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The New Black Eagle Jazz Band ("NBEJB") is traditional New Orleans jazz with a capital "T." If you have ever enjoyed the pleasures of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in New Orleans, you will have a great idea of what NBEJB sounds like as it cruises through 13 holiday favorites. For the most part, this seven-piece band (cornet, clarinet/alto sax, trombone, piano, banjo/guitar, drums, string bass) emphasizes instrumentals; on four pieces, the band delivers dynamite vocals.

This music is a traditional jazz celebration, through and through. Light years away from homogenous "smooth jazz," this generous album (over an hour!) bursts with character and verve. This music will have you swaying in your seat and tapping your feet within the first few bars. If not, better check for a pulse! Everything works very, very well on this smokin' release; each track is a bona fide treasure. My hands-down favorite track is "Blue Christmas"; at over seven minutes, it is the longest cut on the album, and it features Tony Pringle doing an astounding Louis Armstrong sound-alike vocal. Just amazing! Other great cuts include "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" with more Pringle-as-Armstrong and a terrific tuba solo; and "Silent Night," which presents a superb solo clarinet as the first verse. Again, Pringle's vocals are astounding.

For jazz aficionados who cherish straight-ahead New Orleans jazz, you won't find a finer holiday album than Christmas with the New Black Eagle Jazz Band. This is exceptional music in terms of conception, production, and execution. So sweet!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Tony Pringle: cornet and leader; vocals
Stan Vincent: trombone
Billy Novick: clarinet and alto sax
Bob Pilsbury: piano, vocal
Eli Newberger: tuba
C.H. "Pam" Pameijer: drums
Peter Bullis: banjo

Produced by: Billy Novick and Dave Shacter

From the Web site:

The New Black Eagle Jazz Band , now in its 32nd year, plays traditional jazz. This style, as performed by the Black Eagles, covers a wide range from the early New Orleans style; Chicago of the 1920's; 1930's small band jazz; the revival of the 1940's and 1950's; and original pieces written by a number of band members.

Our repertoire of over 600 numbers includes Rags by such as Scott Joplin, arranged for the band; spirituals and gospel music; old pop tunes from the start of the 20th century to the 1960's; and blues.

While the band doesn't usually make big features of vocal numbers we do have three good vocalists with a broad repertoire whose vocals are always well received by audiences.

C.H. "Pam" Pameijer - Pam is our drummer and has been with the band since 1971 having also played with some of us in Tommy Sancton's Black Eagle Jazz Band. Pam previously played with several bands in The Netherlands (Windy City Jazz Band, Rail Road City Seven) and had his own band, the Fair Town Jazz Band

Bob Pilsbury - Bob is our pianist and sometimes vocalist. He has been with the band since our first gig as the NBEJB on the Peter Stuyvesant boat in Boston Harbour.

Peter Bullis - Since 1971, Peter has played banjo and handled the management and booking chores for the NBEJB and continues to do so. He too, played and recorded with the Tommy Sancton BEJB in 1971. In the 50's, Peter played with, recorded with and managed the Indian Chiefs Jazz Band from Dartmouth College; in the 60's he performed with the Salty Dogs South in Raleigh NC.

Stan Vincent - Stan has been our trombonist since the Peter Stuyvesant gig in 1971. Stan put together his first jazz band as a junior high school student in Newton MA, played with concert bands and symphony orchestras at Brown University and in the U.S. Army, was a member in the late 50's of Jean and Doc Kittrell's Chicago Stompers Jazz Band with Carl Lunsford and Don Franz, and in the 60's Tex Wyndham's Red Lion Jazz Band, Wilmington DE, and the Jazz Doctors and Exit Jazz Band, Boston, featuring banjoist Gil Roberts

Tony Pringle - Tony is the cornetist and musical leader of the band. Tony is a founding member of the band and was with Tommy Sancton's Black Eagle Jazz Band before the NBEJB. Originally from Liverpool Tony was with the New Climax Jazz Band in Leicester, UK and before that he ran the Druids Jazz Band which was resident at The Cavern in Liverpool during the late 1950's and early 1960's.

Billy Novick - Billy joined the band on Thanksgiving 1986 and plays alto saxophone, clarinet and sometime soprano saxophone. Billy is a full time musician - he writes music for TV and movies, teaches, does studio work and is very well known for his duo work with Guy van Duser.

New Black Eagle Jazz Band

Christmas With The New Black Eagle Jazz Band

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Track List