HERE IS A SAMPLING OF TUNES FROM OUR NEW CD
"DEVIL'S SERENADE" NOW AVAILABLE!
LISTEN TO SELECTIONS FROM "DEVIL'S SERENADE"
THIS IS OUR ALL-1920s ALBUM DEVOTED TO BANDS FROM LOS ANGELES!
THE COMPLETE CD CONTAINS 20 TUNES, RANGING FROM 1923 TO 1930,
AND FEATURES VOCALS SELECTIONS BY OUR OWN KAYRE MORRISON, DAMON KIRSCHE, JIM ZIEGLER, AND YES, DEAN MORA.
MORA'S MODERN RHYTHMISTS was originally
formed in 1994 by Dean Mora, a Los Angeles-area pianist whose interest in the 1920s and 1930s was forged
early on as a child (he saw the movie "The Sting" when he was 11, and was instantly hooked).
Their repertoire first consisted of popular jazz hits of the 1920's and early 1930's, but soon started to
include tunes that would be considered precursors to Swing. This was reflected in their first CD,
"My Favorite Band", released in 1996, which revealed their
affinity for both the styles of Roaring '20s hot jazz and the pre-Swing Era dance tunes of the 1930's.
Following a series of small concerts around the Los Angeles area, the band was booked
at the world-famous Derby, a nightclub housed in one of the original Brown Derby Restaurants in
Hollywood. Soon, the band had garnered a reputation as one of the best swing bands in Los Angeles, and
their Monday night performances soon gained a cult following among dancers and band enthusiasts, and
they remained at the club for almost three years.
Since then, the band has played in a number of historic venues in Southern California,
including the Hollywood Palladium, the Wiltern Theatre, the Avalon Casino Ballroom,
the Alex Theatre, the Wilshire Ebell Club, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the
Biltmore Hotel, the Oviatt Building, and at both the Los Angeles and Orpheum
Theatres in downtown Los Angeles for the Los Angeles Conservancy's hugely popular
"Last Remaining Seats" series.
Mora's Modern Rhythmists have also appeared in classic
jazz festivals, including the San Clemente Jazz Festival, the Sweet and Hot Classic Jazz Festival
(Los Angeles), and the Big Bear Festival of Jazz. Corporate and organizational clients
include Pacific Bell, Toyota, The Art Deco Society, the Skirball Cultural Center, USC, Disneyland,
Occidental College, and Steven Spielberg.
Their second CD,
"Mr. Rhythmist Goes to Town," released in 1999, clearly showed
off their swing repertoire, including their penchant for off-beat, long-forgotten songs such as "Chant of the
Weed", "The Mayor of Alabam'", and "Without That Gal". This CD also marked the debut of singer Kayre
Morrison, who had joined the band in 1997. This exploration of unheard swing classics continued with their
3rd CD, "Call of the Freaks", released in 2000; this CD also features
a vocal performance of legendary showman Leonard Reed, who sings his 1932 song, "It's Over Because
We're Through", to a band accompaniment that is a transcription of a recording originally done by Leonard's
former vaudeville partner, Willie Bryant.
Mora's Modern Rhythmists continues its search of unknown swing classics, and will present them
with the same dedication to authenticity and musicianship that has earned them high praise among
record critics and fans alike.
My Dear Friends, I just wanted to drop by to say hello and see how you all were doing. I must admit that I do love to stop by for a listen to your most fantastic musical selections as well for I am quite enamoured with your style of music as it most certainly in delivers me back to one of my favourite eras. I wish you continued musical success and look forward to seeing you perform again. Respectfully Yours, Clayton Willoughby
I just wanted to drop by to say hello and take a listen to your most enjoyable music before I must be off again in a few days for another journey up north. I absolutely love "Shake that Thing" and have been wanting to add it to my repetoire. Love that line "Big fat girl let out a sneeze--blew the leaves right off the trees, oh Shake that thing." You guys really nail that song. Great arranging and fantastic musicianship. My hat is off to your band. Hope to get out and see and hear you guys in person. Respectfully, Clayton Willoughby
Hi Dean! My prayers are with you and your family, particularly your mom. I am sad to hear the breakup of MMR, but I know you need to take care of what's most important.
My Dear Gentlemen, I am hoping that your engagement tonight goes well as I am sure it will. Since you are a larger band it will have to be said, Break your legs," and if in fact you do, I know of a fantastic personal injury lawyer as well as my cousin who is an ortheopedic specialist. Take care and all the best. Sincerely, Clayton Willoughby
Hello, I just wanted to stop by to say a quick hello after having just gotten back from an engagement from which my head is spinning, This one telling me they want to handle me, this one saying stay away from agents. I just want to play my music so all this extraneous stuff is a bit confusing. Anyway, I hope the band is well and I will run into you guys in a few months when I am able to get out there. Until then, you sound fantastic and I look forward to meeting and hearing you all in person. Sincerely, Clayton Willoughby
Following a series of small concerts around the Los Angeles area, the band was booked
at the world-famous Derby, a nightclub housed in one of the original Brown Derby Restaurants in
Hollywood. Soon, the band had garnered a reputation as one of the best swing bands in Los Angeles, and
their Monday night performances soon gained a cult following among dancers and band enthusiasts, and
they remained at the club for almost three years.
