HOPPIN' JOHN ORCHESTRA / SUNDAY, MAY 17 / Carney's Main Room, 4:30 & 6:20 PM
The Story
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. When we began, we modeled ourselves on the classic brass bands of New Orleans, especially the Dirty Dozen. We have adapted and evolved over the years and while a number of our tunes are still solidly in that style, our sets also include classic R & B from the 40’s and 50’s and even some “chamber jazz” transcriptions from the late 30’s and early 40’s. Our singers also help to ensure great variety and along with our notable local instrumentalists, never fail to excite and wow an audience.
The Sound
Led by bassist/trombonist/arranger Mike Hood, the 10-piece unit bills itself as “Philly’s only Southern-fried jazz orchestra.” That would seem to entail horns galore and a taste for New Orleans second-line grooves, jump blues, good-time funk, vintage R&B, early jazz and the odd smoky ballad.
