Mike Hood, Bass, Trombone, Composing and Arranging
Matt Cappy, Trumpet and Flugelhorn
Tony Gairo, Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Soprano, Alto and Tenor Saxophones
Dave Champion, Trombone
Lou Fuiano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxophones
Brian Cox, Tuba, Sousaphone and Bass Saxophone
John Conahan, Piano and Vocals
Joe Napoli, Guitar and Banjo
Darren Keith, Drums and Percussion
Lauren Lark, Vocals
Influences
Duke Ellington, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, John Kirby Sextet, Steely Dan, Raymond Scott Quintette, New Orleans R and B
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. (recipe) 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.
Six of the original eight members remain: Matt, Tony, Mike, Lou, Neal and Darren.
Our very first singer, Wayne Harvey now performs in the Media PA area as a solo singer songwriter and with area bands. Wayne performed with us in 96 and 97. Our second singer Laura Woods still performs with us occasionally and has become the mother of two lads! Laura was with us from 97 through 02 and has recorded with us on several occasions. Our very accomplished and much missed Tubist, Shane Petit, now plays Tuba and repairs musical instruments for the U.S. Army. He may still sit in once in a while. For the first recording and first few gigs way back in 96, we were also ably assisted by Guitarist Richard Tucker, Tubist Bill Frease and Drummer Web Thomas. Over the years as our musicians 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. Additionally, the discovery in 1996 of our drummer Darren has been an incredible boon to our sound. It is not as if the music is written presuming complete individual control of limbs but since this is Darrens superhero power, we use it! (but only for good). The fluid nature of the rhythm sections 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.
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 30s and early 40s as well as Dave Brubeks 46 Octet and Miles 49 Nonet. Certainly the mighty Dirty Dozen Brass band as well as Jesus Almanys 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.
Over the years the horn section from the HJO has appeared live and on recordings with area groups such as:
Marah:
Lets 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).
Performances of note include the Theatre of Living Arts, the Tin Angel, the Five Spot, the Grape Street Pub, the Black Banana, the Khyber Pass, Fergies Pub, Doc Watsons 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, Cianfrani Park and Mario Lanza Park.
RECIPE FOR HOPPIN JOHN
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups dry black-eyed peas
1 pound ham hocks
1 onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste
4 cups water
1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
1 cup shredded smoked Cheddar cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1 In a large pat place the peas, ham hock, onion, red pepper, salt and pepper. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 1 1/2 hours.
2 Remove ham hock and cut meat into pieces. Return meat to pot. Stir in the rice, cover and cook until rice is tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle shredded cheese over top, if desired. Serve
ALTERNATE RECIPE FOR HOPPIN JOHN
INGREDIENTS:
1 Trumpet
2 Reed doublers
1 Trombone
1 Guitar
1 Tuba and/or Bass
1 Drum Kit
1 Lovely and Talented Vocalist
1 Eclectic arranger/composer
New Orleans Brass Band
Early Jazz
Early R and B and/or Jump Blues
Ribald humor
Obscure Baseball pitching and batting stances
DIRECTIONS:
1 Combine ingredients over many rehearsals, gigs, meals and hangs.
2 Stir in the early Jazz, New Orleans Brass Band and Ribald humor until hilarious, crafty and interesting (about 8 or 9 years). Season to taste with vocal stylings. Sprinkle Rand B and/or Jump Blues over top, if desired. Serve hot or cool.
the Hoppin' John Orchestra's Friend Space (Top 16)
MEETING OF THE MINDS II September 11-13, 2009 Mountain View Park Wind Gap, PA (20 miles North of Bethlehem) 17 Bands $30 Presale A full weekend of camping & music
ARTISTS:
Juggling Suns Cabinet Jimkata Bohemian Sunrise Hexbelt The Big Dirty Backwoods Experiment Dakini Herbie Agent Moosehead Fellswoop Chester River Runoff UZO Displaced Peoples The Backroad South Mountain Pass Trippin on Nothing Tomm Dunn * Kyle Morgan * Mike Miz Erik From Baltimore * Will Bowers * Amanda Penecale
Meeting of the Minds II will be a full weekend musical extravaganza featuring 17 bands, late-night jams, fire performances, numerous solo artists, light shows, kids activities, food & craft vendors, camping, and music. The site, located just 20 miles north of Allentown, is a beautiful 30-acre, privately owned property in Wind Gap, PA. Our new venue features plenty of woodsy camping, permanent stage, showers, and electricity access for RV’s.
Presale tickets are just $30 for this event and include a full weekend of camping & music.
Kick off your festival season with Jibberjazz Productions
SOME KIND OF JAM 4 April 24-26, 2009 Kempton, PA 25 Bands 2 Stages A full weekend of camping & music $40 Presale tix
2009 SKOJ 4 Line-Up: The Breakfast, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Splintered Sunlight, Jazzam, Post Junction, Cabinet, Codename, The Big Dirty, Jimkata,, The Hustle, Free Grass Union, Dakini, Mason Porter, Dr. Ketchup, Turtle Soup, Beaucoup Blue, The Hoppin’ John Orchestra, Wandering Root, Euphonic Brew, The Pluckin’ Grassholes, The Lumber Truck, Pa McClenny’s Downtown Washtub Losers, Anthony Fiumano and the Medicine Chest, Mystery Fyre, The Backroad…..
* Tomm Dunn * Kyle Morgan * Erik from Baltimore * Kelly Carvin * Mike Narvaez * Will Bowers
Kick off your festival season with Jibberjazz Productions… >
Some Kind Of Jam 4 will be a full-weekend musical extravaganza featuring 25 bands, 2 stages, late-night music, light shows, kids activities, food & craft vendors, fire performances, and a sprawling 60 acre campground. This year’s line-up is the most diverse and exiting assortment of bands in the history of Jibberjazz.
2009 SKOJ 4 Line-Up: The Breakfast, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Splintered Sunlight, Jazzam, Post Junction, Cabinet, Codename, The Big Dirty, Jimkata,, The Hustle, Free Grass Union, Dakini, Mason Porter, Dr. Ketchup, Turtle Soup, Beaucoup Blue, The Hoppin’ John Orchestra, Wandering Root, Euphonic Brew, The Pluckin’ Grassholes, The Lumber Truck, Pa McClenny’s Downtown Washtub Losers, Anthony Fiumano and the Medicine Chest, Mystery Fyre, The Backroad…..
* Tomm Dunn * Kyle Morgan * Erik from Baltimore * Kelly Carvin * Mike Narvaez * Will Bowers
Presale tickets will be just $40 and include a full weekend of camping & music. Festival tickets may be purchased directly from participating bands or through JamBase Tickets via our website.
hey hoppin john! It's been a year already! I see you are on MMC around the same time as us. Maybe our venues are next door... I'll have to check. We are playing MMC Friday the 13th at the Abbey Bar at 11:30 PM.
It was great meeting you and hearing you play at World Cafe Live! You guys were killer. I LOVE the songs on this page... my favorite is Crash! Wow! Have a great day!
Ciao the Hoppin' John Orchestra - Una canzone è davvero bella quando le sue note giungono dritte al cuore! - A song is really beautiful when his notes come straight to the heart! - Una canción es realmente hermosa cuando sus notas vienen directamente al corazón!
