[Tradjazz] Fresno Mardi Gras

[Don Robertson]

Reporting from Fresno, CA.  IMO one of the best festivals on the west 
coast.  Great line up, including:

Buck Creek from Virginia
Bob Schulz's Frisco Jazz Band
Uptown Lowdown from Washington
Titanic JB (succssor to Vince Saunder's South Frisco)
Grand Dominion and Climax (from Canada)
Devil Mountain (from the East Bay in the shadow of Mt. Diablo)
High Sierra

There was also a tribute band to the El Dorado Jazz Band a New Orleans 
style band from southern California in the '50's and 60's
Organized by durmmer Hal Smith and multi-instrumentalist Clint Baker. 

This was pretty much all trad with hardly a string bass or guitar in 
sight.  Except for the El Dorado band with Georgia Corby (from Mighty 
Aphrodite) filling in on string bass for Mike Fay who was playing with 
Grand Dominion.

During High Sierra's last set Sat night the front line produced two 
extra trumpets and played the Bix led three trumpet chorus on "From 
Monday On"

There was some relief with a swing band session lead by one of Devil 
Mountain's trumper players with side men from various bands.  They 
played 40's style swing.  A swing band with a tuba (Keith Baltz from 
Devil Mtn).

It's Sunday Morning and I'm off to the few more sessions that remain.

Napa Don Robertson