Stompy Jones is a San Francisco based sextet, renowned for their jumpin' rhythm, wailing improvisations, hip charm, retro style, and explosive stage show. Whether appearing at a posh supper club, concert hall, festival or cozy tavern, these journeymen of jump deliver the romping, joyous, overwhelming style of jazz that came to be known as Rock and Roll!
Little David Rose's thumpin' stand-up bass, the double-shuffle drumming of Lee Beary, and the bounce piano of Scott Lawrence provide the rhythmic foundation of the band's jump style. Riffing on top is the trumpet sound of Robert Dehlinger and Erv Ervin on the saxophone. These two fellas create the fireworks of vintage rhythm and blues. The charming Christopher Binnings' soulful vocals have become a trademark of Stompy Jones.
BACKGROUND
Stompy Jones came into existence in May of 1998 at the Hi Ball Lounge in San Francisco. I talked the owners of the Hi Ball into letting me host a swing jam session on Tuesday nights with the intent of finding musicians interested in helping me form a rhythm and blues dance band. After a month of Tuesdays, I was set with a six-piece jump band that could recreate the jaunty blues sound of Louis Jordan and the Tympany Five.
This same scenario could have been told in the 1940s by Roy Milton, Joe Liggins, or T-Bone Walker. These musicians, all former big band members, crafting a small group sound based on the enormous success of Louis Jordan, created the Rhythm and Blues Era, as well as, the independent record industry. This West coast phenomenon became the foundation of Top 40 radio and what is now called Rock 'n Roll.
These small group sounds, the shuffle drumming, bounce piano, arpeggiated bass lines. were also the basis for Louis Prima's success in Las Vegas in the late 1950s. Prima put lounge music on the map with his revved-up jump style.
I have endeavored to recreate these historic sounds, as well as, combine these vintage elements with a contemporary sensibility, to craft the solid sound of Stompy Jones.
- Little David
