Doctor Dubious and the Agnostics

About

Doctor Dubious has been performing jazz in the New Orleans and Chicago styles since 1998 in the tri-state area. They have performed at First Nights in Teaneck, Montclair and Maplewood-South Orange and for numerous public, corporate and private events. Among the public appearances are MusikFest 2005 in Bethlehem, PA; the River Edge and Bergenfield Summer Concert series; Carl Schurz Park in NYC; Summerfest, promoted by Holy Name Hospital in Overpeck Park; New Jersey Jazz Society at Watchung Arts Center; and street fairs in Teaneck, Ridgewood, Upper Montclair and Bergenfield.

Tom Duncan is Doctor Dubious and plays clarinet as well as alto and C melody saxophones to lead the group. You can even coax a raucous vocal or two out of him, such as instructions on how to "Shimmy Like My Sister Kate" or the sad refrain, "My Bucket's Got a Hole In It".

Dubious Lead Horn

Bart Bartholomew on cornet is our lead horn on just about every tune and brings a twenty-first century sensitivity to the 20's and 30's music of Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke. Bart also doubles as the husband of Karen, noted below for piano, and they have made sweet music together since their student days at the University of Nebraska.


Dubious Trombones

Chase Acito is a trombonist right in the Doctor’s groove. He also sings and may take us to Basin Street or join with Tom in the sad tale of St. James Infirmary. Chase may also be recognized as an actor on “Law and Order” and other TV shows.

Dick Dreiwitz began playing in the early 1950's and has learned from and worked with such legends as Willie The Lion Smith, Lee Blair, Zutty Singleton, and Herb Hall. This led to a European tour in 1957 with the "College All Stars" and its subsequent stint alternating with the house band of Wilbur De Paris at the old Jimmy Ryan's in New York City. Dick has been active in the NYC traditional jazz scene since the ‘60’s and is an original---twenty-seven year---member of the Woody Allen "New Orleans Funeral and Ragtime Orchestra", the regular Monday night attraction, for its entire run of twenty-four and a half years at Michael's Pub in New York City as well as that band's offshoot, the "Speakeasy Jazz Babies".

Dubious Basses

Johnathon Steenstra anchors our rhythm section with his driving bass sax playing (yes, that's what that giant horn is called.) and doubles on string bass. soprano sax and the very rare and even more giant contrabass saxophone (There are less than twenty-five of these big horns in the world.).

Barbara Dreiwitz has the singular distinction of being the only female tuba player active in the field of classic jazz in the Western Hemisphere! Her career ranges from small jazz groups in New York City in the early ‘60's such as The Southampton Dixie, Racing, and Clambake Society Jazz Band and The Red Onion Jazz Band to touring Europe with The Harlem Blues and Jazz Band in the ‘70’s to original membership in Woody Allen's New Orleans Funeral and Ragtime Orchestra to Stanley's Washboard Kings and European, Caribbean and Italian tours in the 70’s & 80’s to recent radio with Jim Lowe and cabaret with Julie Wilson.

More Dubious Rhythm

Karen Bartholomew is our lovely and multi-talented pianist who is as comfortable and entertaining singing in the style of the 20's and 30's as she is proficient and impressive in modern jazz vocals and arrangements.
Dave Brown is a first call trumpet man in New York; but, does most of his work with us on drums, dropping the sticks to join Bart Bartholomew for two trumpet features reminiscent of Louis Armstrong and King Oliver.
Monroe Quinn brings banjo and guitar skills that both set our rhythm base and soar during solo strains.

Russ DiBona is Jersey-based and Jazz-friendly on drums. From traditional hot jazz ala Doctor Dubious to swing to rock and blues and mainstream jazz, Russ is the time master of them all.

All in the band live in New Jersey, from Teaneck to far-off Columbia (one of the band's favorites is an ode to Jersey girls called "Hey Engineer". They will play and sing it at the drop of a hat and you might find it becoming one of your favorites, too.).

Speaking of academics, the Dubious title is neither medical nor academic, but just for fun. Bart, however, earned a doctorate in music from Columbia University and Karen holds a master's degree in jazz vocal performance from NYU. Dave is retired from the Teaneck Public School System and holds a master’s degree in jazz performance from SUNY – Purchase. Bart is on the faculty at Yeshiva University; Karen is retired from as a teacher from the Lincoln Park, New Jersey schools and teaches piano and vocal music privately while studying arranging and composing; Barbara continues to be regularly occupied in the New York City area as one of the busiest freelancers in the traditional jazz field. Dick can be heard regularly these days at Arthur’s Tavern in New York.

Doctor Dubious originated as a group of jazz loving and occasionally jamming friends. Their goal is to provide entertaining hot jazz and have some fun along the way.

Personnel

Tom Duncan: Leader, clarinet and saxophones, vocals
Karen Bartholomew: Piano or Keyboard and vocals
Bart Bartholomew: Cornet and flugelhorn
Russ DiBona: Drums
Chase Acito: Trombone and vocals
Barbara Dreiwitz: Tuba
Dick Dreiwitz: Trombone
Dave Brown: Drums and Trumpet
John Steenstra: Bass Sax or String Bass, Soprano Sax
Monroe Quinn: Banjo/Guitar

Influences

Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Fats Waller, Eddie Condon

What to Expect

Typical Gig Duration: 60 - 300 minutes

Doctor Dubious plays the jazz of the '20's and '30's with energy and involvement. We can structure a varied program to serve any event from background music for cocktails to a theme concert for aficianados based on great musicians such as Louis Armstrong or Bix Beiderbecke. Dr. Dubious features female vocals by our piano player and male vocals by the Doctor himself on ballads and novelty tunes. Our usual line-up of clarinet, cornet, trombone, bass sax, piano, banjo and drums is expanded by doubling on alto and C Melody sax; flugelhorn; string bass and soprano sax; keyboard and guitar.
Sets are 45 minutes to a "long hour" depending on the program. We have performed one hour concerts or played for several hours at weddings and other functions.
Typical wedding cocktail party play list (no break)
SET 1
Oh Baby – F
Once In A While – C
Royal Garden Blues – F/Bb
Mood Indigo – Bb
Dippermouth Blues – Bb
Saturday Night Function– Bb
Louisiana – Ab
Muskrat Ramble – Ab
Weary Blues – F

Entr’acte

Karen Vocal Feature

Tom - Clarinet - Stranger on the Shore – F

Karen Vocal Feature

SET 2
Honeysuckle Rose – F
Wild Man Blues - Bb
Squeeze Me – F
Milenburg Joys – Bb
Can’t We Be Friends - Bb
C Jam Blues – duh!!!
Cornet Chop Suey – Bb
Oriental Strut – F
Wolverine Blues – Bb/Eb/Bb

Stage/Setup Requirements:
Power may be required for vocals or keyboard if piano not available

Additional Notes:
We can perform acoustically with power needed only for vocal mics (and keyboard if no piano available). We can provide our own power supply, amps, speakers and mics or will coordinate with the venue facilities if micing for each instrument and feed through a mixer is indicated.
Our footprint is for a piano, drum set and 5 other musicians.

Set/Song/Sequence List:
Sets are 45 minutes to a "long hour" depending on the program. We have performed one hour concerts or played for several hours at weddings and other functions.
Typical wedding cocktail party play list (no break) . . . .
SET 1
Oh Baby – F
Once In A While – C
Royal Garden Blues – F/Bb
Mood Indigo – Bb
Dippermouth Blues – Bb
Saturday Night Function– Bb
Louisiana – Ab
Muskrat Ramble – Ab
Weary Blues – F

Entr’acte

Karen Vocal Feature

Tom - Clarinet - Stranger on the Shore – F

Karen Vocal Feature

SET 2
Honeysuckle Rose – F
Wild Man Blues - Bb
Squeeze Me – F
Milenburg Joys – Bb
Can’t We Be Friends - Bb
C Jam Blues – duh!!!
Cornet Chop Suey – Bb
Oriental Strut – F
Wolverine Blues – Bb/Eb/Bb

Typical picnic or party long set . . . . .
Oh, Baby
Muskrat Ramble
All of Me
Wild Man Blues
Squeeze Me
After You’ve Gone
Dippermouth Blues
Bill Bailey
Wolverine Blues
The Mooche
Ain’t She Sweet
Ice Cream
Honeysuckle Rose
Weary Blues
I’ve Found A New Baby

Typical concert play list. . . . .
SET 1
Oh, Baby – F
Mahogany Hall Stomp – Eb
Honeysuckle Rose – F
Squeeze Me – F
My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It – F
The Mooch- Eb
Dippermouth Blues – Bb
Wild Man Blues – Bb
Wild Women Don’t Have the Blues – F
West End Blues
Weary Blues - F

SET 2

Ain’t Misbehavin’ – Eb
Melancholy Blues - F

Muskrat Ramble - Ab
Apex Blues - Bb
Copenhagen Bb/Eb/Bb
Hey Engineer – Bb/C
Irish Black Bottom - F
Milenburg Joys - Bb
Wolverine Blues – Bb/Eb/Bb
Doctor Jazz - F
I’ve Found A New Baby – F

All of the above are from recent performances

Performance Schedule

Past Booked Dates:

02-13-2011 — Haverstraw Library - 3-4 PM COncert
12-08-2010 — Cedar Crest - Pompton Plains, NJ - 7:30 - 8:30 PM COncert fro Residents
10-16-2010 — Classic Residence in Yonkers - 8-9 PM Concert for residents
08-25-2009 — Downtown Westfield Summer Jazz Series/Westfield, NJ
08-13-2009 — Concert for residents and guests/Classic Residence By Hyatt In Teaneck/Teaneck, NJ
07-29-2009 — Tenafly Seniors' Center/Tenafly, NJ
07-04-2009 — Private Party/Shawnee-On-Delaware, PA
06-20-2009 — Wedding Reception/Central Park Boathouse/New York City
06-18-2009 — Annual Picnic for Friends of the Hackensack River Greenway/Teaneck, NJ
05-09-2009 — Concert for residents and guests/Classic Residence By Hyatt In Yonkers/Yonkers, NY
04-11-2009 — Concert for residents and guests/Classic Residence By Hyatt In Teaneck/Teaneck, NJ
03-29-2009 — Concert for residents and guests/Classic Residence By Hyatt In Yonkers/Yonkers, NY
03-28-2009 — Church Fund Raiser Party/Central Unitarian Church/Paramus, NJ
02-22-2009 — Mahwah Public Library/Mahwah, NJ
01-11-2009 — Teaneck Public Library/Teaneck, NJ
12-31-2008 — First Night Maplewood-South Orange/Maplewood, NJ
11-21-2008 — Jazzberry Patch at Classic Quiche/Teaneck, NJ

CDs For Sale

Hot Jazz

Experience

2006: 25 gigs
2007: 30 gigs
2008: 35 gigs
2009: 35 gigs
2010: 35 gigs
2011: 37 gigs
2012: 25 gigs

View Complete Calendar

http://www.myspace.com/doctordubious

Available for Your

Anniversary Party, Awards Night, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Party, Bar/Lounge, Birthday Party, Casino, Christmas Party, Church Service, Club/Nightclub, Concert Venue, Convention, Corporate Event, Cruise, Dinner Dance, Fair, Festival, Fundraiser, Funeral Service, Graduation, Grand Opening, Halloween Party, Holiday Party, Hotel, Launch Party, Luncheon/Tea, Parade, Private Party, Restaurant, Reunion, Sporting Event, Trade Show, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Reception

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