buzzz worthy. . .
(New York, NY) -- Based in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, this tight combo of veteran musicians brings new energy to a style that has its roots in the swing era. The New Jump Blues blends up-tempo elements of blues and jazz and adding touches of calypso.
(New York, NY) -- Based in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, this tight combo of veteran musicians brings new energy to a style that has its roots in the swing era. The New Jump Blues blends up-tempo elements of blues and jazz and adding touches of calypso.
The ensemble showcases dynamic front man Antonio "Huggy Bear" Fargas who gained fame as an actor earning the nickname as the iconic street character from the mid-'70s television series Starsky & Hutch. He has also appeared in countless films such as "I'm Gonna Get You, Sucka", "Foxy Brown" and played a recurring role Everybody Hates Chris.
The New Jump Blues also features additional vocalists Adrian Battle and Airreal Watkins and is packaged as an exuberant revue-style stage show with dazzling choreography giving its audience an authentic dancehall experience reminiscent of the 40's and 50's.
The band taps into that infectious energy, setting a modern tone while building the traditions of the great jump blues artists of yesteryear, such as Tiny Bradshaw, Wynonie Harris, Louis Jordan, and Ella Mae Morse.
The band celebrates the art of the swing style with having performed at events like Twilight Series, Central Avenue Jazz Festival and the Hollywood & Highland Summer Jazz Concert Series as well.
One standout performance at last year's Playboy Jazz Fest's Community Concert prompted Don Heckman's strong praise in the International Review Of Music in which he described a New Jump Blues performance: "Their opening number immediately showcased the essence of their art with fast-stepping choreography and rapid-fire vocals".
Currently, The New Jump Blues is laying plans to continue spreading jump blues tradition throughout the universe.