The Hoppin' John Orchestra
The Hoppin' John Orchestra
© 2008 Dogberry Music (796873042789)
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Post modern New Orleans brass band
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Established in 1996 as the Black Eyed Peas Brass Band, the current Hoppin' John Orchestra has seen our name, our music and our musicians evolve and change in many ways over the years. For the uninitiated, Hoppin' John is a tasty, tasty dish, one of whose main ingredients is black-eyed peas. One look at a current radio chart and one can see why the change occurred. Still and all, we find it a fitting moniker for our efforts. Four of the original eight members remain: Matt Cappy on Trumpet, Tony Gairo on Flute, Clarinet, Soprano, Alto and Tenor Saxophones, Mike Hood on Bass, Trombone, Arranging and Composing and Lou Fuiano on Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxophones.
Our very first singer, Wayne Harvey now performs in the Media area as a solo singer songwriter and with area bands. Wayne performed with us in 96' and '97. Our second singer Laura Woods still performs with us occasionally and has become the mother of two lads! Laura was with us from '97 through '02 and has recorded with us on several occasions. Our very accomplished and much missed Tubist, Shane Petit, now plays Tuba and repairs musical instruments for the U.S. Army. He may still sit in once in a while. Over the years as our musician's careers have taken off, we have been more and sometimes less active performing and have now weathered two significant hiatii. These days, our musical dish is enlivened by Adam Hershberger on Trumpet, Dave Champion on Trombone, Brian Cox on Tuba and Bass Saxophone, Joe Napoli on Guitar, John Conahan on Piano and Vocals, Rob Smith on Drums and the lovely and talented Lauren Lark on Vocals. We are all very excited to be playing out once again and bringing our special brand of New Orleans flavored Jazz, R and B and original composition to a spot near you!
As the creative director and main arranger/composer, there are a few things I try to keep in mind when selecting repertoire and composing new materiel for the group. An over all 'sound' which includes that delicious organic wind instrument timbre is certainly our aural calling card. Also, more complex and sophisticated Jazz harmonies tend to predominate. Each wind player brings a unique and special musical personality to the gumbo of sound. With this in mind, I do try to emulate one of my idols and perhaps the 'Zeus' in the pantheon of American Musical Geniuses, Duke Ellington. Among his many, many brilliant innovations, writing for the individual players in his bands was a hallmark. I try to do the same. Certainly the musicians can play anything put in front of them but there are particular musical identities which have emerged over the years and I try to keep these in mind and positively exploit them whenever possible. The fluid nature of the rhythm section's interaction in general is one of the great strengths and joys of this ensemble. There is much Jazz sensibility in our group as nearly all of us come from that school of thought and sound. There are plenty of opportunities for improvisation as well as through composed areas and pieces.
Our influences are many but in particular, the New Orleans street bands, Duke Ellington, the John Kirby Sextet and the Raymond Scott Quintette, the writing of Darius Milhaud and Ferde Grofe as well as arrangers such as Fletcher and Horace Henderson, Jelly Roll Morton, Don Redman and Bill O. Smith. The work of Mary Lou Williams and Brick Fleagle also inspire us.
Ensembles we love to listen to for inspiration include the Duke Ellington Orchestras (particularly the small group sessions from '37-'39), The Kirby and Scott small groups from the late '30's and early 40's as well as Dave Brubek's '46 Octet and Miles' '49 Nonet. Certainly the mighty Dirty Dozen Brass band as well as Jesus Almany's Cubanissimo, the Industrial Jazz Group and New Orleans guitarist and all around musician Roy Montrell. The work of James Spaulding, Don Sickler, Poncho Sanchez, Steely Dan, Tom Waits, the Millineum Territory Orchestra, the Squirrel Nut Zippers, a host of early R and B and Jump Blues artists and the band Cake also give us a boost.
Over the years the horn section from the HJO has appeared live and on recordings with area groups such as:
Marah:
Let's Cut the Crap and Hook Up Later on Tonight 1998
Kids In Philly 2000
20,000 Streets Under the Sky 2004.
John Train:
Looks Like Up 2001
Sharon Katz and Peace Train:
Imbizo 2002
Performances of note include:
the Theatre of Living Arts, the 2008 Philadelphia Flower Show, Chris's Jazz Cafe, Ortleib's Jazz Haus, the Tin Angel, the Five Spot, the Grape Street Pub, the Black Banana, the Khyber Pass, Fergie's Pub, Doc Watson's Pub, Taxi, Eden Roc, the Art Bar, the Medford Jazz Festival, the Philadelphia Clef Club, the Yardley Country Club, Louis I. Kahn Park, Gorgas Park, Gold Star Park, Cianfrani Park, Jefferson Park and Mario Lanza Park.
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the hoppin john orchestra
author: Cherylwhat an awesome CD you guys made. can't get enough of it. listen to it all the time. love the beat. saw you at the flower show, what a great performance you put on. we love you tony and louis.