[Tradjazz] Tom Sharpsteen -- My Sin

[Don Robertson]

A few nights ago on the OKOM session (I think from 03 or 04) Bruce 
played a song "My Sin".  I immediately recognized it being by Tom 
Sharpsteen's Orlandos.  He talked about it later and mentioned the 
members of the band.  Several are active here in the bay area.

The interesting thing however is that Tom Sharpsteen was with the
Firehouse Five and recorded on two 45 RPM singles, "Floatin' Down that 
Old Green River" and "When You Wore a Tulip".  I think he was just 
before George Probert came on the scene.  Tom played a kind of George 
Lewis style, and had a weird French or Italian clarinet with a turned up
bell.  He was originally from the Napa Valley, but was living in a town
called Orland over in the Central Valley (I've been told that the name
of the town has nothing to do with the band name "Orlandos").  We had
his band here at Napa a couple times since I came here in 1999.  I met
him in Fresno when he was playing reeds with Clint Baker's New Orleans
Band.  He seemed delighted that I remembered his time with the FHF, he
immediately opened his attache case and presented me with a CD of his
Orlandos, which has "My Sin" among others, and the same personnel Bruce
mentioned from I think he said a cassette.  Sadly, Tom left us late
last year 2006.  I think he was pushing 90.

Of those sidemen Robert Young plays reeds and trumpet with several local
bands.  Glenn Calkins plays trombone with Devil Mountain and Ted
Shafer's Jelly Roll JB.  He was with a Southern California band Golden
Eagle for many years before moving to Sebastopol here in Northern CA, a
few years ago.  Glenn also plays string bass.  Clint Baker who is
30 something. plays EVERYTHING.  Like John Gill he plays banjo, trombone 
and drums.  Plus he plays cornet, reeds and tuba.  He leads several 
bands around here.

Cheers,

Don Robertson
Napa, CA