In Memoriam of

those Musicians No Longer With US

Bill Rowe - Drums (Leader) May, 2012

Bill realized a life long dream at the age of 50, when he started playing drums under the tutelage of several active drummers in the area. After a fire burned down the local nightly jazz hangout (the Bratwursthaus in Arlington), some of the musicians met weekly at Bill's house to get their licks in. This was the beginning of the Not-So-Modern Jazz Quartet. (See the Band History) The band played many gigs in the early years, but in 1985 it started playing regularly at Jacques Cafe in Arlington, and they were there for eleven years until it closed. Bill styles himself in the quiet, steady drumming of Zutty Singleton and Dave Tough.  

MASON "COUNTRY" THOMAS August 23, 2011

Country was the consummate musician's musician, playing all the reeds as well as string bass and trombone.. He played in many of the big bands, including five years in Las Vegas. His bass saxophone in the early days at Jacques provided the quartet with both an underlying support bass line and some of the most beautiful solo work ever heard on this unusual instrument.

MORT LANGSTAFF  December 7, 2009

Mort was a well known solo piano player as well as a member of many different bands since the early fifties when he was with the Air Force Band.  He played with us regularly at our Westlawn Inn gig.

WALLY GARNER August 24, 2005

David "Wally" Garner died on August 24, 2005 of complications from lung cancer.  He had been a member and musical leader of the Not-So-Modern Jazz Quartet since 1990, a span of 15 years.  He will be missed by all who came to know him, play with him and hear him. He has played many venues over a 50 year period, including a long stint for Sunday brunch at the four seasons with Larry Eanet and Tommy Cecil.  He joined the NSMJQ in 1990 when Mac McGown the original reed player could no longer perform, and became the musical soul of the band.  Wally chose his instrument at age nine after hearing Benny Goodman on the radio. He remembered paying 35 cents to listen to Goodman play two live shows a day at Washington's Capitol Theater in 1937 and 1938. Born in Georgetown and lately a resident of Falls Church, Wally studied with Tommy Dorsey, trombonist Raymond Casey, and Goodman saxophonist Lee Hardesty. Wally, of course, styled himself in the Goodman tradition, and has appeared in concert at the Smithsonian, Blues Alley, Manassas Jazz Festival, and the Kennedy Center Theater.

WILD BILL WHELAN  August 21, 2003

Wild Bill Whelan, a long time member of the Not-So-Modern Jazz Quartet, died on August 21, 2003. Wild Bill was a fixture on the Washington area jazz scene for over forty years as a cornet player, playing in the style of Bill Davidson. He is known for his many years at the old Bayou. In his later years Bill took up the string bass, playing a strong and melodious beat. In spite of his many physical difficulties which kept him from playing his first instrument, he continued to sing with us at our regular Thursday night jam sessions until just two weeks before his death. Bill was a great supporter of traditional jazz, and generous in his support of musicians both accomplished and beginners.  His encouragement to beginners resulted in many fine new musicians playing the jazz scene.  

Other members of the NSJMQ no longer with us

William (Bucky) Buckingham                        Piano*

Jim Green                                                        Tenor Sax

Tom Nieman                                                    Piano

Monroe (Mac) McGown                              Clarinet*

Steve Jordan                                                    Rhythm Guitar

William (Billy) Goodall                                   Bass

Dave Kaseman                                  Reeds

Ron Kirkpatrick     Rhythm Guitar

Frank Borror                                                   Bass*

William (Wild Bill) Whelan              Bass, Vocals             2003

Wally Garner                                                  Clarinet                     2005

Charles LaBarbara                                        Guitar                        2007

Larry Eanet                                                    Piano                          2008

Mort Langstaff                                               Piano                         2009  

Alan Webber                                                  Trombone                2011

Mason Country Thomas                                  Clarinet, Bass        2011         

*Original Members of the NSMJQ