Riverside Blues - Stumptown Jazz 2002

  • 16 years ago
Riverside Blues – Stumptown Jazz 2002

Almost 80 years later our Stumptown Jazz is performing King Oliver’s Riverside Blues, which I just posted on Youtube as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TRzK8RTe1A
What can I say, of course while performing you think to have the original recording in your system but obviously we took it in a somewhat slower tempo. I just received this film in my collection and I was surprised of the intensity and the original approach by the band’s members. I introduced this tune to the band and I am certain that most had never heard the original Oliver recording. Unfortunately this group does not get together much anymore. The gig before this one in January 2002 happened in the same room in January 2001. I find it amazing that all members remembered the general arrangement.
I loved to have been a member of this great group and I still don’t understand why the jazz festival organizers don’t invite this wonderful band any more. Leader Gary Peterson piano, Bob Erwig, usually cornet but this time trumpet, Phil Hatton clarinet, Rex Rice trombone, Dave Brown guitar, John Walling bass and Bill Franklin drums
I think we can compete with one of the USA’s most popular bands in this style.
Here is Bob Schulz and his Frisco Jazz Band, a band filled with mostly professional musicians who concentrate fully towards this type of music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKeK4nZWsAo
Of course Bob Schulz was a longtime member of Turk Murphy’s Jazz Band. Turk also spent a lifetime, initially together with Lu Watters to recreate the music of the early Oliver Band.
The only other band I could find who played a fine version of Riverside Blues on youtube as well is the Eureka Jazz Band from Argentine 1981 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbPmkpMNouk