JIM SYOEN - email Jim here--->     

The first set featured a rousing "Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey?" sung by Schroeder, and played with rhythmic bounce by Syoen on tuba and O'Brien on banjo. In contrast, the group played "Cabaret" smoothly at first, and then improvised a fun version.

The group gave a similar treatment to the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," first performing in march tempo, then switching to the jazz idiom, while each musician soloed. After they drew applause, the group played a pretty ballad, "If I Had You," followed by a Dixieland arrangement of "That's a Plenty," Jackie Gleason's theme song, to end the first set.

The break may have done the musicians some good because they came back with enthusiasm to perform "Wolverine Blues," with a driving banjo, a bouncing bass tuba and a clarinet ebullient with joy. The band kept up the fast pace in the next song, which had the name of the river changed in the title to "Flowing Down the Peace River."

A tune was requested by a member of the audience, "Muskrat Ramble," and the band slowed up a bit, but came back in good form with "Butter Beans and Collard Greens in New Orleans." This last featured a gravelly voiced Schroeder singing the words with soul.

A highlight, "St. James Infirmary," featured touching vocals by Schroeder and a moving tuba solo by Syoen. Listening to a beautifully sad tuba melody such as this one, was amazing. O'Brien displayed his awesome banjo and singing talents in a nostalgic medley, which included "Has Anybody Seen My Gal?" "Ma, She's Making Eyes at Me," "Somebody Stole My Gal" and "Ain't She Sweet?"

The next selection was probably the best one of the evening. The band played "Basin St. Blues" with attitude -- a struttin' clarinet, a jivin' banjo and a cavorting tuba.

"Tiger Rag" wound up the second set. Syoen made his tuba roar like a ferocious tiger, and Schroeder and O'Brien coordinated to build their tempo, originally restrained, up to a velocity finish. The crowd showed their appreciation with applause.