Bill Doyle's Favorite Concert - Dizzy!

Bill performing at 3 Dogs Grille in PC, 2012

Drummer Bill Doyle inaugurates our new poll for jazz musicians in Florida: What's the best jazz show you've ever seen? Not an easy question! We figured we'd begin by asking a few Palm Coast musicians. Locals who've been following jazz over the years here in PC are surely familiar with the solid & tasteful swinging of Bill Doyle. Bill studied with several teachers, including entrepreneur and co-founder of GRP records, Larry Rosen (who at the

Bill Doyle Trio backing up Cheryl Paige

time was backing up Andy Williams). Along with his own excellent trio, Bill has played with Floridian luminaries like Ray Guiser, former Basie vocalist Cheryl Paige & popular diva Linda Cole; as well as sensational Canadian trumpet player Mickey Erbe and guitarist Wayne Kirby.

Below are Bill's remembrances of his favorite concert:

Dizzy Gillespie - Birdland NYC 1961

I was 15 years old. My Dad, being a musician, allowed me to take a bus from New Jersey to Manhatten with my

friend to see Dizzy. At Birdland, we were pretty close to the bandstand. When Dizzy and his group started to play, my love for jazz became cast in stone. I do not recall all of the musicians who were in his group on that date, but I was in awe. I had been studying drums for 3 years, at the time, and this night left a huge impression. Also, his cheeks...unbelievable expansion when he was playing. I thought, "what about embouchure? I guess it doesn't matter because this man is great."

Live Dizzy recorded around the same time!

Birdland, at the time, was periodically open to teens (section called the "peanut gallery"). My friend, Castig and I talked "Tiny" the host, into letting us sit closer... He let us near  the band...I remember going down the steps, mentioned in the tune "Birdland".


Thank you Bill, for the great jazz flashback, and for getting the new poll off to a fantastic start! Here is Bill's Youtube page; and we'll be keeping you posted about his trio's upcoming dates! - PC Jazz

Bill Doyle's Top 10 Jazz Albums

Drummer Bill Doyle and his sweet red Gretsch kit '09

We continue our postings of individual lists from our popular Top 50 Jazz Albums List with Palm Coast's own Bill Doyle. Bill has been keeping things swinging through thick and thin in NE Florida since 2004 with his own trio. He began playing drums at 12, studying under some serious cats including Larry Rosen from the Dave Grusin band; working in the New York/New Jersey area with some of it's top jazz, pop and society musicians. He managed to maintain a part-time music career while becoming quite successful full-time in marketing.

Nowadays Bill is a high-profile musician in St. Augustine, Palm Coast, Daytona Beach and more, performing with stellar musicians like Ray Guiser and Cheryl Page; and especially with his crowd-drawing trio, featuring Don Durkee on piano and Frank Capek on bass. His top 10 jazz albums list is an exposition in exquisite taste!

1. Woody Herman - 1964  When my Dad ,who was a musician,first brought this home I was in awe and could not stop playing it and tried to master playing along with the up tempo tunes.Great charts, great solos and Jake Hanna knew how to push a big band.

2. Dave Brubeck - Time Out My role model as a drummer was Joe Morello (R.I.P.). His skill set and ability to be totally musical was unbelievable. I tried to imitate him in every way. Hah! That's a joke.

3. Lambert, Hendricks and Ross - The Hottest New Group in Jazz  Just too cool and from this I learned to appreciate scat.

4. Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um  Timeless, could have been recorded yesterday.

5. Joe Morello - It's About Time  Again, I loved Joe. This was a straight-ahead jazz album with some very cool work with Phil Woods, Gary Burton and Joe.

6. Jazz Crusaders - Live at the Light House 1966  I can listen to this for hours. Joe Sample grooves as does Wayne Henderson.

7. Sinatra and Basie  Big fan of both.

8. Ella and Basie  Big fan of Ella, too.

9. John Coltrane - Blue Train  He's just too good with Lee Morgan, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones to boot!

10. Tie with all the other great work with great artists!



Thanks Bill for the list and for keeping jazz thriving in PC! You can check out more of Bill at his youtube channel, and below is a video of the Bill Doyle Trio + 2 (Pete Gemski - valve trombone; Larry Dickson - baritone sax) performing at the Three Dogs Grille this past February; they're playing Frank Capek's original "Abba". - PCJ

Bill Doyle Trio @ Three Dogs Grille 1/18/12

Bill Doyle

This Saturday marked the return of live jazz bands in Palm Coast! For three savored hours, the Bill Doyle Trio worked through their perfect mix of easy-going straight-ahead jazz, uptempo hardbop and some jazzy bossas.

(l-r) Frank Capek, Don Durkee, Bill Doyle

All three members of the group are from right here in Palm Coast. Bandleader Bill Doyle keeping solid grooves on drums; Frank Capek, a composer regularly featured on our podcasts, was on bass and Don Durkee provided everything you'd want from a jazz pianist - sturdy block-chord harmonies, rich melodic lines and impressively fast licks.

Some of the art on display at Three Dogs Grille

All of this took place at Palm Coast's much anticipated new venue - Three Dogs Grille; a gastropub run by two chefs of distinction, Bob Plugge and Barry Markey. These men insist on bringing some much-needed fine-art atmosphere into PC - all fresh food, a constantly intriguing and delicious menu that is updated often, as is the amazing art on the walls, courtesy of the Hollingsworth Gallery. Add to this the best jazz in the region - and you've got something so many residents have been yearning for - a classy yet homey, cool hang.

Cookin'

This was evidenced by a full-house all night, and even more folks wandering in after the show, saying "Aw, we missed it??" Some highlights were "C Note Jam" by Count Basie and "Like Someone in Love" by Jimmy van Heusen. The crowd, obviously delighting in their plates & beverages, applauded enthusiastically for every song.

Amy Alysia 'sat in' for a few numbers!

A nice surprise for the last set (and perhaps some much-needed consolation for Denver Broncos fans), was the impromptu appearance of Amy Alysia, who wowed the audience with "God Bless the Child" and a refreshing take on the Gershwin standard "Summertime". We caught the later on video and will post it on our Facebook page tonight!

"Summertime..."

The Three Dogs Grille will be having solo jazz artists on Wednesdays, and larger bands on Saturdays. Coming up this Wednesday will be another artist featured on our Podcasts, blues/jazz singer/guitarist George Grosman from Orlando. The Bill Doyle Trio will return on Saturday February 18th.

If you have been missing the earthy yet chic vibe of places like the West Village in NYC, or Boston, or Chicago or even Atlanta - come support this venue, click on their name above and "like" them on Facebook - and be kept in the know about new happenings in Palm Coast. A fine evening! - PCJ

Palm Coast Jazz Episode 5 - January 2012

All-music episode featuring Florida's finest jazz artists from Melbourne, Jacksonville, Cocoa Beach, Boynton Beach & more - straight-ahead, smooth, big band, contemporary & blues!

Right-click the title and select "open in new tab" so you can continue browsing here or elsewhere while you listen! (To download - right-click and select "save file as" or "save target as")

Allison Paris was under the weather during production and unable to host this month's episode - but she'll be back next month!

Host -  Kenny MacKenzie


1 - Introduction ~  Kenny

2 - "Bounce" - The Rainmakerz (Melbourne) website


Richie Mola - drums, Kenny Clarke - keyboards,
Dextor Wilborn - alto sax, Scott McGill - bass,
Dan Wilbourn - tenor & soprano saxes, Tom Heuston - guitar
from the cd "The Rainmakerz"
click to buy at Itunes

2 - "The Ensouled Ones" - Raymond Guiser (Daytona Beach) website
Raymond Guiser - flute, vocals, drum & keyboard programming;
Lawrence App - bass, guitar & percussion; Robin Clarke - vocals
from the cd "Macroism"
To Buy send a check made out to Ray Guiser for $12.99 to
Palm Coast Jazz - 101 Bressler Ln - Palm Coast, FL - 32137
or order by paypal from our store!



4 - "Happy Thoughts"  - Bill Prince (Jacksonville) website
Bill Prince - all instruments except drums
Rick Kirkland - drums
from the album "Happy Thoughts"
album currently unavailable


5 - "Ghost Town" - George Grosman (Orlando) website
George Grosman - electric guitar, Ian MacGillivray - trumpet
Brandon Walker - baritone sax, flute, keyboards & drum programming
Palm Coast Jazz exclusive!
buy George's latest downloadable cd "Water and Wine"


6 - Announcements, Kenny

Sybil Gage

7 - "Ding Dong Blues" - Sybil Gage (Cocoa Beach) website
Sybil Gage - vocals, Leon Olguin - Piano,
Dennis Thompson - Drums, Jerry Hoff - Clarinet,
Joe Caruso - Guitar, Stoney - Harmonica
from the album "NOLA Calling"
click to buy at CD Baby



8 - "Live in St. Augustine" - Bill Doyle Quartet (Palm Coast) website
Don Durkee - piano, Frank Capek - bass,
Bill Doyle - drums

Greg Diaz

9 - "Circadia" - Greg Diaz (Boynton Beach) website
Greg Diaz - tenor saxophone, Eero Turunen - piano,
James McCoy - bass, Rodolfo Zuniga - drums
from an upcoming release
more music by Greg

10 - Closing Announcements - Kenny

(Palm Coast Jazz Closing Theme by Seven Octaves)

If you are a jazz musician in Florida with quality recordings of your original music and would like to submit for future podcasts, please contact us at palmcoastjazz@gmail.com

All recordings and compositions are the property of their respective performers and composers, all rights reserved. This podcast copyright 2012 Kenny MacKenzie. All rights reserved. Please contact for broadcast version.

Sunday Afternoon Jazz!

Here are a few pictures taken at the Oct 30th Jam Session held by the St. Augustine Jazz Society. There were a bunch more musicians and players, but most were up when I was behind the piano!

Swingin', solid beats from Bill Doyle (Palm Coast)

L-R: Ed Herson, Gil Surette, Jack Pierson

Eddie "T-bone" Herson was seriously rockin'!

 

My first time hearing the amazing Bill Prince. L-R:
Bill Doyle, Bill Prince, Jack Pierson, John Pellegrino.

  

Jack Pierson, who just released a cd recorded
in NYC with Julian Lage & Marcus Gilmore!

L-R: Bill Doyle, Guest Vocalist, Rocky Ray & Bill Prince

L-R: Gil, Jack, Bill now on Cornet & Rocky

There were plenty of other performers including Eddy Tresta, Greg Wier, Cindy Pierson, Joyce Lundgren,  Scott Mariash Wanda, & Palm Coast's own Dan Burns. Outside of an unfortunate political incident that lasted way too long (the only one I've seen), this was pretty happenin' and the room was filled with jazz lovers! Next year it will be in a bigger room, so don't be bashful, come down bring your horn, (we could use some more 'young lions') and make it even better! Membership not required - KM

ps - there are more pictures of the musicians who played while I was at the piano over on the
St. Augustine Jazz Society's blog, on the bottom. :)