Ruffins, the most Satchmoinspiredtrumpeter-singer of all, closed outthe festivities as usual, then presided over atrumpet summit that propelled one last“The Saints” and “Happy Birthday” into theblue sky.There was more club-hopping. I checkedout trumpeter-bandleader-civic leader IrvinMayfield’s swanky new club at the RoyalSonesta Hotel, where elegant singer JohnayeKendricks mixed standards with someadventurous originals.On another memorable night, John Boutte,a great singer, was backed by a fine trio atd.b.a. Boutte’s high tenor handles jazzstandards, gospel and r&b with equal skill,and his occasional rants about“loudmouths” in the audience and gripesabout a quirky sound system are endearingparts of his act as well.Just up the street,Herlin Riley led aquintet in a late setwith trumpeterMarlon Jordan andthe ubiquitousWarmdaddyAnderson in thefront line. Hisopening whackson a tambourine,creating aninimitable NewOrleans groove, setthe pace for “NightKermit RuffinsBy Sandy InghamPhotos by Richard SkellySandy Ingham is Jersey Jazz’s roving reporter.Shamarr Allenin Tunisia,” and he remained in stellar formall set. Things only got better when brothersBranford and Delfeayo showed up and sat infor more than an hour.Before the closing “St. Louis Blues,” Rileypaid tribute to Armstrong. “All of us whoplay jazz, or any kind of American music,are standing on Louis’s shoulders,’’he said. Amen.JJJim Fryer &The Unusual Suspectsfeaturing Ken Salvo (banjo, guitar, vocals)Fridays: Oct 23, Nov 13, Dec 4hot jazz7–10 PMThe Cajun Queen(formerly the New Orleans Steakhouse) NO COVER CHARGE680 Amboy Ave., Woodbridge, NJ 07095 | 732-634-6060 | www.cajunqueen.comGo to www.jfr yer.com for detailsOctober 2009__________________________________ 51