Biography
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. Five of the original eight members remain: Matt, Tony, Mike, Lou, and Darren.
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. 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.
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. The various projects of the members of the former Squirrel Nut Zippers, the Industrial Jazz Group and the Beau Hunks various projects also give us great inspiration.
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, a host of early R and B and Jump Blues artists and the band Cake also give us a boost.
Performances of note include the Theatre of Living Arts, Chris's Jazz Cafe, 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, Jefferson Park, Cianfrani Park and Mario Lanza Park.
Instrumentation
Mike Hood, Bass, Trombone, arranging and Composing/transcribing
Matt Cappy, Trumpet and Flugelhorn
Tony Gairo, Flute, Clarinet, Soprano, alto and Tenor Saxophones
Dave Champion, Trombone
Lou Fuiano, alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxophones
Brian Cox, Tuba, Sousaphone, Bass Saxophone
John Conahan, Piano, Keyboards and Vocals
Joe Napoli, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Banjo
Darren Keith, Drums
Lauren Lark, Vocals
Discography
Our Self titled CD!
Most tracks available on our web site and on MySpace as well as for sale on Digstation.com
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 (this record also features Darren).
Links
| http://www.hoppinjohn.net |