“Thornton Boulevard Irregulars”
Chris Williams & Bill Dendle
DECEMBER 4, 2022
Thornton Boulevard Irregulars
The December session of the San Joaquin Dixieland Jazz Society will be one to remember.
The Irregulars will play a variety of music ranging from the earliest Traditional Jazz through the Swing Era, into the Great American Songbook and we may even throw in a few Show Tunes (Tomorrow, tomorrow, make up a play list tomorrow … )
I have assembled a Quintet of All-Star musicians who will be sure to knock your socks off. So bring an extra pair of socks. Leading this gaggle will be –
Chris Williams – Cornet – noted horn player and purveyor of Dad Jokes. Chris’s primary talents are procrastination, esoteric playlists and surrounding himself with musicians who are better than he is. An example of which is –
Bob Williams – Trombone – no relation (to me at least … I’m sure he’s related to somebody) Bob has a storied history of playing in too many bands to count, such as: The Pub Crawlers, Stealin’ Dan, Fulton Street Jazz Band, the Brass Nickels. Bob also sings, directs The New Traditionalists (TNT) and his sense of humor is even dryer than mine. That means we need –
Otis Morning – Reeds – who doesn’t tell jokes. All he does is play every woodwind known to Western Civilization – Fabulously! His clarinet provides the perfect counter melody to any lead player. His tenor saxophone styling is a first call for local recording artists. Otis’ bass clarinet can make women swoon. Add Soprano and Alto saxophones and maybe a flute and you have a musician full of surprises. Speaking of surprises –
Bill Dendle – banjo & guitar – What can I say about the legendary Bill Dendle? (I’m not going to talk about his jokes). This is his 59th year playing banjo, including gigs at both Disney Land and World. A complete list of all the groups he’s led would overload your computer. A true virtuoso, Bill is one of the four best banjo players west of the Pecos River. His routines with fellow banjoist Eddie Erickson are anything but routine. Bill has directed the Teagarden Jazz Camp for four decades and started several generations of jazz musicians on lifetimes of music. Bill often plays with –
Shelly Denny – bass – If you call Shelley a freelance musician and teacher with broad experience you are making perhaps the understatement of the year. He has played it all – ballet and big band, musical theatre and modern jazz. He has played with Stan Kenton, Sinatra and the Supremes. We are fortunate to have his foundation. He is particularly fond of –
Trudy Currier – vocals – who finds the most esoteric songs to sing. Everybody knows Trudy – she has lived her whole life in Sacramento, and knows somebody wherever she goes. Trudy has her own walk-up song. I’m so jealous … she even has her own theme song.
“The Jam-a-Roo Jammers”
Jams all Day
NOVEMBER 6, 2022
“Jam-a-Roo Jammers” Day will be a day filled with “Jammer” fun! Come join us for great music and a fun-filled day!
Players will come from 
all over – including Sacramento, Modesto, Stockton. Don’t be shy… musicians are welcome at SJDJS!
Here are some photos of one of our past Jam-a-Room Jammers Day – which was fun for all!
Join us!
“The Chris Bradley
Traditional Jazz Band”
OCTOBER 2, 2022
“The Chris Bradley Traditional Jazz Band” is a group of well-known musicians from the entire bay area – entertaining all ages with real traditional jazz.
The band plays music from New Orleans as well as music from the 1920’s and 1930’s. (Truly Happy music for today’s and yesterday’s jazz fans.)
At times the band gives the audience a “taste” of Barbary Coast music which originated in San Francisco. Come hear the music play!
“The Jam-a-Roo Jammers”
Jams all Day
SEPTEMBER 4, 2022
“Jam-a-Roo Jammers” Day will be a day filled with “Jammer” fun! Come join us for great music and a fun-filled day!
Players will come from all over – including Sacramento, Modesto, Stockton. Don’t be shy… musicians are welcome at SJDJS!
Here are some photos of one of our past Jam-a-Room Jammers Day – which was fun for all!
Join us!
“Jambalaya Swing Band”
August 7, 2022
The Jambalaya Swing Band patterns itself from the great Bob Crosby and The Bobcats Orchestra. The Instrumentation is 4 Saxophones; 3 trumpets; 1 trombone; piano; bass; and drums. The Crosby Orchestra consisted of one additional trombone. Large dance bands of Jan Garber, Dick Jurgens, Sammy Kaye, Russ Morgan, to name a few the 1930’s and 40’s bands, generally consisted of 10-14 players.
Crosby started in 1935, but didn’t become a “hit” band until he released “Big Noise From Winnetka” and additional “Dixie” selections in 1938. His Instrumentation was centered around a “Dixie” front line or the Piano of Joe Sullivan. Bob fronted the band well into the 1980’s and always was a big draw at The Carnation Stage, and The Plaza Gardens Stage at Disneyland.
Jambalaya’s players:
Saxophones and Clarinets: Rich Lesnik, Stuart Yasaki, Mike Kenney, Bruce Saxton
Trombone: Ron Wetzel
Trumpets: Mack Horton, Noel Weidcamp, Ken Brock
Piano: Rich Owens
Bass: Julianne George
Drums: Ed Margolin
The San Joaquin Dixieland Jazz Society
Session which was scheduled for
Sunday, JULY 3, 2022
Has been canceled!
We will resume our monthly sessions on
Sunday, August 7, 2022
with THE JAMBALAYA SWING Big Band
SJDJS wishes you all a Happy and Safe
Independence Day Holiday Weekend
Cell Block Seven Jazz Band
JUNE 5, 2022
Best watch out, the “boys” have escaped again…
Disguised as musicians and armed with a weird collection of antique musical instruments, our favorite cons are breaking into the San Joaquin Dixieland Jazz Club once more to pull off another caper.
Cell Block 7, with its two trumpet front line, has been ganged up since 1981, and is devoted to the West Coast Revival Style of Lu Watters, Turk Murphy, and the Bay City Jazz Band. Other known musical aliases of this talented bunch feature forays into great low brass harmony with a trio of three double bell euphoniums, as well as spirited renditions of classic and novelty tunes, wondrous banjo solos, and romping ragtime piano solos!
While our “musical delinquents” continue to evade the authorities, we hope you’ll be captured by their unique brand of hot jazz and general disregard of acceptable behavior.
The Midnight Rose Jazz Band
MAY 1, 2022
Exciting — Hilarious — Energetic — Spontaneous — Entertaining
The Midnight Rose Jazz Band has been described as exciting, hilarious, energetic, spontaneous and entertaining, among other things.
“The band has a unique combination of qualities and personalities that captivates audiences wherever they go,” the spokesman said.
For nearly 30 years, the band has performed at jazz festivals and clubs all up and down the West Coast.
“We have always tried to play high-quality music, but equally important to us is having fun, and we work hard to make sure that our audiences do also, to leave our performances with a happier heart and a lighter step,” said Dannie Balser-Singinghawk, the band’s leader.
“We have never tried to sound like any particular band or ‘style,’” he added. “We are well rehearsed, but our arrangements are loose enough to allow for spontaneity … and, of course, fun.”
Balser-Singinghawk, who plays trumpet and is the vocalist, formed the Midnight Rose Jazz Band in the spring of 1990.
Other band members include Nancy Kreis on clarinet; Bonnie Otto, pianist and vocalist; Dave Johnson trombone and vocals; Jan Buhlert, banjo player and guitarist; Reuben Smith, tuba; and Bob Stover, drums.
The San Francisco Feetwarmers
Jazz Band
APRIL 3, 2022
Legendary Bay Area musicians playing joyful classic jazz from the foot- stomping roaring twenties. Top draw music for parties, weddings, festivals, jazz clubs, faculty clubs, fund raisers, dances, business events, street fairs…
This fine band has been featured at the Sacramento Jubilee, the Fairmont on Nob Hill and has had a long residency at the historic Baltic Restaurant in Point Richmond.
Formed in 1993, they are the hot band to hear at jazz festivals and clubs all over the Golden State. Their repertoire spans the wonderful music of Morton, King Oliver, Bechet, Armstrong, Fats Waller and early Ellington. The San Francisco Feetwarmers will get your toes tapping, put a smile on your face and their driving four beat rhythm will get you dancing to all your Dixieland and New Orleans favorites.
San Francisco Feetwarmers….that’s an unusual name? Not when you recall the great Sidney Bechet’s New Orleans Feetwarmers and Duke Ellington’s Harlem Feetwarmers. It is the perfect name for a band known for playing classic jazz with a touch of class.
Click here for more information about the San Francisco Feetwarmers Jazz Band
“The Hobnobbers”
MARCH 6, 2022
The Hobnobbers are a group of five highly-trained musicians specializing in Dixieland/Traditional Jazz music. This versatile group will posses a laid back style but will, on occasion, rip off a fiery chorus or two to keep the audience and band members honest!
Some regard the instrumentation as a very pure jazz sound, simplistic, but expertly played as it is very close to the instrumentation of Louis Armstrong’s Hot 5 group from the 1920’s. The only difference from the Hot 5 is a bass player in place of a pianist. The music is both to be listened to and is quite danceable.
Band Personnel:
Bill Sharp – Trumpet / Vocals, Leader
Otis Mourning – Woodwinds
Carl Kaiser – Trombone
Bill Dendle – Banjo / Vocals
Darrell Fernandez – Bass
“The Jam-a-Roo Jammers”
Jams all Day
FEBRUARY 6, 2022
“Jam-a-Roo Jammers” Day will be a day filled with “Jammer” fun! Come join us for great music and a fun-filled day!
Players will come from all over – including Sacramento, Modesto, Stockton. Don’t be shy… musicians are welcome at SJDJS!
Here are some photos of one of our past Jam-a-Room Jammers Day – which was fun for all!
Join us!
“THE SILICON GULCH JAZZ BAND”
SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 2022
12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.
The Silicon Gulch Jazz Band
The Silicon Gulch Jazz Band was founded by Joe Bithell in 1982. Soon after the band found a home playing every Tuesday night in San Mateo at the Swingin’ Door (formerly the Prince of Wales Pub). They have also appeared at the Sacramento Jazz Festival and numerous events in the area.
The band plays a wide variety of music but specializes in early jazz and swing. The band is perfect for any occasion.
The Band:
Dave Kawamoto, Reeds
John Dodgshon, Cornet
Jon Schermer, Trombone
Joyce Taylor, Banjo
Andy Norblin, Guitar
Martin Thoolen, Bass