Bud Leeds goes Bob-Bob-Bobbying along

Clarinetist Bud Leeds was in fine company - and good spirits - for the South County Jazz Club's first concert of the 2017-2018 season on Monday, November 20.

Bud Leeds

His quartet included multi-instrumentalist Bob MacInnis, Bob Leary on banjo, rhythm guitar and occasional vocals, and piano marvel Bobby van Deusen. (Leeds could have named the band Three Bobs and a Bud.) 

Together, they delved deeply into ragtime, Louis Armstrong fare and other classic jazz staples.The free-and-easy repertoire included "Struttin' With Some Barbecue," cornetist Wild Bill Davison's theme song "I Never Knew," "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?," "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee," Bix Beiderbecke's "Singin' the Blues," Scott Joplin's "Rose Leaf Blues," and "Back Home in Indiana," among others.

Bobby van Deusen

Van Deusen, a master of the ragtime and stride piano styles, reached a few decades ahead from his usual repertoire to include "That's All, and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (by request), along with a stunning solo take on the ballad "Laura." The Pensacola resident was a fixture in New Orleans for many years, working with Pete Fountain, Al Hirt, The Dukes of Dixieland and on the Delta Queen riverboat. Leary worked with him on that latter gig.

Bud Leeds, Bob MacInnis

MacInnis was featured primarily on cornet but he also doubled with Leeds on clarinet on several tunes. The clear concert highlight was their twin-clarinet take on a medley that segued from "My Mother's Eyes" to the poignant Sidney Bechet classic "Si Tu Vois Ma Mere" (If You See My Mother).

Bob Leary

Leary's fine vocal takes on "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?" were a stark contrast with the corny tunes that he seems to sneak into all his performances, whether or not he's leading the band.

This time Leary included 1947's "Huggin' and Chalkin'" and his exaggerated falsetto take on The Ink Spots pop hit "I Don't Need to Set the World on Fire." They lose their humorous impact the second or third time you've heard him. For me, this was number four.

The matinee concert was held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Venice. 

Van Deusen, Leary, Leeds, MacInnis