The current Bob Crosby Bob Cats are a continuation of the line of highly skilled musicians, who for 70 years have set the standard for ensemble oriented Chicago style jazz. Since they first appeared in 1937 as a band within a band, the Bob Cats have been recognized around the world for their hard swinging musicianship as well as for their ability to deliver smooth, danceable ballads.

Not content to adhere to the pop repertoire of their day, the Bob Cats achieved acclaim for original works and for the use of musical material traced to their New Orleans roots. Taking our lead from them, today’s Bob Cats are not just a ghost band emulating musicians of the past. They are present day musicians, the majority of whom appeared as Bob Cats under Bob Crosby’s leadership until his passing in the spring of 1993. The Bob Cats are proud to keep the tradition alive.

Band member are:
Ed Metz, Sr., leader, piano, arranger
Davie Jones, cornet
John Orsini, soprano & tenor sax
John Otto, reeds
Harold Johnson, trombone
Tim Metz, bass
Spencer Reed, guitar
Bob Rawsthorne, drums

Here is a territory band from Dayton, Ohio which is magnetized by the moment in the late 1920's and early 1930's when classic jazz evolved into small band swing. The fluidity and polyphony of the front line remained intact, while the driving rhythm of the banjo and tuba was lightened by the substitution of guitar and string bass. Unhampered by the horn sections and written arrangements of the big band jazz that captured the years from the dawn of the depression through the denouement of World War II, the music left lead players free to explore their individual creativity with the support of a "modern" rhythm section. After amassing and absorbing the wonderful music of the giants of jazz and the schools and styles of New Orleans, Chicago, New York, Kansas City and San Francisco, the aficionados who used to be affectionately termed "mouldie fygges" would scour the second hand stores for recordings from the "territories" -- those areas of lighter population density where under-recorded and under-appreciated bands often established their own sound and local traditions. As inheritors of its territorial approach to traditional jazz, the Classic Jazz Stompers have enjoyed almost two decades of pleasurably fanning the flames of that tradition. Band members are: David Greer, leader/banjo/guitar Chris Moore, cornet Erik Greiffenhagen, clarinet, soprano & tenor sax Greg Dearth, violin, banjo, guitar, mandolin Gordon Moore, trombone Ted DesPlantes, piano John MacQueen, string bass Jim Leslie, drums

The leader and drummer of this group from Davenport, Iowa, is approaching the ripe old age of, 26? That’s right! Josh Duffee has been performing with his orchestra for the past five years, and has been a crowd and band favorite each year at the Bix Jazz Festival.

Josh and his orchestra have faithfully re-created the authentic sounds of the Jean Goldkette Orchestra’s from the 1920’s, with the help of the incredibly talented Frank Van Nus from Holland.

With strong influences like Bix Beiderbecke, Jean Goldkette and the New Wolverine Jazz Orchestra from Australia under Josh’s belt, let Josh Duffee & His Orchestra take you back on a musical journey through the 1920’s and 30’s with its sound, appearance, and incredibly hot music!

The Mighty Aphrodite Jazz Band is an exciting group of young women from up and down the west coast of Canada and the United States.  Ranging in age from 24-28, these six dynamic females make up one of the hottest new bands to enter the world of classic jazz and beyond.  The group features a hard swinging rhythm section, a New Orleans style front line, strong soloists, vocal harmonies on original arrangements of tunes from the 20's, 30's and 40's, and of course that female touch.  Be prepared for something different!
 
The group was founded and is currently led by trumpeter Bria Skonberg of Vancouver and clarinetist Claire McKenna of Seattle.  Together since 2005, Mighty Aphrodite has been growing and expanding their repertoire and have over 10 hours of music in their book from all eras of jazz.  They have taken the traditional jazz festival circuit by storm having played over 25 festival dates in the last four years.  With repeat invitations to most of these festivals, they have become very popular and are known to draw a crowd with their energetic music and vibrant personalities.  They have also played for various swing dances and private parties, and have been featured artists on two jazz cruises.
 
The group released their third disc entitled "What A Little Moonlight Can Do" in the Spring of 2008.  This CD features unique versions of old favorites, several three and four part vocal arrangements and one of a kind scat choruses that contribute to MAJB's trademark sound:  Smart and sassy jazz at its best!
Visit their web site at www.mightyjazz.com

more info coming soon...

 

 

 

Since forming in 1981, the St. Louis Stompers have played a mixture of Chicago and New Orleans style traditional jazz and Dixieland, reminiscent of Bix, Jelly Roll and King Oliver.

Check out our Schedule for the latest additions to our festival schedule. The Stompers have performed at many jazz festivals including the Bix Beiderbecke and Cedar Basin Festivals in Iowa, Suncoast Dixleland Jazz Classic in Clearwater, festivals in Fresno CA and Ogden UT and the Orange County CA Jazz Festival. Past engagements include the Dixiefest at Clear Lake IA, Great River Jazz Society of Hannibal, St. Louis Jazz Club, Goldenrod Showboat and countless parties and concerts across the Midwest.

Band member are:
Steve Lilley
Pat Arana
Dave Majchrzak
Mike Lilley
David Zink
Jack Tartar
 

Visit their web site at www.stlouisstompers.com

With the exception of the young Mr. Bennett we've all been playing around the musical barn for much of the last half of the 20th century.  Our families were musical and we picked up plenty from them and the recordings they made available to us.

For whatever reason we all heard "the call" and have managed to hang on since, despite the onslaught of various incarnations of pop "noise" masquerading as music for far too long. So hats off to Joplin, Blake, Beiderbecke, Armstrong and all the other New Orleans pioneers black and white, Teagarden, Goodman, Waller, Ellington, Basie, Dorseys, Wilson, Tatum, Garner, Condon, Hackett, and the countless others who have kept the jazz torch burning for the last 100 yearsor so.  We continue creating and recreating the joy!

Band members for the festival will be:
Dave Tatrow - Trumpet
Keith DeWitt - Trombone
Dave Bennett - Clarinet
Randy Morris - Piano
Frank Steed - Bass
Paul Scavarda - Banjo/Guitar
Dick Maley - Drums

The mission of the Bix Youth Band is to educate and provide performance opportunities for high school musicians from the Quad Cities region. They concentrate in learning the music from the era of Bix Beiderbecke’s time: the 1920’s and early 1930’s. This is a “gap” in most music education since it predates popular high school jazz material of today. We believe that learning and performing the amazing music of that period results in a better and more complete musician.