JUST PLAYN DIXIELAND
Gary Clark is a retiree who has always loved Dixieland music. He is well
known for his volunteer work for the Dare County schools band programs where
he recruits students for Dixieland bands such as the Dixie Do Daz and All
That Jazz. Gary and his wife, Barbara, have had a dream of forming a
Dixieland band here on the Outer Banks. About 1 year ago, Gary founded the
band called Just Playn Dixieland. Members of the group changed over time.
Now, however, the band has settled in and the members are enjoying playing a
genre of music that is not heard often. The band plays many of the classic
Dixieland songs such as: Basin Street Blues, Down by the River Side, St
James Infirmary, Bill Bailey, and other foot tapping songs. Recently, the
band has been working on improvised Dixieland music. This is a type of
Dixieland music where a melody is loosely played and each instrument takes a
turn playing an improvised solo based on the melody.
The members of the band are:
Gary Clark, trombone
Barbara Clark, banjo
Bob Fielder, tuba
Rosie Fielder, keyboard
Mei Mei Cook, clarinet
Ali Jones, trombone
Dock Sawyer, trumpet
Paul Lesiewicz, saxophone
Chris Jolly, drums
Just Playn Dixieland has performed at the Manteo Dare Days, the Coffee House
in Manteo, the Gem Day Services/Nags Head Lions club"Harmony Café", and the
Kitty Hawk Pig Stein. Their first monthly performance at Kelly's Restaurant
is Sunday, Feb 8 at 6pm. On Friday, Feb. 13, they will play again at the Gem
Day Services/Nags Head Lions club Harmony Café at 7pm at the Baum Center.
As Gary says "If we had any more fun, it would probably be illegal!"
