The Jim Cullum Jazz Band

By Beverley E. Park

With a salute to the old-time jazz artists of the early 1900s, the Bakersfield Community Concert Association opened its 2009-2010 season by hosting the Jim Cullum Jazz Band on Sept. 30.

Jim Cullum has been the band’s leader and organizer since the 1950s. In 1963, a group of San Antonio, Texas, businessmen established The Landing, a jazz club on the San Antonio River Walk. They invited Cullum and his band, then known as the Happy Jazz Band, to showcase their talents.

From that point on the band has evolved into the nationally acclaimed professional company known as the Jim Cullum Jazz Band. Early jazz was dance music. Dance halls, large and small in New Orleans, Chicago and San Francisco served as venues where jazz first found its voice in the years after World War I. Jazz (originally spelled “jass”) was coined to describe the insistent, relentlessly peppy and rhythmic quality of this ragtime-based music coming out of New Orleans.

During the concert at Rabobank Theater, Cullum kept a running commentary on the songs and their origin dates, and other interesting information about the composers, musicians and musical eras. It was a great way to introduce the audience to the pleasure awaiting us. One set was devoted to hits of Louie Armstrong, including, “Yes! I’m In the Barrel,” recorded Nov. 12, 1925, a few days after Armstrong’s return to Chicago from New York. This was an audience favorite. Armstrong and his Savoy Ballroom Five introduced “Tight Like This,” another number the Cullum group played. They switched easily from one musician to another taking the lead and demonstrating how well seasoned the group was in the original American Jazz style.

A 1918 song, “Clarinet Marmalade,” had everyone “jiving” in their seats. Of course no jazz concert would be complete without the Duke – Ellington, that is – and we were all delighted with the Cullum band’s 1930s blues renditions. To add a bit of more modern jazz, Cullum entertained with one of his own originals, “Enchilada Man.”

The group was composed of Jim Cullum on coronet; Ron Hockett, clarinet; Kenny Rupp, trombone; Jim Turner, piano; Howard Elkins, banjo, guitar, and vocals; Don Mopsick, bass; and a crowd charmer (it was revealed that he might even have family ties here in Bakersfield), the drummer Michael Waskiewicz.

The Russian Seasons Dance Company

Next up in the Bakersfield Community Concert Association’s season:

Russian Seasons Dance Company, 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, Rabobank Theater, 1001 Truxtun Ave. The dance company will perform folk dances from many nations, including Russian, Gypsy, Spanish Flamenco and Argentinian Tango. Season tickets are $60 for adults, $30 for college students and $20 for younger students. Call 205-8522 or visit www.bakersfieldcca.org for more information.