E. Hambleton
On Tuesday, Jackson French Quarter Dixieland Band lit up Mrs. Stock’s Park with energy.
For the third week, Mrs. Stock’s Park hosted “Tuesdays in the Park” free performances for residents to enjoy. Dixieland Band shared an upbeat performance of traditional New Orleans jazz filled with humor and fun.
According to leader Phil Bickel, the band has been playing for 38 years in and around Hillsdale County. For the last two years, Bickel has been a resident of Hillsdale.
“When I moved down here from Jackson,” Bickel shared, “I knew I was going south so I thought ‘Hey, good, the winters will be a lot warmer!’ Haven’t noticed it. But it’s a great area and a delight to be here!”
The band played a collection of music that kept the audience moving to the beat, including songs like “Bourbon Street Parade,” “Basin Street Blues,” and “Yes! We Have No Bananas” – wherein the coronet player, Bill Jenson, tossed actual bananas to a few laughing audience members.
In “Mama Don’t Allow”, Melinda Long, Dixieland Band’s vocalist, introduced each of the members and the instruments they played. Group members include Dan Bickel (tuba), Dennis Pienta (drums), Joel Randolph (piano), Phil Nager (clarinet), Bill Genson (coronet), Phil Bickel (trombone) and Long (vocals).
Starting at 7:30 p.m., the performance ended roughly an hour later with “When the Saints Go Marching In,” audience members’ favorite song as they clapped and stood to applaud the band.
Melinda Long, the Dixieland Band’s vocalist, shared her thoughts after the performance saying, “We had a great audience. When they’re responding, clapping their hands, tapping their feet, that’s a good indication that we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing.”
