Talent Overview

About Doctor Dubious and the Agnostics

Doctor Dubious and the Agnostics entertain with toe-tapping Dixieland Jazz. We perform as a seven piece band with the Doctor on clarinet and also feature cornet, trombone, piano, banjo, bass (either tuba, bass sax or string bass) and drums; but, we can downsize to meet your venue or budget requirements. We have performed for many private and corporate functions, weddings, street fairs, indoor and outdoor concerts, clubs and restaurants, and anywhere that lively, entertaining and well played music is required. We have male and female vocals and many of us double on other instruments so that we can work to your program requirements.

Biography:

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

Herbert Baier brings over forty years of traditional jazz sensitivity (there’s that word again) to his banjo and guitar strumming (Yes, banjo players can be sensitive and he basks in praise and lights up when positively reinforced.).

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.
Don Robertson has played the drums, on and off, since his high school days in Newark; mostly off during his 32-year professional career. Upon retirement in 1983 he decided to concentrate on his first instrumental love and studied diligently with drumming great Sonny Igoe. Don plays with several other traditional jazz bands as well as a 17-piece big band, Reeds, Rhythm and All that Brass.
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.

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 Chester 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 teaches in the Lincoln Park, New Jersey schools; Barbara continues to be regularly occupied in the New York City area as one of the busiest freelancers in the traditional jazz field and Herbert and Tom strive valiantly in the business world. 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.

Act Members:

Tom Duncan — Leader, clarinet and saxophones, vocals

Herbert Baier — Banjo and guitar

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

More Information:

Gig Salad Address: GigSalad.com/doctordubious_hotjazz

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Doctor Dubious and the Agnostics is listed in the following categories:

Dixieland Band in Teaneck

Jazz Band in Teaneck

New Orleans Style Entertainment in Teaneck

Party Band in Teaneck

Wedding Band in Teaneck

1920s Era Entertainment in Teaneck

1930s Era Entertainment in Teaneck