Firefly

Here ya go folks.  Plop this in and play it (or at least click on the links)(1)*.  It’ll make you happy and I sense we all need more of that kind of thing.  You’ll be hearing what Kathy and I heard at every Friday happy hour at the Firefly Club in the 90s.  It was wonderful. The proprietress of the club, Susan Chastain, had been a barmaid at the other jazz club in town, the Bird of Paradise, and the owner decided to let her sing.  She decided she could do better and the Firefly Club was born.  Beside a great selection of locals, she drew some major jazz names whose posters adorned her wall.  Wynton Marsalis would stop in after his gigs at Hill Auditorium, as did many lesser lights.  The Easy Street Jazz band (2) was led by Paul Klinger, who had an administrative post at the U. He could do trumpet and played a great bari sax, all the while seeking out obscure sheet music for the band.  They played Friday afternoons. On piano, he had Professor Jim Dapogny, who made his academic hay in the music school as the world’s expert on Jelly Roll Morton.  On his own, he’d organized the Chicago Jazz Band, a more high-powered organization with several records (3).  Here’s one of their albums. They’ve recorded 10.

Jim became a good friend then passed several years ago of the metastatic colon cancer he’d had for a decade (4). As we were both “doctors”, we enjoyed swapping jokes and insults around that topic, although I always called him “Professor”.  Rod McDonald, who’s still alive, on guitar and banjo, has been a stalwart research scientist in pulmonary.  Mike Jones, clarinet, now deceased (Parkinson’s), supported his music habit as an ophthalmology technician while Chris Smith – whose dad Bob played with Kathy’s uncle Bob in a much-loved band the Gaslighters at Bimbo’s pizza parlor in the 60s and 70s  – playing trombone and tuba, paid the bills as a tech in our pathology department.

Here’s a Gaslighters album from 1975 (autographed!):

Listening and clapping as they crunched the peanut shells on the floor, the patrons would laud them. Here find the excerpts from their album

Chris’ “office” was on the rounds I made in the hospital and I stopped into see him often.  He now teaches the jazz course in the music school Dapogny used to teach, introducing the music students to old time jazz and making them play it, at least once a year on a public stage at the Blue Llama, AA’s current premier jazz club (5).  The Firefly lost that title when the State closed Susan down for taxes in 2009 (6).  Worried there’d be no place to play – at least not as cool – the band found Zal Gaz Grotto on the west side (7).  Paul died in June 2019, followed by a lively memorial service at the Zal June 19 (8), where all these bands have played since the Firefly closed  This music ain’t Vince Giordano (9), but it’s pretty good and plenty happy.  I hope you’ll give it a listen.

If you want to hear them live, most members of these bands continue on as members of the Easy Street Band (now led by trombonist Terry Kimura, who was a shaky, nervous, skinny music student when Dapogny first put him in front of the band).  He’s gained some weight since, and is very much in charge, with a sense of humor we didn’t appreciate back in the day.  He maintains the band’s very active Facebook page (10).Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings (Phil is fictional, but theband says he lives in Florida) show up on Sunday afternoons to play their 20’s and 30s repertoire.  Chris Smith, pushing their rhythm section with his tuba, leads the band now . Mondays are traditionally the evening where jazz musicians stretch out, taking a break from theirreular gigs, and in AA they can do that with the Paul Keller Orchestra, a full powered big band (11).  Paul is the Godfather of AA jazz, responsible for many young careers when he’s not touring as Diane Kraal’s bassist.

Easy Street (Klinger’s band) came and went, all 40 plus years of them, before social media really got going.  Here they are ~2010.

But thanks to their fans, they’ve got 32 entries on YouTube, including 2 full albums (1).  Plenty of tunes to keep your toes tapping and your heart light.  Listen away!  And if you ever land in AA, check out Zal Daz Grotto.  It’s in a brick ranch house that looks like it escaped the bulldozers that “developed” Stadium Drive.  Their auditorium, where the bands play, reminds me of my junior high school, although we didn’t have a reproduction of Gilbert Stuart’s George Washington in the corner of the stage.   There’s a bar and a small kitchen.  Yes, they’re a Masonic outfit.

*I implored you to listen, but now you have to work.  Here are links to their 32 YouTube entries (after references).

References

1. Easy Street Jazz Band.  YouTube.  Collections. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=EasyStreetJazzBand

2. Roger Le LeLievre.  Paul Klinger’s Easy Street Jazz Band marks 40 years of Dixieland.  Ann Arbor News 7/11/10.  https://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/easy-street-jazz-band/

3. James Dapogny’s Chicago Jazz Band.  Discogs.com.  https://www.discogs.com/artist/3746732-James-Dapognys-Chicago-Jazz-Band

4. Neil Genzlinger.  James Dapogny, Who Resurrected Jazz of the Past, Dies at 78, New York Times.  3/19/19.  https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/19/obituaries/james-dapogny-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.CE4.TF7Q.sD_CG-X6z_Ax&smid=url-share

5. Blue Llama Jazz Club.  https://bluellamaclub.com

6. Lee Higgins.  State treasury officials auction off Firefly Club’s assets.  Ann Arbor News. 10/9/09.  https://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/state-department-of-treasury-officials-auction-off-assets-of-firefly-club/

7. Zal Gaz Grotto #34.  https://zalgaz.org/

8. Jacob Hamilton.  Memorial for Ann Arbor jazz musician Paul Klinger at Zal Gaz Grotto Club.  LMLive.com. https://www.mlive.com/galleries/GQ7PKJ2OBJGHJEYCWSM7TEQVNU/

9. Vince Giordano.  Quality Shout.  Stomp Off Records, 1993.  https://www.amazon.com/music/player/albums/B005BYVB9Y

10. Easy Street Jazz Band. Facebook.com.  https://www.facebook.com/p/Easy-Street-Jazz-Band-100068572974471/

11. Paul Keller Orchestra.  Paulkellerjazz.com.  https://paulkellerjazz.com/pko.php

*YouTube entries (32 songs, 2 extended playlists, and 2 full album entries):

Laura Beth Lyman.  Easy Street Jazz Band. YouTube (23 song playlist).  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26PS00ujNIE&list=PLlQbquw05ke9IK0ra-YDfebul2_VHAjgz&index=25

Laura Beth Wyman.  Paul Klinger’s Easy Street Jazz Band at Zal Gaz Grotto in AA.  MARGIE – Easy Street Jazz Band (July 2015).  YouTube.  (features stalwarts on clarinet (Toledo’s Ray Heitger on clarinet) and NYC’s Duke Heitger on trumpet).  https://youtu.be/76f8QhHor8U?si=32xyjjKNCaQ4mymB

SallyPatriot.  GOODY GOODY. Paul Klinger’s Easy Street Jazz Band at Zal Gaz Grotto in AA featuring Susan!  YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76f8QhHor8U

Laura Beth Wyman.  I’M CRAZY ‘BOUT MY BABY – Easy Street Jazz Band.  YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwQqH7_Y7rg

Chris Smith.  The Easy Street Jazz Band. LIVE AT THE BIRD OF PARADISE. Live at the Bird of Paradise. YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbAwh5-7HEY&list=PLl6t1hjjNV8c8Y6bGxGCcAXsHzZEqn-mG (whole album)

Laura Beth Wyman.  SWEET LORRAINE – Easy Street Jazz Band.  YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YifWvgHECI8

Laura Beth Wyman.  THANKS A MILLION – Easy Street Jazz Band. YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qifL41Te1K0

Laura Beth Wyman.  MOONGLOW – Easy Street Jazz Band.  YouTube. https://youtu.be/26PS00ujNIE?si=9Cvy8PVQQ-zBsjAh

Laura Beth Wyman.  SQUEEZE ME – Easy Street Jazz Band.  YouTube.  https://youtu.be/l2Qoy1qqySY?si=5zjKI_rFyPukWbB_

Laura Beth Wyman.  MY BABY’S GONE – Easy Street Jazz Band. YouTube.  https://youtu.be/dm3dH3IOo7M?si=FPM5Phj7ImqImqJU

Laura Beth Wyman.  MARGIE – Easy Street Jazz Band (July 2015).  YouTube. https://youtu.be/yl7w82Dobmo?si=6_Wjn_95VHr0YGhu

Laura Beth Wyman.  I WANT TO BE SOMEBODY’S BABY DOLL – Kerry Price w/ Easy Street Jazz Band. YouTube.  https://youtu.be/M8g0nYpSAsE?si=7zJjDxY_Iy3zC63i

Laura Beth Wyman.  A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND Kerry Price w Easy Street Jazz Band (July 2015).  YouTube.  

Laura Beth Wyman..  ROSE OF WASHINGTON SQUARE – Easy Street Jazz Band (Mar 2018).  YouTube. https://youtu.be/BscEVpPC3s0?si=_6IOR_3kv8MkVv7K

Joshua Gidney Music. MY FUNNY VALENTINE with Easy Street jazz band.  YouTube. https://youtu.be/YicF6IIe7fE?si=iVan0xkvN6m98QPi

Joshua Gidney Music.  Blues jam with Easy Street jazz band. YouTube. https://youtu.be/11Y4cmf-Y3Y?si=Kiihoo4SRPvlJcNl

Laura Beth Wyman.  WHO’S SORRY NOW?   YouTube.  https://youtu.be/mU5ZlzJ92d4?si=a6NKwloYZLkfzF7k

Laura Beth Wyman.  PENNIES FROM HEAVEN – Sarah D’Angelo w/ Easy Street Jazz Band.  YouTube. https://youtu.be/Tji3FXtcOBg?si=0_8ncFAqfs-zRN2I

Laura Beth Wyman.  BASIN STREET BLUES – Easy Street Jazz Band (July 2015).  YouTube. https://youtu.be/27RqJEvwlpc?si=njmgqGs7SI-EZyHE

Laura Beth Wyman.  THE ALBATROSS – Easy Street Jazz Band.  YouTube.  https://youtu.be/58Eb17QeaQ4?si=HxubxBesS9GeFX3I

Laura Beth Wyman.  I HAD SOMEONE ELSE LONG BEFORE I HAD YOU – Kerry Price w/ Easy Street Jazz Band.  YouTube. https://youtu.be/T6lQejJz6EI?si=kkrPCUSaEwno6KGF

Terry Kimura.  “YOU KEEP COMING BACK LIKE A SONG (I. Berlin). Easy Street Jazz Band. YouTube.  https://youtu.be/GinpQ2XSP2o?si=S70wT8q6z7bOjHRg

Laura Beth Wyman.  YOU’VE GOT TO SEE YOUR MAMA EVERY NIGHT – Kerry Price w/ Easy Street Jazz Band.  YouTube.  https://youtu.be/fRG6puwEy3M?si=ym_PVAnPYtGsYQNF

Laura Beth Wyman.  RITZI MITZI – Easy Street Jazz Band.  YouTube.  https://youtu.be/IfmX2rmtSc4?si=3hUDYTeQb_TOco-s

Laura Beth Wyman.  ROSE OF WASHINGTON SQUARE – Easy Street Jazz Band (Mar 2018).  YouTube. https://youtu.be/BscEVpPC3s0?si=esFxOFQkQztoQtyi

Laura Beth Wyman.  WHO’S SORRY NOW – Easy Street Jazz Band. YouTube.  https://youtu.be/mU5ZlzJ92d4?si=OiEVEOFLcbpHTRx6

Laura Beth Wyman.  FIREFLY – The James Dapogny Quartet.  YouTube.  https://youtu.be/x98X8wba7X0?si=PvQPPLu7MlyJj4hC

Laura Beth Wyman. ORY’S CREOLE TROMBONE – Easy Street Jazz Band.  YouTube.  https://youtu.be/CBFxMksxKKc?si=fmEMYiASF6UTUEDo

Laura Beth Wyman.  GET RHYTHM IN YOUR FEET – Easy Street Jazz Band.  YouTube.  https://youtu.be/Xa1s2Mb4phE?si=ezqEKmMX9jlCzg0q

Laura Beth Wyman.  SENTIMENTAL GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA – Easy Street Jazz Band.  YouTube. https://youtu.be/K_8GLqacItU?si=_z6i_VJC9GjCgc6m

The Turfmonster.  Jazz (Easy Street Band).  YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tji3FXtcOBg&list=PLFFrUfrwIbiJnpxDp_OF9KKWpYm1pIU0- (11 song playlist)

Laura Beth Wyman.  CAUTION BLUES – Easy Street Jazz Band.  YouTube.  https://youtu.be/konxKdRzZtU?si=6g5MG-J_8CfSTA9l

LJKNTK.  Easy Street Jazz Band – I’VE GOT A FEELING I’M FALLING.   YouTube. https://youtu.be/4GPpA38BNDQ?si=CAX_kZicJ6t8iK5U