[Tradjazz] Groundhog Band

[Bruce McNichols]

On Monday, 2/4/08 Bruce Gast presented Herb Gardner's Underground All Stars (Groundhog Band) at the Bickford Theatre of the Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ.  A full house enjoyed an evening of fun and solid traditional jazz.

Some years ago, Herb composed The Groundhog Song.  According to Herb "Irving Berlin got all the good holidays."  The song led to the formation of the band and a series of concerts for Bruce Gast's events.

On Monday, the band consisted of Herb (trombone & piano), his daughter Abbie (vocals), Dan Leivinson (reeds), Chicken Joe (tuba & string bass), Me (banjo & guitar) and Fred Vigorito (cornet).  In the past we've sometimes had Randy Reinhart and sometimes Jon-Erik Kellso on cornet.  Those are two of the finest players around.  This time, Freddy blew even them, away.  He's the hottest horn man I know.

Lots more events coming up.  Check 'em out.

Bruce Gast   tekhouse at aol.com
Galvanized Jazz Band - Fred Vigorito   www.galvanizedjazz.com