With all of the great musicians playing at Tucson’s Century Room for the past two years, a hometown trumpeter/vocalist was showcased earlier this month. James Williams, with the New Orleans-based Swamp Donkeys is a born and bred Tucsonan. We first met him in New Orleans at the Jazz Fest in 2017. Guest vocalist Alia Shawkat joined the band for that set with Sam Friend (bj), Miles Lyons (sousa), Nick Garrison (tb), Josh “Jams” Marotta (dr) and Connor Stewart (reeds).
Alia is a young actress most associated with the TBS comedy Search Party and the cult classic sitcom Arrested Development—I remember it was a terrific set and was pleasantly surprised when they were invited to perform at the Arizona Classic Jazz Festival in Chandler that same year in November. The band changed slightly for that festival with the substitution of Ricardo Pascal (reeds) and Doyle Cooper (sousa). Since then we have seen James at the Maison Bourbon in New Orleans and on Frenchmen Street just outside the French Quarter.
James also leads The James Williams New Orleans Jazz Quintet (p, bs, drums and sax/tb) and the New Orleans Classic Big Band with various other musicians. He has performed all over the world and it was a pleasure to know his roots started only a few miles from the Century Room itself.
On the night we saw them, James’ band had local musicians Evan Dain (bj), Marco Rosano (p), Arthur Vint (dr), Kevin Ravellette (reeds), Zayden Morgan (tb) and Thoger Lund (bs) providing the rest of the “Hot 7” ensemble.
James has a gravely voice and it is perfectly suited to the Louis Armstrong numbers that he enjoys recreating. His phrasing and vocal style is interwoven with his trumpet riffs and he manages a sly wink or two interpreting the standard lyrics. He is fun to watch and a delightful entertainer! His mom and brother were in the audience and James graciously acknowledged their part in his musical education…his mom “made” him do it!
I hope he will be at the Century Room somewhat regularly since he has the opportunity to visit family and friends during his gigs here. As of now he is scheduled for another set celebrating Pops’ actual birthday in early August.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Please refer to Lew Shaw’s terrific front-page interview with Arthur Vint, General Manager and Artistic Director at the Century Room in the July issue of The Syncopated Times. He mentioned that Arthur received the Jazz Journalists Association “Jazz Hero Award” and we were there the night it was presented to him this past May. It is a great honor to receive this award to the “A” team—Activists, Advocates, Altruists, Aiders, and Abettors of Jazz!
Andy Senior, the Publisher and Editor of The Syncopated Times, received this award in 2022. Kudos to both!
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Another night at the Century Room brought in Mike Davis from New York for his 3rd annual residency. Mike and The New Wonders have just released their 2nd album. Mike will also be making his leader debut at the next Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival in Davenport, Iowa in August.
Mike has named his band after Bix’s cornet, the Conn “New Wonder” Bb/A cornet and the one he uses is a 107 year old instrument!
Mike had six of our very talented local musicians at his ready and gave them the charts just that morning. The band sounded wonderful and with Kevin Ravellette (reeds), Max Goldschmid (tb), Sly Slipetsky (p), Marco Rosano (bs sax), Evan Dain (bj/gtr) and Arthur Vint (dr) they sounded like they had rehearsed for weeks!
Evan Dain (gtr) and Mike Davis on vocals with a special vintage microphone (photos by Ken Arnold)
Mike had some of his own arrangements of tunes from the Bix era and the musicians had no problem keeping it tight. He threw in a few Louis Armstrong numbers and some from the new release. His first album had a few different musicians but all gave it the New Wonders sound. (see Joe Bebco’s review of the re-release of this album on page B-3 of the July issue of The Syncopated Times). Mike especially explores the sound and style of the New York and Chicago genres of this music. Sly did a great solo of “Do You Know What It Means”—a composition close to my heart. Evan used both the plectrum banjo and six-string guitar in several solos. All of the members of the band were outstanding and are all multi-instrumentalists. Mike made sure to focus on their many talents and allowed each one a deserving turn in the spotlight.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
A correction to my June column about the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival: beloved reed instrumentalist, Charlie Gabriel, celebrated his 92nd birthday on July 11th—I had him a year younger but no one could be as young-at-heart as Charlie…he is a treasure with a mile-wide smile!
