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Pete Collins clarinet, vocals

Lifelong musician Pete Collins played full time with several groups while finishing his degree at Suffolk University and Colby College. In New York, Pete has appeared at Ryan's and Condon's; at the Famous Door in New Orleans; and with Max Collie's band in London and the Jazz Ramblers in Zurich. Locally, Pete appeared on the "Good Day" show (Ch. 5), "The Club" (Ch. 2), and has played at Boston Symphony Hall. Pete has played with such well-known jazz musicians as Max Kaminsky, Gene Blood, Red Allen, Jimmy Rushing, Jimmy McPartland, J.C. Higgenbotham and Marie Marcus. Pete has most recently played with his band, the Jazz Band Ball, in various incarnations, from Cape Cod to the coast of Maine. 

 

Lee Prager trombone

Lee brings a driving sophistication to the Band. He has a solid background in big band playing and has backed such greats as Natalie Cole, Boots Randolph, Glen Campbell, Helen O'Connell and others. He has been a regular favorite of band leaders Al Corey and Ted Herbert and has appeared with the Bangor Symphony and the Ice Capades.

Fred Clifford tuba

Fred has played with Pete for "many moons". As the leader of Williams College's Phinney's Favorite Five, Fred played the eastern college circuit in the 50's, including New York and Bermuda gigs. In '57 Fred joined musicians from Harvard, Princeton, and Williams to form the College All-Stars, which toured Europe and taped shows for Radio Free Europe. Fred lives in Duxbury, Massachusetts and continues to play with the Williams Reunion Jazz Band. Fred's gleaming tuba anchors the rhythm section, and occasionally he can be persuaded to "scat" a song with Pete.

Gene Blood drums

Gene started playing jazz with the South Shore Ragtime, Pickle Barrel, Foot-Stomping Society Band in 1965. In '68 he opened his own club and headed the Pickle Barrel Five, which included Pete, and played to packed houses for seven years. The band backed many famous jazzmen, including Jimmy Rushing, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Bob Wilbur, Vic Dickinson, and Bobby Hackett. Gene sold his club in '75 and became regular drummer with the Good Times Jazz Band, Six Pages of Dixie, and the Steamboat Stompers.

  "Big Dave" Page  drums

"Big Dave" plays drums with Pete's band nearly every time the band plays in Maine.  A native of Damariscotta, he runs a very successful gas station and convenience store called, (no surprise), "Big Dave's".  He and brother Bobby Page front the Downeast Jazz Babies and Pete plays with them frequently.

  Other visitors to the lineup from time to time include: Muriel Havenstein (piano), Peter Merrill (piano), Al Doane (bass), Scott Philbrick (cornet), Joan Dragon (banjo), Paul Monat (cornet), Jimmy Mazzy (banjo), Jeff Hughes (cornet), Barney Balch (trombone), Jack Tukey (bass) and Jane Campadelli (vocals).