New Orleans jazz band gets audience into acts

by C. Robie Booth, The Knickerbocker News, June 16, 1975

Bourbon Street moved from New Orleans to Saratoga for an evening last night and more than 1,000 early-season music lovers were amply rewarded.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which actually headquarters on St. Peter Street, a good 20 steps from Bourbon, had the Saratoga Performing Arts Center audience in their spell, clapping and cheering and finally marching, for more than two hours.

Probably the best individual performance came from Narvin Kimball, who ran hot banjo licks all night, but especially shone on “Milenburg Joys,” a medley of “Bye Bye Blues” and “Waiting for the Sunrise,” and “Memories,” a banjo showcase in which he also rendered a nice vocal, a clear tenor in the crooning style of the 30s. This old cat is one mighty musician.

The band, all with black trousers, white shirts, dark ties and white socks, did a mournful “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” in true funeral marching tempo. Willie Humphrey’s clarinet overlapped both oboe and flute in range without sacrificing any dignity. Kimball’s hymnal singing was equally appropriate.

Humphrey had a couple of big clarinet rides which were loudly applauded, a vocal solo on “Little Liza Jane” and a cakewalk dance to top it off.

Percy Humphrey, trumpeter and president of Preservation Hall, and Frank Demond, trombonist, had several robust and competent, but ordinary, solos. Drummer James Fraser was consistent with a couple of heavy solos. There was a fine thumping bass solo by James Prevost.

Demond, a young white musician, must be the youngest musician to work regularly with this group in many a moon. He obviously relished working with the old timers.

One number in which everybody cooked was “Basin Street,” early in the program. It had a gorgeous, perfect full ensemble New Orleans ending.

Pianist (upright) James Edward “Sing” Miller vocalized on “Amen” and drew in the audience to sing in unison. He was competent all night, but sparkled in a boogie solo.

The big audience participation came after the closing standing ovation. The musicians responded with “When the Saints Go Marching In” (what else?), with Percy vocalizing and the other horn players marching down the aisles of the amphitheater. About 100 in the audience started doing the cakewalk, including a gentleman with the traditional umbrella. The younger set that didn’t know the cakewalk added some modern steps.

Percy Humphey earlier told how the train “Smoky Mary” took white and black folks from New Orleans to the lake in years gone by. “That train was smoky, and by the end of the ride everybody was the same color. And when they got to the lake, and everybody had a little drink, they all played the same song. What was that song? I always forget the name. Oh yes, ‘Milenburg Joys.'”

Unfortunately, some of the songs didn’t get that good an introduction, or any introduction at all. But it was one fine evening.

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