When Marty McGinnis, President of the Valley Jazz Club, announced that Wally Holmes was coming out of retirement, I couldn’t believe my ears. I asked him to repeat the announcement. “Yes,” he said, “coming out of retirement, Wally Holmes will reassemble his Yankee Wailers Jazz Band for just one day, for an informal return to the Valley Jazz Club. There’ll be some playing of favorite tunes, some catch-up socializing, and maybe a surprise announcement—but not what you’re probably expecting!”If you are an L.A. classic jazz enthusiast, Wally’s name will ring several memory bells: besides being leader of the Yankee Wailers Jazz Band since he formed it in 1984, Wally was the Director of the much-missed Sweet and Hot Music Festival. This delightful event was held annually at the Los Angeles Marriott Hotel, bringing top-notch jazz musicians and fans from near and far together for a joyous four days and nights of the good stuff. The Sweet and Hot Music Festival is yet another of the fine classic jazz events to leave us. All that remains of the Sweet and Hot now are the memories of the good times there with friends new and old brought to mind when some of the same songs are heard again.Some of that same music was heard today, played by the Yankee Wailers one-day reunion band. “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” featuring Jim Richardson, playing both tenor and alto sax simul
