The WRJB on board the sternwheeler, American Queen,
somewhere on the Mississippi, during a Williams College Jazz cruise, September, 2007

Here are a few photos of the band in action.

The WRJB at the Twelfth Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Classic in Clearwater, Florida, November 22-24, 2002

The WRJB Front Line at the Twelfth Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Classic in Clearwater, Florida, November 22-24, 2002

"Jimmy Mazzy and Friends," Jimmy and Carrie at the Twelfth Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Classic, with John Bucher and trombonist Charlie Bornemann

The WRJB at "The Moorings," Vero Beach, on
Saturday night, March 9, 2002. Left to right, Clifford, Hayne, Bucher, Mike Montgomery (subbing for Halsey on piano), Mazzy, Kingsbury. Wheaton took the photo.

 And, take a look at Jimmy Mazzy's web page, and John Halsey's web page.

The evening before departure on the Delta Queen, November 2000,
aboard the Natchez to play the dinner cruise.

To Williams Alumnae, Alumni, Old Friends and New: We dedicate this music to you, with thanks, for the many years of genuine, old-fashioned pleasure that performing it has brought to us.
 

In the mid-'50s - 1950s, that is - college jazz was big; the bands were hot; the gigs were flowing; and the living was good. 

In that environment four impressionable, jazz-loving kids entered Williams College, survived, and emerged in the late '50s as good friends and members of a full grown Dixieland jazz band known as "Phinney's Favorite Five." (James Phinney Baxter was then President of Williams.) We graduated and went our merry ways but maintained contact with one another and with the music we loved.
 

Twenty-five years later, on June 12, 1983, we returned to the stage of Chapin Hall at Williams College - along with three permanent guest, all-star musicians - to perform a jazz concert for the reunioning Williams grads. 

The concert was a smash hit; the Reunion jazz concert tradition began and the WILLIAMS REUNION JAZZ BAND was born. The annual concert and the WRJB have continued ever since. 

In recent years the band has frequently ventured "off-campus" to play at private parties, weddings, church events, country clubs, and special events throughout New York and New England. In June of 1993, we reached every musician's nirvana when performing in concert, on stage in Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops. 

It's been a wonderfully rewarding musical journey. This album features the finest recorded performances of the concerts in Chapin Hall from 1983 through 1996. That's why it's "JUST OUR BEST" with more to come.
 
 

BOB KINGSBURY, Clarinet - Williams '58, the original manager of Phinney's. Retired ad man, living part-time in Williamstown. Performing there with THE BILLVILLE BAILEYS and the SAGE CITY SIX. Reach him by Email. 

TOM HAYNE, Drums - Williams '59, another leader of the original Phinney's. The driving force and idea man of WRJB's rhythm section; a retired banker living in Darien, CT, now serving as a volunteer to IESC and keeping his drummer's touch by sitting in with groups in the New York jazz scene. Send him an Email. 

JOHN HALSEY, Piano - Williams '59 and a full time piano pro and teacher in New York. He's played with all the grand old and new names of jazz, and keeps active in New York's current jazz scene in places like Arthur's Tavern in the Village and the Red Blazer II. (Please visit John's website, or send him an Email.) 

JIMMY MAZZY, Banjo and Vocals - Bates '63: the musical soul of the band. Jimmy was recently voted #1 banjo player and #7 male vocalist in the country in Jazzbeat Magazine's 1995 Jazzology Poll. Jimmy's original banjo style and earthy voice have been heard on NPR; he's recorded extensively and is in great demand for festivals around the world. He works out of the Boston area and is quite simply, "just the best." You can contact Jimmy and Carrie by Email, or check out Jimmy's website at Mazzy Website. 

TOM BOATES, Tom joined the WRJB in 2005 on trombone and occasional vocals following the passing of Jim Wheaton (see below). While a HS Band and Orchestra director for 30 years, Tom continues the tailgate tradition of Jack Teagarden and Miff Mole. He has performed in many traditional jazz festivals around North America and has recorded numerous CDs in this medium. You can reach him by Email

JIM WHEATON, Valve Trombone - Dartmouth '53. Jim spent years playing with Clifford and Mazzy in the Boston area with the JAZZ BAND BALL. He led the BLACK CAT JAZZ BAND in Clearwater and traveled north regularly to lend his outstanding musical ear and drive to WRJB. Sadly, Jim passed away in June, 2005 from a terminal lung disease at age 73.