HUNTINGTON – The Dixieland Stomp performed to a packed house at The Historic North Hall on 40 Searle Road in Huntington on Sunday afternoon. The group, comprised of trombonist Gene Bartley, clarinetist Ed Mari, banjo player Zack Danziger, tuba player Brendon Taylor, trumpet player Geoffrey Cunningham and led by trombonist David Neill had the 1795 schoolhouse rocking with blues, ragtime, cakewalks and New Orleans jazz.
Dixie Stomp, let by David Neill (left) of Premier Entertainment played jazz, blues and ragtime at Historic North Hall in Huntington Sunday.
Neil introduced each song’s composer and history before each offering. For example, he explained that “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” was often performed starting as a slow dirge following funeral processions in New Orleans, and then the tempo picks up for the party to follow.
For some of the faster songs, Neill let the professional musicians, which he did not include himself among, handle the pace while he played washboard percussion, such as on “Mustrat Ramble,” made famous by Louis Armstrong and the Hot Five.
Neil may be as he describes himself a semi-retired insurance agent, but looking forward to his retirement he began forming bands eight years ago. He now leads ten groups with which he performs, ranging from the classical Fanfare Brass and the Victorian Quadrille Orchestra, which has performed with the Small Planet Dancers of Westfield; to the Ragtime Five and Premier Swing Band, to the Windjammer Circus Band, which plays the more familiar circus tunes. Neill draws on music teachers and professors and working musicians from around the region for his performances. More about his groups may be found online at www.PremierEntertains.com.
The program at North Hall included an intermission with refreshments in the gallery displaying the art work of Janet Longe Sadler, a member of the North Hall Association who passed away this winter.
At the end of the 14-song performance, the band received an ovation and request for an encore, and ended with an improvised version of “When the Saints Go Marching In,” led by Cunningham on trumpet.
The Historic North Hall is one of the two oldest buildings in Huntington. Used as a school from 1795 through 1934, the beams of the original schoolhouse are still easily seen in the artist gallery and reception room. By 1900, the North Hall Association was formed to use the North Hall for community functions.
Upcoming shows in North Hall’s 2017 Arts Festival, which help to pay for ongoing restoration of the building, include a free staged reading of Dylan Thomas’ “Under Milk Wood,” director by Mitch Giannunzio and performed by Ellen Barry, Margery Shaw, Kenneth Tigar and more on Sunday, June 25 at 2 p.m.
On Sunday, July 2 at 2 p.m. legendary saxophone player and Huntington resident Charles Neville will perform with The New England Nevilles, which include his two sons on keyboard and drums, and bass player Shido Hiroyuke. Tickets are $10 at the door, free for students.
Two free Open Mic Music Jams will be held this summer on Friday, July 7 at 7 p.m. and on Friday, August 4 at 7 p.m. All instruments and styles are welcome, as is the public.
On Sunday, July 19 at 2 p.m. a performance of Baroque (and More) Musical Delights will perform works of Telemann, Bach and others on historical instruments of flute, viola da Gamba, harpsicord. The concert is $15 at the door, and free to students.
July ends with a performance by Monica Jakuc Leverett on grand and toy piano, performing works by Kaeza Fearn (Day in the Life of Toy Piano), Claude Debussy, Octavio Pinto and others. Tickets are $15 at the door.
Performances continue through August and September, including the Latin and World music of José González & Sons and a staged reading of A. R. Gurney’s play Love Letters, the jazz/swing of Noble & Sparkman and the traditional end of season party with the Old Country Road Band. . A complete listing of the Historic North Hall 2017 Arts Festival may be found online at www.northhallhuntington.org or like them on Facebook at Historic North Hall.
