The Hoppin' John Orchestra
Live Dates- News
- Listen
- Photos
- The Musicians
- Background
- Contact Us
The Hoppin’ John Orchestra is a soul fried brass band. Foot stompin’ and free swingin‘, it’s a modern day love affair with N’awlins music and whatever else we can get our hands on. Home cooked right here in Philly.
-
Live Dates
- Many live dates are free and open to all. Some clubs ask for a small cover.Le Chocon NoirFriday February 17th, 20125070 Parkside Ave, Phila PAeveningChris' Jazz CafeFat Tuesday February 21st, 20121421 Sansom Street, Phila PA8:00 - 10:00pmNational Constitution CenterBrewer's Plate FundraiserSunday, March 11th 2012eveningGwynedd Mercy CollegeInstitute for New Orleans History & CultureWednesday, April 4th, 2012NoonMidsummer Meltdown #3Saturday June 23rd, 2012Schuykill Haven PA Music and Camping Fest1:00 - 2:00pm (most likely)With a 2nd line parade!MusikfestBethlehem, PaAugust 3-12, 2012Time, date and location TBD but we're in!
-
Wall
- Okay it's live! New Hoppin John web site allows us to pull from our various social media like Facebook and Flickr. Come visit: http://Hoppinjohn.net/
- Recently posted photos of a great night at Chris' Jazz Cafe.
- Hoppin John Turns Sweet 16!
- Hey Cats and Kittens! Tomorrow night 8-11pm @ Chris's Jazz Cafe 1421 Sansom in Phila PA The Hoppin' John Orchestra! 2 sets of NOLA inspired 2nd line, Jazz and old R & B plus NEW TUNES! with Matt Cappy, David Fishkin, Dave Champion, Lou Fuiano, Brian Cox, Pat Fink, Ryan McNeely, Rob Smith and Lauren Lark
- Wednesday! Wednesday! Wednesday! the HJO at Chris's 8-10pm 10/12 with Adam Hershberger, Tony Gairo, Dave Champion, Lou Fuiano, AJ Luca, Mike Lorenz, Rob Smith AND Lauren Lark! Opening for us at 7pm is the amazing Maci Miller Quintet in their first Philadelphia set!
- Can't begin to say HOW EXCITED I am to be sharing the stage at Chris's Jazz Cafe tomorrow night at 8 with some of my favorite musicians! It's the Hoppin' John Orchestra with special guests Mike Cemprola, Andrew Kammerle, Jay Krush and the usual fantastic suspects, Matt Cappy, AJ Luca, Mike Lorenz, Rob Smith and Lauren Lark...gonna be one for the books cats and kittens! Hope to see you there!
- Just added! 10/12 @ Chris's Jazz Cafe 8-10pm with the lovely and talented Maci Miller playing before us at 7pm....swinging!
- Hoppin John will be playing in the lovely autumn air at Mario Lanza Park this Sunday night, September 18th at 7:00pm.
- 3!!!! Count'em 3 GREAT HJO shows coming up! 9/18 Mario Lanza Park in Philly 7pm......9/24 Chris's Jazz Cafe 8pm......10/15 WRTI Donor Party TBA....details to follow, mark you calendars! Oh and stay dry and safe...Goodnight Irene!
- 7/28/11 @ Chris's Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom st., Philadelphia PA 7-10 NEW TUNES! Oliver Nelson! Colin James! Dap Kings!
- 7/20/11 @ Louis I. Kahn Park, 11th and Pine streets, Philadelphia PA 7:30 FREE! Come on out!
- 4/12/11 The Cornbread Five with Lauren Lark! Tonight at the Kimmel Center! PIFA Jazz Tuesday's 5pm! Come on out!
- 3/13/11 @ The University of Pennsylvania Museum 4pm....it's the Brewer's Plate again you beer swilling gastronomes! SUPER fun time, delicious brews paired with the cities finest eateries plus the HJO...what could be bad???
- 3/8/11 @ Chris's Jazz Cafe in Phila PA....Laissez les bon temps rouler! It's Mardis Gras!!! What better way to celebrate than with Philly's only Post-Modern NOLA Brass Band!
- 3/6/11 @ McCloone's Supper Club in Asbury Park NJ 5pm...come on Garden State heathens! It's a church fundraiser!
- Wednesday 12/29/10 @ Chris's Jazz Cafe in Phila! 10pm...come early and check out the fantastic Blackbird Society Orchestra! Help us say seeya to 2010!
- Today 9/26/10! The HJO @ 1400 N. American st. The Crane Arts Building Phila Flim & Music Festival 3pm FREE!
- HJO @ Cork
- Friday night in the City! 7/30/10 @ Chris's Jazz Cafe 1421 Sansom St Phila PA The usual suspects back from the road! New tunes!
- Yeah you right! 6/7/10 7pm at the World Cafe Live! Magic Hat's Mardis Gras night!!!! 2nd line all the way in...join us and laissez les bon temps rouler!
- April 26th @ Chris's Jazz Cafe! 8-midnight! Big Band Week! Come on out and shake yer boo-tay!!!!
-
Sets
- 7 tracks (37:43)This is a sampling the first and only studio recording of the Hoppin' John Orchestra. This 2007 recording was done at Buckeye Studio in Philadelphia and resulted in a self titled CD. We're very proud of it and hope for more in the near future.
-
Chris' Jazz Cafe | Jim Graham
-
The Musicians
MATT CAPPY
Trumpet, Cornet and Flugelhorn
Matt is a featured performer in many of Philadelphia's most eminent Soul and R and B performers. Matt graduated from the University of the Arts and almost immediately began performing and recording with the likes of JILL SCOTT, GERALD VEASLEY, MUSIQ SOULCHILD, WYCLIFF JEAN, Jay-Z AND MICHAEL JACKSON.
Find out more about Matt at: www.mattcappy.com
TONY GAIRO
Alto and Tenor Saxophones, Clarinet and Flute
Tony graduated from Temple University and has performed with nearly every Jazz luminary in the Philadelphia area. Tony has studied composition and arranging with JIM MCNEELY and has been a contributor to the NEW YORK JAZZ COMPOSERS WORKSHOP for the last three years. Tony runs his own excellent Jazz Big Band in Allentwon PA and writes and arranges for the NEWDELPHIA SAXOPHONE QUARTET.
Find out more about Tony at www.tonygairo.com
DAVE CHAMPION
Trombone
David earned a Masters degree in Music Education from VanderCook College in Chicago. He has studied privately with Jazz trombonist Roswell Rudd. Mr. Champion performs jazz and new music in and around Philadelphia. Present musical activities include pioneering the Harmonic Trombone; a slide trombone which has been amplified, harmonized and processed through the use of electronic delays and effects. He creates soundscapes, ranging from truly Ambient (minimal and nearly motionless) to Aggressive (dense and rhythmic layers of sound). David lives with his family in Doylestown, PA and teaches music in the Lower Moreland School District of suburban Philadelphia.
LOU FUIANO
Baritone, Tenor and Alto Saxophones
Lou has been an active performer in Philadelphia for nearly 20 years and has performed and recorded with the likes of MARAH, DR KETCHUP, PUBLIC SERVICE, RUDER THAN YOU, the GONE COMBO, the KANDY WHALES, the ODEAN POPE SAXOPHONE CHOIR and theNEWDELPHIA SAXOPHONE QUARTET.
BRIAN COX
Tuba, Sousaphone and Bass Saxophone
Brian is a busy performer on tuba, sousaphone, bass, and bass saxophone. He has appeared regularly with the PEABODY RAGTIME ENSEMBLE, and also has his own jazz quartet and brass quintet. Brian is also active as a conductor, and has led several area orchestras, including in performances of his own compositions. He has also done extensive research on music from the state of Delaware, and has performed, lectured on, and written articles about works spanning 250 years from Delaware. A compact disc entitled "Music from the Banks of the Brandywine" features many of Brian's musical discoveries. By day, Brian is director of music at Salesianum School in Wilmington, and has also worked in the education departments of the Baltimore and Delaware Symphony Orchestras.
AJ LUCA
PianoAJ is a fine Pianist and singer and recent graduate of the University of the Arts at which she performed in nearly all available ensembles and made quite an impression!
MIKE LORENZ
Guitar
After graduating from Moravian College in 2007 with a Bachelors of Music degree, Mike Lorenz has been a busy performer on the Philadelphia scene and it's surrounding areas. He leads his own group that performs a book of his original compositions soon to be released as a full-length CD titled, Of the Woods. When not leading his own group Mike lends his talents to such diverse groups as the Doug Hawk Proposition, Dan Peterson's Truth and Consequence, Ian O'Beirne's Slowburn, the Tony Gairo Band, the Tony Gairo Hot Three, the Dirt Party and the Hoppin' John Orchestra.
MIKE HOOD
Bass, Trombone, Euphonium and Composing and Arranging
Mike is a busy performer and educator with many of his compositions and arrangements recorded and currently performed by several well-known area ensembles, among them PUBLIC SERVICE, THE CUTTING EDGE ORCHESTRAS, SHARON KATZ and the PEACE TRAIN, the KANDY WHALES and the Grammy award winning CHESTNUT BRASS COMPNAY. He holds Bachelor and Masters degrees in Music and has performed with The Choral Arts Society, Jesse Norman and the Philadelphia Orchestra, The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Spinners, Billy Paul, Patti LaBelle, MARAH,The Stylistics, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Chuck Mangione, The Captain and Tennile, Bobby Rydell, The Phil Giordano Big Band, The City Rhythm Orchestra, 7th Division (L) Band, The DLI Pan-Cultural Orchestra and Brass Quintet, 8th US Army Band, 307th Army Reserve Band, Scram, The Paul Davis Group, RUDER THAN YOU, Shoulders of Giants, The Cads, Midnight Hour, The Blackbird Society Orchestra, The Perseverance Jazz Band and the Philadelphia Wind Symphony.ROB SMITH
DrumsRob is not only a fantastic drummer but also a Jazz Historian and budding ethnomusicologist.
LAUREN LARK
Vocals
Lauren comes to us freshly minted from the outstanding University of the arts Jazz Vocal program. A most welcome addition, Lauren brings a true Jazz sensibility to our vocal numbers and never fails to please with her delicate but powerfully employed voice.
FRIENDS AND CONTRIBUTORS
From time to time, we also employ these other well known Philadelphia Musicians | Piano and vocals John Conahan | Reeds Doug DeHays, Dave Fishkin, Louis Taylor, Mike Cemprola, Audrey Welber, Andrew Kammerle, John Rees, Eric Earhardt, Corey Riker and Ian O'Bierne |Trumpet Adam Hershberger, Chuck Gottesman, Gary McKeen, and Chris Aschman | Bass Chris Horner, | Keyboard Glenn McClelland, John Stenger, Pat Fink, Keyboard and vocals Neal Carson | Guitar Greg Wright, Neal Petti, Keith Pisarcik, Aaron Fraint, Ryan McNeely and Frank Butrey | Tuba Jay Krush | Drums Rob Smith, Darren Keith, Joe D' Alicandro and Justin Freeland-Sokol
-
Background
- The Hoppin' John Orchestra is a group of ten professional musicians from all corners of musical Philadelphia brought together to make great music. We specialize in several genres and subgenre's including the New Orleans brass band style, Jazz, both modern and historic, Dixieland and pre-Rock and Roll Rhythm and Blues. A smattering of original hard-to-define compositions rounds out our eclectic but very listenable style. We play and have played clubs, bars, jazz festivals, weddings and a funeral and are available for most any kind of special event or happening. The horn heavy sound and our talented vocalist tend to stand out whenever we play and the arrangements and transcriptions always bring folks to their feet.
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. 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. Five of the original eight members remain: Matt, Tony, Mike, Lou, and Darren.
Our very first singer, Wayne Harvey now performs in the Media 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. Over the years as our musician's 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 Darren's superhero power, we use it! (but only for good). The fluid nature of the rhythm section's 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 '30's and early 40's as well as Dave Brubek's '46 Octet and Miles' '49 Nonet. Certainly the mighty Dirty Dozen Brass band as well as Jesus Almany's 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:
Let's 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 2001Sharon 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, Fergie's Pub, Doc Watson's 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.
