Justin Tomsovic on drums plus a rotating cast of Seattle’s funkiest including, but not limited to: Nathan Spicer, organ; Ty Baillie, organ; Ari Zucker, guitar; Paul Fisher, guitar; Josh Clifford, sax.
Influences
Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, Rusty Bryant, Leon Spencer, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Idris Muhammad, Bernard Purdie, Grady Tate, Boogaloo Joe Jones, Reuben Wilson, Eddie Harris, The Adderley Brothers, Houston Person, Melvin Sparks, Jimmy McGriff, Sonny Stitt, Yusef Lateef, Eddie Harris, Charles Earland, George Benson--you get the idea.
The Rumptones play the essence of soul jazz. These groove magicians drop greasy beats that get dancers slipping across the floor like chickens on ice and listeners bobbing their heads like they’re watching a vertical tennis match. This is no fusion or R&B band. This is boogaloo. The Rumptones like their funk loose and dirty. It’s a sound rooted in jazz but meant for the dance floor. Get a taste of the finest boogaloo served up hot and juicy by The Rumptones. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Justin Tomsovic, leader of the band, cut his funky teeth playing with legendary boogaloo guitarist Melvin Sparks, whose recordings inspired the sound of The Greyboy Allstars and every other boogaloo band around today. During his time in Melvin's band Justin performed at the legendary Blue Note in New York, BB Kings, The Boom Boom Room, The Green Mill, as well multiple national and international festivals. He also recorded an album with Melvin for Savant records. Since moving from Brooklyn to Seattle in '06 Justin has been preaching the boogaloo gospel to Seattle's funk musicians and fans. Enlisting a crew of the city's most adept craftsmen of nastiness, Justin has brought a unique vision of a funky jazz sound to Seattle. Boogaloo is the funkiest jazz or the jazziest funk. It is the music that provided numerous samples for early hip-hop records. It is a sound deeply embedded in the American collective unconscious. It brings a smile of instant recognition to the face of listeners and immediately fills the dance floor. Boogaloo is the epitome of the loose funky jazz sound that knocks out dancers and listeners alike.
BIG HIGH performs live @ the High Dive in fremont this Friday! Check it out!
Here's a review of the band from the infamous Dennis Cook of Jambase.com: A touch too punchy to make the morning offerings, I stumbled in and got WOKE THE FUCK UP by Big High, a local hard rock ensemble and friends to Flowmotion that struck a first impression akin to my first mind-blowing Drunk Horse gig. Like Oakland's steel-plated punk-boogie juggernaut, Big High aren't screwing around and it wasn't a whole tune before I was shaking like a madman close to the stage. Killer tunes, a crazy tight band and a lead singer (Mesa on "vocal flyfishing") possessed of a fathomless bottom and high reachin' top end plus a leaping, fiercely engaging stage presence, and well Big High sorta rocked my widdle world. It's serious heavy muscle that puts a lil' anger and sex in your bloodstream, culminating in a frighteningly good cover of The Who's "Baba O'Riley" delivered in Dr. John style feather masks for no good reason except to be delightfully weird. If you're feeling Clutch, Parlor Mob or just dig quality hard rock you're missing out if you don't get to know Big High. At the end of their set I bellowed, quite uncontrollably, "We're awake now, motherfuckers!" Meant it, too. -- Dennis Cook--www.jambase.com www.myspace.com/bighighmusic BIG HIGH is also on facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/BIG-HIGH/134022157365?ref=nf High Dive www.highdiveseattle.com 513 N 36th St # G Seattle, WA 98103-8693 (206) 632-0212 &
Hanful of Lovin'
w Special Guest
Big High
The New Band featuring Mesa, Ari,
Sandy (Pandacon), & Steven (Project Lionheart)
Nectar Lounge Saturday May 30th, 2009 9pm
Two Birthday Parties for all Seattlites...
It's my Birthday this Wednesday September 17th
and Tyler's Birthday Next Wednesday September 24th
celebrating with drinks, food, and music... at
Rain Sushi on 45th! 7pm to 11pm
The T&A Combo
sings and plays acoustic music every Wednesday
at Rain Sushi... good beer sake and food
Online Now!
