December 1, 2013
Featured: Mission Gold Jazz Band
With a name inspired by the golden hills above Fremont’s Mission San Jose, Mission Gold Jazz Band is an eight piece, two cornet band consisting of a variety of multi-talented musicians from all over the Bay Area.
MGJB was formed in 1980 and has a long tradition of performing the music of Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Lu Watters and Turk Murphy. The band plays standards and more common tunes in the swing genre. The main goal is to please the dancers, strutters, and jazz listeners.
Mission Gold Jazz Band offers a variety of Dixieland styles, including Marches, Blues, Ragtime and Stomps. We encourage audience participation during tunes reminiscent of the cakewalk, parasol strutting and to raise their voices to sing along with the band.
Mission Gold Jazz Band website: www.jazzdance.org/MissionGold
November 3, 2013
Featured: “Bill Dendle’s Muscat Ramblers”
Bill Dendle began playing banjo in 1963, and by 1967 was appearing at Mickie Finn’s in San Diego as leader of the South Market Street Jazz Band, which also appeared at Disneyland and on USO 
tours. In 1968, Bill took over the job of lead banjoist at Capone’s Warehouse in Monterey, where he appeared off and on for the next nine years. 1977 found Bill as an entertainment consultant, banjoist, trombonist, band leader and entertainer at Florida’s Disneyworld, where he opened the Empress Lilly Showboat. Bugs and humidity sent Bill back to San Diego in late 1977 to revive the South Market Street Jazz Band, which became a popular fixture at Dixieland Jazz Festivals throughout the United States. From 1982 on, Bill appeared as one-half of the duo called Goodtime Banjos at banjo concerts, jazz festivals, conventions and private parties until 1995. Bill is currently director of three jazz camp programs, two in Sacramento (youth and adult), and one in Mammoth Lakes. He plays trombone, guitar and banjo in Shelley Burns & Avalon Swing, a popular Sacramento jazz, show and dance band, and appears at jazz festivals, parties, conventions and shows with his wife, the talented vocalist/entertainer Shelley Burns, and Fast Eddie Erickson. Bill has performed with Bob Haggart, Bob Crosby, Johnny Varro, Dick Cary, Abe Most, Nick Fatool, Bob Draga and others, and is highly regarded as a banjoist, trombonist and very funny master of ceremonies. Bill’s home page is found at S & B Productions. The band “The Muscat Ramblers” consists of: Bob Sakoi, trumpet Bob Williams, trombone Shelley Denny, bass Bill Dendle, guitar and banjo Shelley Burns, drums and vocal
October 6, 2013
Featured: “The Big Surprise Jazz Band”
(with John Cocuzzi and Kristy (Reed) Cocuzzi)
There was some confusion with the band coming in October involving a double booking, so Cell Block Seven did not appear October 6th. However, we had a super replacement band. 
Because these changes happened so quickly, and the original band had already been announced through the club newsletter, this group that appeared on October 6th was a big surprise to those who came. The bad was called – – so apropos – – “The Big Surprise Jazz Band” (featuring John and Kristy Cocuzzi). Other players were all well-known musicians too. Kristy Cocuzzi is the former Kristy Reed who played for years with Big Tiny Little. One person she frequently plays with is Bonnie Otto ( of immense fame in the trad world) in a group called The Hot Flashes. Kristy Reed Music: vocals, woodwinds, live musical entertainment John Cocuzzi can be found just by going to Google and typing in his name, then going to the site for Wikipedia. You will see that his list of accomplishments is tremendous. It makes for very interesting reading. John Cocuzzi – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Typing in Kristy Reed, in Google, you will find out that she has performed with: • West MainStreet • Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra • Frankie Valli • Cab Calloway Orchestra • The Drifters • The Temptations • Russ Morgan Orchestra • Ralna English • as well as many others
September 1, 2013
Featured: Jammers! (2 rooms, all day)
We enjoyed an great afternoon of “Jamming” Two rooms. All day!
August 4, 2013
Featured: Art Bregante and his Orchestra
Art Bregante and his Orchestra brought great music to our ears with his captivating big band ensemble and sound. This was a rare and wonderful appearance by Art Bregante and his Orchestra as we enjoyed listening and dancing to the great Big Band sound at our San Joaquin Dixieland Jazz Society event! Band Personnel: George Rego – Tenor sax Andy Rosenblum – Alto sax, clarinet Emmett O’Sullivan – Tenor sax, clarinet Mike Rosenblum – Trumpet Mike Rosenblum, Jr. – Trumpet, flugelhorn Dick Lockwood – Baritone sax Larry Tyrell – Trombone Bill Sharp – String bass Milt Bowerman – Piano Stephen Douville – Drums Geri Eckert – Vocalist Art Bregante – Leader
July 7, 2013
Featured: Mission Gold Jazz Band
With a name inspired by the golden hills above Fremont’s Mission San Jose, Mission Gold Jazz Band is an eight piece, two cornet band consisting of a variety of multi-talented musicians from all over the Bay Area.
MGJB was formed in 1980 and has a long tradition of performing the music of Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Lu Watters and Turk Murphy. The band plays standards and more common tunes in the swing genre. The main goal is to please the dancers, strutters, and jazz listeners.
Mission Gold Jazz Band offers a variety of Dixieland styles, including Marches, Blues, Ragtime and Stomps. We encourage audience participation during tunes reminiscent of the cakewalk, parasol strutting and to raise their voices to sing along with the band.
Mission Gold Jazz Band website: www.jazzdance.org/MissionGold
June 2, 2013
Featured: The Flying Eagles
The Flying Eagles Jazz Band was formed at the Sacramento Trad Jazz Adult Camp in 2010. While this band is the “new kid on the block,” the band plays as if they have been together for years! The style runs the gamut of Traditional Jazz styles, from the Original Dixieland Jazz Band to King Oliver, Fats Waller to a more modern-style Dixieland made famous by Kenny Ball. The band also plays slow blues favorites, up-tempo Dixieland classics, 1930s – 1940s popular swing, and even popular tunes. Regardless of your musical taste, this band guarantees to keep the audience dancing and their toes tapping. John Tanko (reeds) is the leader; Jim Broadstreet (trumpet) and Bill Badstubner (trombone) fill out the “front line”; Bob Ressue (piano), Jeff Green (banjo and guitar), Gerry Turner (bass), and Jim Laveroni (drums) set down the driving rhythm; Darby Tanko is the featured vocalist.
May 5, 2013
Featured: Cell Block 7
CELL BLOCK SEVEN is a California jazz band favoring the West Coast traditional jazz sound of Lu Watters, Turk Murphy and the Bay City Jazz Band of 
the ’50s in a classic jazz lineup led by two cornets. Their many festivals, tours, and concert successes are a direct result of their very professional approach coupled with a great sound and an extensive and varied repertoire. As with most bands, the lineup has changed somewhat over the years, but most of the present team have been together for ten years or more. Cell Block Seven is a very versatile and entertaining band. By doubling their talents on the three double bell euphoniums, Cell Block Seven is able to produce some very different sounds — from fast, exciting trios to smooth and mellow blues, and exciting marches!
Inmate Personnel:
BOB ROMANS – LEADER, CORNET, DBL BELL EUPHONIUM BOB SAKOI – CORNET, DBL BELL EUPHONIUM PETE MAIN – CLARINET, DUCK CALL, SAX JIM MAIHACK – TROMBONE, DBL BELL EUPHONIUM, VOCALS TOM DOWNS – TUBA JACK CONVERY – BANJO, VOCALS DARYL HOSICK – PIANO COLEMAN SHOLL – DRUMS
For more information on the band and players, visit Cell Block Seven’s website.
April 7, 2013
Featured: Mix & Match
In April, the guest band was Mix and Match. Part of the band was the youthful, exuberant, and extremely talented musicians consisting of members of their own group, The Replacements, from Sacramento, California. The personnel: Tim Kreis (Tenor Sax, leader), Matthew Seno ( Piano), Dexter Williams (Bass), Drummer (TBA). Joining Tim Kries on the front line was a couple of “senior” musicians, Bob Williams (Trombone, and father of the bass player), and Bill Sharp (Trumpet). Adding any 3 of the youth members ages almost totals the age of either of the senior members.
The Replacements are a product of the youth education program sponsored by the STJS and supported by SJDJS. They teamed up after playing together at the Sacramento Jazz Camp. These guys are still high school students in the greater Sacramento area, coming up through the ranks of local youth trad jazz bands. Each performer was also selected as a youth all-star at the 2012 Sacramento Music Festival; listening to these youngsters play is a real treat.
March 3, 2013
Featured: Jammers – all day!
February 3, 2013
Featured: Bill Dendle and “The Muscat Ramblers”
Bill Dendle began playing banjo in 1963, and by 1967 was appearing at Mickie Finn’s in San Diego as leader of the South Market Street Jazz Band, which also appeared at Disneyland and on USO tours. In 1968, Bill took over the job of lead banjoist at Capone’s Warehouse in Monterey, where he appeared off and on for the next nine years. 1977 found Bill as an entertainment consultant, banjoist, trombonist, band leader and entertainer at Florida’s Disneyworld, where he opened the Empress Lilly Showboat. Bugs and humidity sent Bill back to San Diego in late 1977 to revive the South Market Street Jazz Band, which became a popular fixture at Dixieland Jazz Festivals throughout the United States.
From 1982 on, Bill appeared as one-half of the duo called Goodtime Banjos at banjo concerts, jazz festivals, conventions and private parties until 1995. Bill is currently director of three jazz camp programs, two in Sacramento (youth and adult), and one in Mammoth Lakes. He plays trombone, guitar and banjo in Shelley Burns & Avalon Swing, a popular Sacramento jazz, show and dance band, and appears at jazz festivals, parties, conventions and shows with his wife, the talented vocalist/entertainer Shelley Burns, and Fast Eddie Erickson.
Bill has performed with Bob Haggart, Bob Crosby, Johnny Varro, Dick Cary, Abe Most, Nick Fatool, Bob Draga and others, and is highly regarded as a banjoist, trombonist and very funny master of ceremonies. Bill’s home page is found at S & B Productions.
The band “The Muscat Ramblers” consists of: Bob Sakoi, trumpet Bob Williams, trombone Shelley Denny, bass Bill Dendle, guitar and banjo Shelley Burns, drums and vocal
January 6, 2013
Featured: AA-Gents (Double Agents)
The quality of January’s guest band will be more than just grade “A” – – It is “Double A”. Several of the performers have never been seen at any traditional Jazz club anywhere, previous to their appearance at the San Joaquin Dixieland Jazz Society, though they may have been lurking in disguise. Up until now their identities have been kept in secret files, and until this appearance they have only ventured forth in disguises to perform in public.
These secretive double agents, who were discovered and contacted through underground methods, will perform for the very first time, sans disguises, at our very own San Joaquin Dixieland Jazz society meeting on January 6th, and will really kick off the new year with excitement through their blend of music. They are all very jumpy and cautious about appearing without their disguises, so please do not ask them any personal questions, like age, weight, or height. Though you may guess at those individual characteristics, keep your thoughts to yourself, and don’t even discuss it with other jazz club members. These double agents have requested that the Elks Lodge be bugged to detect such wayward conversations, and if you are detected doing so, then when you arrive back home you will find yourself in a relocation program.
No photo is available. They have never, since birth, been photographed. They do not even have photos on their drivers’ licenses. None have fingerprints.
So here are the names of the agents you will hearing: (the first 4 are the ones never heard before on any trad stage). Cities have been coded, as not to reveal their actual location. (with beginning letter still capitalized, and all within 60 miles)
Mark Gee (piano) Tom Renner (multiple reeds) Mike Hall (bass) Dave Peters (drums) Brandon Au (trombone) Bill Sharp (trumpet)