Thanks to all of you who came to hear
Strictly Dixie at Jazz by the Boulevard
in Ft. Worth. We love you.
Strictly Dixie at Jazz by the Boulevard
in Ft. Worth. We love you.
History of Strictly Dixie - by Captain Dave Hume
Denton's "Strictly Dixie" Dixieland Band started a dozen
years ago, when a handful of mostly-retired folks (and also,
musicians) got together one summer's afternoon and
wondered why there was not more "traditional jazz" available
in the North Central Texas Area. We had had a soda or a
beer, and began to talk about grabbing our horns and giving
it a try. An hour later, six of us reconvened in a now-defunct
bar/grill in town, all of us dragging in our (little-used-retrieved
from the closet) horns.
One of us brought along a few charts, someone else had a
FakeBook, but mostly, we just started playing some of the
old New Orleans Tunes that we all had loved for a lot of
years. The Charter Members came from all walks of life. A vocal professor, an Airline Pilot, a
Tool and Die man, a Shoe Salesman who had covered the entire Western U.S., a Ph.D in
Education, and a gen-u-wine BlueGrass Guitar Picker. And a RINGER: A young tuba player
student from our local U.N.T. We just sort of adopted him!
The youngest in the group (except for the tuba player) was about 60. Most of us hadn't played
in a lot of years. But that day, we finished the jam session, all of us thinking, "Maybe this thing
will WORK!"
Through the years, we've had several players join; several have departed. Twelve years later,
our core group still consists of the Geezerly Set, and almost everyone is retired from their earlier
callings. The usual make-up of the band is a standard Piano/Bass/Drums with three horns and a
Banjo. But over the years, the group has grown like Topsy! Now, rehearsal Wednesdays, we
regularly wind up with fourteen or fifteen players! It's a two-hour rehearsal, but the "practicing"
part has taken a second fiddle role to the socializing, eating, and sipping at break time. Of
course, when it's time to play a job/concert, we have to cut it back down to the 7-piece size. We
try to judiciously allocate playing spots throughout each month, so everyone gets a chance to
play.
Every now and then, someone actually gives us a couple of bucks, but our primary mission is to
play for the folks who really need cheering up, mostly on a Gratis basis. Those people at the
Rehab Centers, Retirement Centers, and Senior Centers, mostly in the Denton, Dallas, and Fort
Worth area, have been most generous with applause and handshakes. We happily settle for
that, most of the time. It's good to leave the gig, knowing we've created a few smiles.
Our old stalwarts include Jim Staerke on Drums and vocals, Les Huey on Bass and vocals, Mary
Wood on Keyboard, Woody Wood on Reeds, Leon Peeks on Banjo, Dave Hume on
Trumpet/Flugelhorn, and Joe Pinson on Trombone. Other regulars include Dr. Bill Miller,
Captain Doug Ebersole, C.A. Bell, Eduard Nachtweh, Peggy Morrison, George Williams, Captain
Hal Williamson, and Captain Ron Borden (all the way from Boerne, TX!)
It has been a grand musical experience for us all. We have become a very close-knit family over
the years. We seem to derive more and more joy out of being/playing together. If someone
happens to tell you that life shuts down after retirement, I recommend that you give them the
Very Famous Hand Gesture, and tell 'em to get on over to Denton, and listen to "Stictly Dixie!"
Denton's "Strictly Dixie" Dixieland Band started a dozen
years ago, when a handful of mostly-retired folks (and also,
musicians) got together one summer's afternoon and
wondered why there was not more "traditional jazz" available
in the North Central Texas Area. We had had a soda or a
beer, and began to talk about grabbing our horns and giving
it a try. An hour later, six of us reconvened in a now-defunct
bar/grill in town, all of us dragging in our (little-used-retrieved
from the closet) horns.
One of us brought along a few charts, someone else had a
FakeBook, but mostly, we just started playing some of the
old New Orleans Tunes that we all had loved for a lot of
years. The Charter Members came from all walks of life. A vocal professor, an Airline Pilot, a
Tool and Die man, a Shoe Salesman who had covered the entire Western U.S., a Ph.D in
Education, and a gen-u-wine BlueGrass Guitar Picker. And a RINGER: A young tuba player
student from our local U.N.T. We just sort of adopted him!
The youngest in the group (except for the tuba player) was about 60. Most of us hadn't played
in a lot of years. But that day, we finished the jam session, all of us thinking, "Maybe this thing
will WORK!"
Through the years, we've had several players join; several have departed. Twelve years later,
our core group still consists of the Geezerly Set, and almost everyone is retired from their earlier
callings. The usual make-up of the band is a standard Piano/Bass/Drums with three horns and a
Banjo. But over the years, the group has grown like Topsy! Now, rehearsal Wednesdays, we
regularly wind up with fourteen or fifteen players! It's a two-hour rehearsal, but the "practicing"
part has taken a second fiddle role to the socializing, eating, and sipping at break time. Of
course, when it's time to play a job/concert, we have to cut it back down to the 7-piece size. We
try to judiciously allocate playing spots throughout each month, so everyone gets a chance to
play.
Every now and then, someone actually gives us a couple of bucks, but our primary mission is to
play for the folks who really need cheering up, mostly on a Gratis basis. Those people at the
Rehab Centers, Retirement Centers, and Senior Centers, mostly in the Denton, Dallas, and Fort
Worth area, have been most generous with applause and handshakes. We happily settle for
that, most of the time. It's good to leave the gig, knowing we've created a few smiles.
Our old stalwarts include Jim Staerke on Drums and vocals, Les Huey on Bass and vocals, Mary
Wood on Keyboard, Woody Wood on Reeds, Leon Peeks on Banjo, Dave Hume on
Trumpet/Flugelhorn, and Joe Pinson on Trombone. Other regulars include Dr. Bill Miller,
Captain Doug Ebersole, C.A. Bell, Eduard Nachtweh, Peggy Morrison, George Williams, Captain
Hal Williamson, and Captain Ron Borden (all the way from Boerne, TX!)
It has been a grand musical experience for us all. We have become a very close-knit family over
the years. We seem to derive more and more joy out of being/playing together. If someone
happens to tell you that life shuts down after retirement, I recommend that you give them the
Very Famous Hand Gesture, and tell 'em to get on over to Denton, and listen to "Stictly Dixie!"