The Harlem Blues & Jazz Band Reviews

(The world's most authentic swing band)

SEVENTH ANNUAL AMERICN LINDY HOP CHAMPIONSHIPS OCTOBER 21- 24, 2004

The Harlem Jazz and Blues Band is the world's most authentic swing band. It stars veteran jazz and blues musicians whose roots reach back to the class period of 20's and 30's. Together since 1973, the originals actually "jumped" at the Woodside and "stomped" at the Savoy with Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, "Fats" Waller, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Lionel Hampton, and other jazz greats. These are the artists who created a new genre of music for America. The Harlem Blues and Jazz Band are called a "national treasure," and are enthusiastically embraced by audiences around the world.

A TRIBUTE TO JAZZ PIANIST BROSS TOWNSEND

During the tribute, the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band combination played, Blues in B Flat for Hope and Bross, and included two trombones: Bobby Pring, Bill Spilka; Fred Staton on tenor sax; Bill Wurtzel on guitar; Frank Owens on piano; Michael Fleming on bass; Rudy Lawless on drums; Michael Dawson on cong percussion.

JAZZ AT THE ATHENEUM SERIES (OCTOBER 9)

Harlem Blues and Jazz Band is:

Lloyd Mayers piano: Selected by Duke Ellingtion's son, Mercer, to take over piano chair in the Duke Ellington Orchestra after Ellington' death. Sammy Davis' pianist for 11 years.

Fred Staton, tenor sax: Performed with Billy Eckstine, Howard "Sticks" McGhee, Art Blakey, and Erroll Garner. Brother of vocalist, Dakota Staton.

Fred Smith, trumpet: Played in orchestras of Lloyd Price, King Curtis, Johnny Richards, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis, Al Cobbs, George Kelly & The Jazz Sultans, and Panama Francis.

Johnny Blowers, drums: Played & recorded with Eddie Condon, Pee Wee Russell, "Wild" Bill Davison, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald Louis Armstrong and was Frank Sinatra's drummer for 12 years.

Art Baron, trombone: Played in the bands of Duke Ellington, Charlie Mingus, and Illinois Jacquet as well as leading his own group the Dukes Men.

Ruth Brisbane, vocalist: Was in the Paris production of "Black and Blue", on Broadway, played Blood Mary in South Pacific..

Michael Max Fleming, bass: Peformed with Mary Lou Williams, Clifford Jordan, Chet Baker, Sammy Davis Jr., and Billy Eckstein.

Michael Dawson, conga drums.

HOT STEAMED JAZZ 2003