"Alcoholic blues" - Dennis Elder, Hot Five Jazzmakers

The date is February 16th 2002 and the scene is another Saturday matinee at "C'est what?" iin Downtown Toronto. Sitting in on drums with the Hot Five Jazzmakers was one of the great characters and New Orleans stylists on the Toronto jazz scene. It is the late Dennis Elder, who was the leader and founder of the Silverleaf jazz band. He sings one of his favourite songs - "The Alcoholic Blues".
The Hot Five regulars at the session were Janet Shaw - reeds; Colin Bray - bass; Reide Kaiser - piano; Rainer Hunck - banjo, Brian Towers - trombonist/leader and on trumpet is Andrej Saradin, who had not been with the band long at that time. Visiting Brit' Steve Mellor is guesting on clarinet.




Dennis died on April 23 2002, barely two months after this film clip. It is wonderful to see him in such fine form, so near the end of his life. Thanks to Marjetta for having her video camera along and capturing such a memorable occasion.
Also available on youtube are two other tracks from this session, with Dennis on drums "Curse of an Aching Heart" and "Linger A While"

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classic
• traditional
• jazz;
• dixieland

[cary56248]

dennis and i shared a house on lippincot st. back in the day...would be great to hear from him...caryvokes@gmail.com

[degletnoor]

I've got this prohibition lament song on an old player piano roll. Great to hear somebody besides myself sing it, but this group is quite seective on they lyrics they've choosen.

[Squarerig]

As everything played by this band,so is this number terrific.One of the truly great JAZZbands.

[ilbofilms]

Good to see Dennis

Bob