The Jazz Burros

Back in March 2005, Josh, Jonathan, and Kelly got together and started playing music after talking about it for way too long. The first time these original Jazz Burros played out was when they played the school variety show in May 2005. After that, they played a brunch every other Saturday all summer long at a local restaurant, The Smithville Cafe, which is no longer in business (not because of the Jazz Burros). In late August 2005 the Jazz Burros were forced to temporarily disband because Kelly went to college.

Fast forward to March 2006. The Jazz Burros (with a few additions) were asked to play for a school function. Joined by friends Nick Braddock and Tim Lowery on trombone and Dusty Eddy on alto and bari saxophone, harmonic possibilities increased exponentially, and Josh and Jonathan jumped at the chance to write original arrangements for "I Can't Get Started" and "The Watermelon Man." Excited by the performance, the Jazz Burros chose to perform with this group for a wedding reception they were asked to play on April 15, 2006, but the larger group has not played together since.

After a little over a year of playing together, the Jazz Burros were beginning to be irritated by their conspicuous lack of a drummer--not that they hadn't tried to find one before. They had, but jazz drummers are hard to come by in the Bastrop county area. Finally, they began playing with the newest Burro, Daniel Watson, in late May 2006, and they played their first gig with him on June 18 at Scooter's Coffee Shop in Bastrop.

Though each of the Jazz Burros could doubtless cite many important influences, they all share one in particular. Our teacher, Thad Scott, now with Marcia Ball (http://www.marciaball.com/), has influenced all of us as musicians.