Marvin Hart's Dixie Six
The nucleus of the band--both in personnel and its collection
of music--began with Marvin Hart's Dixie Six (photo from a
5/25/79 KC Times review). That band took life at Costello's
Greenhouse (Kansas City, MO) in early 1979 on Monday nights.
First night musicians: Don Carlton-cornet, Marvin
Hart-trombone, Larry Kendzora-clarinet, Terry Hughes-drums,
Tom Hook-banjo, Steve Patke-bass sax.
Bill Stroder's Riverside Jazz Band
In 1980 most of the band moved to the Flamingo Lounge on
Sunday nights with Tom Hook as leader. But after only a short
time there Bill Stroder hired most of the bandmembers into his
Riverside Jazz Band at the Bristol Bar & Grill on the Plaza.
Original Bristol band members (Riverside Jazz Band): Don
Carlton-cornet, Tom Hook-trombone (no, that's not a
misprint!), Lynn Zimmer-clarinet, Kent Rausch-drums, Bill
Stroder-banjo, Paul Rodabaugh-tuba. Bill left the band a few
months later, taking the Riverside name and music with him.
THE NEW RED ONION JAZZ BABIES
At this point, Don Carlton became leader, Tom Hook moved back
to banjo, Marvin Hart came in on trombone, and few months
later a seventh member--Walter Bryant on piano--was added. But
the band needed a new name. Tom and Don came up with the New
Red Onion Jazz Babies, and the members agreed. We liked the
sound of the name and the stature of the 1920's band, and
since those original players only recorded a few numbers under
that name, we figured there was a lot of mileage left in it
(at the time we were unaware of at least two other "Red Onion
Jazz Babies" bands over the years, one in New York and another
in Australia). We added "new" to the name out of respect for
the originals anyway.
So the original "New" Red Onion Jazz
Babies were Don Carlton-cornet, Marvin Hart-trombone, Lynn
Zimmer-clarinet, Kent Rausch-drums, Tom Hook-banjo, Paul
Rodabaugh-tuba, and--a short time later--Walter Bryant-piano.
But Lynn soon left to join Turk Murphy in San Francisco, and
Steve Patke took his place on clarinet. In later years Peter
Kersten came in on banjo, Dan Strom on trombone, and Bram
Wijnands on piano. We were also privileged to frequently have
Ray Ehrhart on piano during the 80's--while he was in his
80's! Our every-Sunday run at the Bristol lasted 15 years.
There were also smaller group runs in Westport and elsewhere.
Following the Bristol we had shorter turns at
Milano's
in Crown Center and at Jardine's on the Plaza. In 2004 we
returned to
Jardine's,
and play there at least two Sundays a month.
In 1987 the Cedar Falls, Iowa Dixieland Festival invited us,
and we've played festivals around the country every year since
then.
Tragically we lost our leader Don Carlton in 2002, who in
addition to leading the Jazz Babies for over 20 years, was the
only musician that was always the regular in all the Kansas
City bands listed above. For the prior 30 years he was THE
cornetist to get in the KC area for trad jazz. A trooper from
way back (with Tiny Hill, Wayne King, Bob Crosby, Ted Weems,
and many other bands), he almost never took a day off from a
Jazz Baby gig except during deer-hunting season. We miss the
heck out of Shotgun--he was a good friend, a lot of fun, and
played his a** off when he picked up a cornet.
We continue to play with new cornetist Barry Springer. The
band is definitely carrying on, and Barry is playing great!
Present Personnel:
Barry Springer, cornet
Steve Patke, clarinet/soprano sax
Dan Strom, trombone
Walter Bryant, piano/tenor horn
Kent Rausch, drums
Peter Kersten, banjo/tenor guitar
Paul Rodabaugh, tuba
MUSIC
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