We closed out another year at our Jazz Club December meeting with a wonderful Christmas holiday celebration.  It was festive and fun.  Our jammers did a couple of holiday tunes, one of them, Jingle Bells, which had Jack, Bob, Diz and Karl belting out the lyrics.  We had a full compliment of jammers, including four young men from the Ventura High School musical department.  Two of them, Wesley Backwell on guitar and Josef Sartee on tenor, were students that we had sent to Jazz camp.  It is very rewarding to have them come back and participate.  We hope they return again soon.



Our featured performer of the afternoon was Martha B and Friends – and what an outstanding group of friends they were.  Ira Nepus was on trombone, Tom Collins on guitar, Henry Nave played tenor and they were complemented by a great rhythm section – Hank Allen on bass, Boyd Cannon on drums and Jim Calire on piano.  They kicked off the first tune with Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, then Martha began with a dedication to all the composers, musicians and vocalists that were part of the Great American Songbook.   A vocal of 's Wonderful by Martha, followed by I’ve Got The World On A String and How High The Moon got us going.  Martha sure has fun with a song and it’s a real treat to see how she gets around the words and music.  A sensuous All Or Nothing At All, with a bassa rhythm was next and then, a beautiful solo by Ira Nepus of Tommy Dorseys rendition of Getting Sentimental Over You.  Jim Calire and Hank Allen  were featured on an upbeat My Heart Belongs To Daddy, then Martha continued with a darling rendition of A Tisket, A Tasket and a slow and sultry Love For Sale.  They would up the afternoon with Martha’s daughter Coleen joining her in an enthusiastic and well performed duet of Route 66.  Everyone was left with big smiles after enjoying some fine music.



In January, the popular and exciting Dixieland band from The James Joyce in Santa Barbara, Ulysses S. Jasz, will be at the yacht club to entertain us.  I know you’ll enjoy it, so come and be prepared to have fun.

May the New Year be good for you and bring you good health and lots of love and happiness.

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