The gig at the Belcourt Castle in Newport, RI was fantastic - What a fine time we had!
Here's a little viddy you will enjoy... Roger Ceresi's Loaded Dice AllStars, Boarding House Reach, Ancient Order of Hibernians Pipes and Drums party it down at the Belcourt Castle on Bellevue Ave in Newport, RI. Need I say more? I didn't think so! (I think it was a full moon, too)...
The traditional Irish band "Boarding House Reach" played at the Shamrock Ball held at Belcourt Castle in Newport, RI on April 19, 2008.
Our very own Fantastic Irish-American Drummer Joey Sullivan "osuillabhain" singing Roll Over Beethoven with Loaded Dice (aka Roger Ceresi's Loaded All Starz) at the Music Lady in Moosup, CT on April 5, 2008. Loaded Dice on this evening was John A/Carl Q/Barry F on Tpt/Bone/Saxes respectively, with Joey (drums/vocal), Papa Dick Souza (bass), Steve Burke (keys), and Rob Nelson (guitar). Some of our mostest favoritest dancers showed up that night!
Playing "24 Hours A Day" with Duke Robillard (guitar, vocals) and Doug 'Mr Low' James (sax) at Muddys Club in Weinheim, Germany, on March 17th was great fun. Mark Teixeira (drums), Bruce Bears (keys) and Jon Ross (bass) rounded out the band. Duke is one of the greatest bluesmen in the world, but I'm biased... and so is everyone else who's heard him, by the way. Here is a short clip from that gig, taken by my friend Peter Volk. I also would like to thank our host Klaus Gassmann of the great German soul band Soul Finger for his generous hospitality, including a very fine meal we will NEVER forget! NOTE: I have recently improved the bit-rate for this video, and posted another Duke Robillard video "Swinging with Lucy Mae" on my youtube site.
Here is proof I'm in Germany... Today, my friends Peter Volk, Mike Gearan (videographer on this clip), and I went to visit Hohenzollern Castle,
home of Kaiser Wilhelm and his family in the foothills of the Swabian Alps in Germany.
This historic and iconic Castle, and Germany as a whole, is a beautiful place which richly deserved a tribute before we left!
Here is the Wikipedia entry for the song, if you want to know why I played it
My band "The Movers" in 1995 won what is now called the International Blues Challenge. This website was built for that band, hence the bluesmovers.com name. We opened the Handy Awards In Memphis, TN on May 2, 1996. It was a great priviledge to play that and the "after-party" at B.B. King's on Beale Street with everybody (Ronnie Earl, Toni Lynn Washington, Bob Margolin, Luther Allison). Here's a fun (but technically rough ... old VHS tape) video of me with The Movers at the awards show ... followed by an interview with myself, Kemp Dunn (drums) and "Chili" Mike Davis (guitar). This was done by LCH Roberson and Curtis Lee of Buffalo, NY. Curtis is on WUFO-AM out of Buffalo these days, 1-5pm Saturday. They have "Listen LIVE", so check him out!
Jim Shaw, my dear friend and former housemate passed away on February 8, 2008, unexpectedly. There are a lot of hurting people right now who were deeply touched by this guy. This is original music he wrote (and the first performance), which we played at the Hatch Shell in 1992. I was the flugelhorn player.
Sad News, trumpeter Bob Enos, known to his friends as "Bubba" or "Big Guy", of the great Roomful of Blues band passed away January 11, 2008. I got a call from Ephraim about it and all of us are quite upset and shaken by this terrible loss. Our prayers and sympathy go out to his family and all of his friends around the world. Here is a link to the band's
Myspace page, as well as their
official website.
"Lawdy Miss Clawdy" from Roger Ceresi's Loaded Dice AllStars, Leominster Eagles Swing Dance (Dance2Swing.com), Dec 30, 2007
"Lil Dog" from Roger Ceresi's Loaded Dice AllStars, Leominster Eagles Swing Dance (Dance2Swing.com), Dec 30, 2007
Jamming on a simplified "Walk In The Water" from the Acton Jazz Cafe's Thursday night Blues Jam with BJ Magoon, Jan 3, 2008
"Back To Memphis" from the West Hartford Town Hall Swing Dance, Dec 7, 2007 (Thanks to Tory for the camera work!)
"Hello Josephine" from the Cape Verdean Club Dance, May 22, 2007.
"Love Struck" straight off the TV!
Danny Vitale and Loaded Dice, Beverly Homecoming, Lynch Park, August, 2005.
The New Live at The Narragansett Cafe CD is OUT!
You can buy this GREAT LIVE CD,
"Come On, Let's Boogie" on Trombonist/Producer Carl Querfurth's website,
as well as other rare and wonderful offerings.
Major credit cards and Paypal are accepted.
Two events held for the
Florence Roche PTA succeeded in paying for a great playground for the Groton Elementary School. We thank all the musicians and friends which helped us out!
This past February 10th, the
"Sweet Sounds: An Evening of Jazz and Dessert"
event, featuring Jay Geils, Gerry Beaudoin, Billy Novick.
And, more recently, October 27th, the "Blacktop Blues Bash",
featuring "Monster" Mike Welch, Sugar Ray Norcia and the Bluetones, as well as
Roger Ceresi and the Loaded Dice AllStarz "Knock your socks off, leaving your shoes on your feet!" Orchestra.
We all loved doing the events, and everyone is better for it, especially the kids!
This is the stage at
The Sea Note, Nantasket Beach, Hull, MA
I dropped into the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley to see Roomful of Blues! Got more than I bargained for, and played all night!!! To top that off, I Just found out that I'm playing with Sugar Ray and The Bluetones Big Band!
Carl Querfurth, Greg Piccolo, Tommy Mahfood, and the Bluetones, at the Regattabar, Charles Hotel, Cambridge, MA - NEW YEARS EVE!
UPDATE: That went great, and we're doing a fund-raiser at the Arlington, MA for Breast Cancer at the Regent Theatre April 14th!
Me with Jim Belushi August 3, 2006 at The Black Rose WB56 Party! Jim just sent us some nice stuff for a fund-raiser auction you will hear about soon...
Here's a bluesmobile
welcome for gags... Click on the picture above for a different one.
Look very closely at this picture my dad took in the fifties of my Uncle John with his new Pink Cadillac. Behind it is my dad's 50 Rocket 88, and behind that is someone's 54 Olds .... The Bluesmobile is a 54 Olds! How cool is that?
Anyhow, back to music... I will be posting all gigs I get as a trumpet player on this site as they come in...
Music News
Roger counting the money trench loot in the plastic hallway,
after the gig on Friday the 13th, in October 2006 at Okies!
You'll notice lots of gigs with
Roger Ceresi... this guy can hustle up the work, I'll tell you... Lot of energy
with this fella...
That night I saw a HUGE COBALT BLUE FIREBALL METEOR on Route 4 at about 2:20 am (Saturday morning October 14, 2006). What a sight that was. Sorry, didn't get a picture it happened too fast, but I wonder if anyone else saw it. I was in the queue for "Coast to Coast AM with George Noori", but my cellphone kept crapping out. Did anyone else see the BLUE METEOR?
In March, 2004, I had the priviledge of subbing on trumpet for Bob Enos of Roomful of Blues for a few gigs... What an experience, meeting everyone... 'cept Bob ... we met before..
years ago. Real nice bunch, friendly atmosphere. And this band still swings,
kicked my a__ to get to be with 'em.
December 9, 2006, after being "double-booked"...a very special event every real musician has experienced, I decided to go out to see Roomful of Blues at the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley, MA. Being a "make lemonade out a lemons kind of guy", I got more than just on the bandlist... ended up working the whole night with them!
That was awesome, and something I always wished I could do... trumpet players don't get to play in a kick-ass jump blues band together very often... much less the best little big band in America!!!
Getting to play with Bob "Bubba" Enos on his gig, the great "roomful", is a night I will never ever forget.
And look at the fan club this man has!!!
Here's us warming up before the gig in the "green room"... Thanks to Ron Rice for the pictures...
Looking back at my past days, I worked with K.D. Bell from 2000 through 2004, mostly with his New England band. Two guys from K.D. Bell's band are in Roomful today, Ephraim Lowell (drums) and Travis Colby (keyboards). I tell you the truth, we all ARE related!
My friend from the Hot Tamales, Scott Shetler did the horn
arranging for his CD, and I have to say he did a real bang-up job, I'll tell
you! I work with him and Mickey in the Hot Tamales sometimes... Got to check out
his C'mon Man jazz organ trio, and sat in on a few
tunes. K.D. Bell was produced by
Bobby Keyes of Thrillionaire Records, one of the very greatest guitarists I have
ever heard!
One gig with K.D., in particular was an absolute blast!
It was called "Reel Blues Fest", associated with the Woods Hole Film Festival.
I was playing with K.D. Bell on a billing with Shirley Lewis, James Montgomery, and the great Johnny Winter! A great night with a sold-out house! Wow! It will be a forever cherished memory.
Sadly, "King Drummer" Frederick Bell left us in September of '04... You are sorely missed, old friend...
Back in 1995, while Danny Vitale was
fronting The Movers, he and the band were winners of the Battle Of The
Boston Blues Bands at Harpers Ferry, and then went on (I joined them at that point) to win The International
Blues Talent Competition, now called the International Blues Challenge, held by
the National Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee. They were invited to
perform at The W.C.Handy awards, also in Memphis. Lots of big shows followed
such as an industry party at B.B. King's, The Ultimate Rhythm And Blues Cruise
with Taj Majal, KoKo Taylor, James Harman and other greats.
"Vitale channels the timbre, if not the soul of Louis Jordan." Blue Revue Magazine, Where NYC Gets The Blues
Better yet, if you want a some good music, email me...
The schedule below will include whatever has come my way... Been to some jam
sessions... I like the Acton Jazz Cafe on Thursday w/BJ Magoon of Drivin' Sideways.
Please see my "Blues That Moves" schedule below for all the
various dates, as well as others.
Sunday, 1/28/2007,
Loaded Dice,
Swing Dance, Leominster Elks, North Main St, Leominster, MA
Playing with Jay Geils and Carl at the "Sweet Sounds" gig, Feb 10, 2007.
February 2007
Friday, 2/2/2007,
All Starz,
South County Tavern, Exeter, RI
Saturday, 2/3/2007,
All Starz,
Okies, Narragansett, RI
Saturday, 2/10/2007,
Sweet Sounds: An Evening of Jazz and Dessert,
Featuring Jay Geils, Gerry Beaudoin, Billy Novick and the Barry Singer Quartet,
Westford Regency Hotel, Westford, MA 7-10:30PM,
[details on Groton, MA website]
Friday, 2/16/2007,
All Starz,
Effin's, Smithfield, RI
Saturday, 3/24/2007,
Sugar Ray and the Bluetones Big Band,
Plain Ridge Race Track, Plainville, MA
Friday, 3/30/2007,
All Starz,
Effin's, Smithfield, RI
Mai Cramer
April 2007
Saturday, 4/14/2007,
Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson and Sugar Ray and The Bluetones Big Band,
Benefit for
The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, Regent Theatre, Arlington, MA, [7 pm]
$25 advance - $28 day of show
Saturday, 4/21/2007,
All Starz,
Okie's, 140 Point Judith Rd, Mariner Square, Narragansett, RI [9:30pm-1am] 401-789-5454
Saturday, 4/28/2007,
All Starz,
Swingin 88's BenefitDay One, (a Sexual Assault and Trauma Resource Center),
, Brightridge Club, East Providence, RI [tix $15, dinner 5-7 pm, band 8-11:30pm]
Playing with the "Little Big Band", Singapore (March 2007)
May 2007
Friday, 5/4/2007,
All Starz,
Bovies, East Providence, RI
Thursday, 6/21/2007,
Chris McDermott
Groton Memorial Park Bandstand, Groton, MA 7-9pm (behind the Library on Route 119)
Saturday, 6/23/2007,
All Starz,
Shiraz, Cranston, RI (formerly West End Cafe)
Saturday, 6/29/2007,
All Starz,
Shipwreck Tavern, Portsmouth, RI
Me with Sweet Willie D, Acton Jazz Cafe, Acton, MA (2007)
July 2007
Saturday, 7/14/2007,
All Starz,
Swing Waterfire, Sovereign Plaza, Providence, RI
Demos by a combination of Providence Swings, Brown University,
and Swingin' 88's dancers, with DJ Swing Daddy as MC, More INFO TBA
Thursday, 7/19/2007,
All Starz,
The Towers, Narragansett, RI
[CANCELLED] - Friday, 7/20/2007,
All Starz,
Shiraz, Cranston, RI - [CANCELLED] - (liked us, no money for bands right now)
Sunday 12/16/2007,
Loaded Dice All Starz,
Christmas Party and "Last Waltz" at The Narragansett Cafe, Jamestown, RI
Update: This event was effectiely cancelled due to inclement weather, but there is talk of re-scheduling the party for some time in January! Stayed tuned for the details.
The Narragansett Cafe, long time favorite gig for most bands in RI and beyond, is changing hands in January 2008.
This Sunday 12/16 at the Cafe will be the day to say thanks to Dan and Lynne for hosting so much great music and so many great people. Dan and Lynne are the greatest and they will be missed.
There will be live music at the Cafe from 4pm to midnight, with appearances by many of the bands that have been featured there for the past 20 years.
Sunday 12/30/2007,
Loaded Dice All Starz,
Swing Dance with Alan Hep 2 The Jive, EAGLES HALL, 456 LITCHFIELD ST., LEOMINSTER
[6pm lesson, 7pm dance]
Please note the change in location for the Swing Dance, as the ELKS HALL is updating the sprinkler system and currently under construction.
Directions are as follows: From Rt. 2 take Ex 33, that will put you on I-190 South toward Worcester. Take Ex 6 toward Leominster ,( which is Rt. 12 Central St ) go 3 miles and come to large Intersection, bear left at the Gas station onto Litchfield St. The Eagles will be on your right.
From Worcester follow above directions from I-190. to ex 6 toward Leominster.
We used this napkin from the Greatest Island Roadhouse I know for the cover of our LIVE CD! Do you have your copy yet?
(By the way, I think Tall Ships are ultra cool, my Grandma's Uncle was the world renowned Captain Ivar Haagerstrand - 38 trips around Cape Horn! That's a record which will stand forever)
[CANCELLED - This club may open at some point, stay tuned] Saturday 3/29/2008,
Loaded Dice All Starz,
Club Venue, Worcester, MA [near Mechanics Hall] - (508)791-BLUE (2583)
Here's the backup band at the the Belcourt Castle in Newport, RI - I know they weren't wearing Black Tie, Military Mess Dress Blue, or Kilts, but who's gonna argue with these guys?
Saturday 4/26/2008,
Loaded Dice All Starz,
Swingin' 88's Benefit for the Caritas/Corkery House, Brightridge Hall, East Providence, RI, 5:00 pm - 11:30 pm,
[All Starz playing 8:00 pm - 11:30 pm, DJ Music in between, Admission $20 at the door - to include pasta dinner (pasta, meatballs, salad, bread), snacks and desserts , Lesson, Prizes, & Much Much More! An Event Not to be Missed!
Sunday 4/27/2008,
Swing Dance, Leominster Elks, 134 N. Main St, Leominster, MA
Dance lesson 6:30 pm, Dancing 7:30 pm, For directions, click here
Here's one of the 13th Century Stained Glass Windows at the Belcourt Castle in Newport, RI.
The "Blues That Moves" is coming at ya, baby! Becoming
quite the long-term project, has been under the care
of Sonny "Mr. Compression" Martel of the famous NASCAR speed shop Martel
Racing... Taking suggestions on a paint scheme... got some body work to do
first, though... Another time, she wouldn't start...
Oh well... (photo by John Abrahamsen)
I think I'm gonna start playing some gospel again, I think.
Lord, help us!