Climax:Draga - Come on and Stomp

Come on and Stomp, Stomp, Stomp - Climax Jazz Band/Bob Draga 1996

Who can find Bob Byler? Bob was very active in the nineties filming jazzbands at festivals, cruises and special events. He made me a film where we played at the St Louis Festival in 1996. This was probably my last festival with the Climax Jazz Band . My wife and I had left for the greener fields of British Columbia, away from busy Toronto, to enjoy early retirement. Now some 11 years later I find this film again. For the full festival we were joined by reedplayer Pieter Meijers who would eventually take over leadership of High Sierra Jazz Band.
In this clip we play a tune called “Come on and Stomp, Stomp, Stomp” which we learned from Johnny Dodds Black Bottom Stompers, initially recorded in 1927.
Already a hot number, however, to our surprise well known clarinetist Bob Draga was in the hall, I jumped off stage got him on and the tune got in a new phase, now with two clarinets. I remember the event and it was just fantastic to suddenly have two of America’s best traditional jazz clarinettists together with our band on stage. Isn’t this exciting.

If anybody knows Bob Byler, please let me know; I like to thank him for his efforts!
Bob Erwig cornet, Pieter Meijers clarinet, Len Gosling trombone, Jack Vincken banjo, Chris Daniels bass and Jamie Aug drums with surprise guest B