J.J. Swing Band to Play Jazz & Blues Weekend
J.J. Swing Band to Play Jazz & Blues Weekend
The J.J. Swing Band Will Be a Part of The Upcoming Ellicottville Jazz & Blues Weekend, July 27th
The band J.J. Swing will be part of the Ellicottville Jazz & Blues Weekend as they perform Saturday, July 27 from 1:00-4:00pm at the Winery of Ellicottville.
Formed in 1999 as a swing band, which was the genre that was popular at the time, they played local events like the Taste Of Buffalo, the Erie County Fair and local bars. The band only played in the summer, which is why they were considered a “summer event band.” After a year or so they decided to become a fall and winter band as well, and they are now a year round band and have found their niche as a local popular band that has quite a fan following.
As swing music started to decline, J.J. Swing started on a different path as far as the music they played, which is prominent in horns, allowing them to play the music of bands like Steely Dan, Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, and more.
I caught up with drummer, Jim Linsner, recently and we talked about the musical background the members have as far as their education and their continuous support and teachings of up and coming musicians. We also talked about the rise of tribute bands and what to expect from their show.
With a state of the art sound and lighting systems and a major list of songs in their repertoire this is a band you want to see and follow.
Current members:
Joe Mombrea - Lead Vocal, guitar
Tory Arena - Vocals
Dave Hill - Vocals, Guitar
Jerry Sampson - Vocals, Bass
Jim Wynne - Keyboards, Bass
Jim Runfola - Vocals, Tenor Sax
Harry Fackelman - Alto Sax, Baritone Sax
Pim Liebman - Trombone
Rick Keller - Vocals, Trumpet
Jim Linsner – Drums
For more information on the Jazz & Blues Weekend visit: ellicottvilleny.com
For more information on the band visit: jjswing.com
A CONVERSATION WITH JIM LINSNER
HULICK: We’re looking forward to seeing you at the Ellicottville Jazz & Blues Festival July 27th. Have you played the festival before?
LINSNER: No, we haven’t, but are really looking forward to it.
HULICK: When was the band formed?
LINSNER: The band was formed in 1999. This year is our 25th anniversary!
HULICK: You’ve been described as a high energy rock band with horns. Is that how you and the band would describe it?
LINSNER: Absolutely!!!!
HULICK: Starting out you were a “summer event group.” There’s certainly no shortage of summer festivals here in Western New York. In 2000 you decided to continue performing through the fall and winter. Are you performing year round now?
LINSNER: Yes we are and we love it.
HULICK: Originally the band did songs by Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, Blood Sweat & Tears and Steely Dan to name a few. Since then you’ve added songs by Stevie Ray Vaughn, Van Morrison and others. You’ve also changed your stage attire of suits to a more relaxed style. I would have thought the suits would be pretty tough to handle when we get our few days in July that is considered our summer. LOL
LINSNER: Actually, we started out as a swing band (hence the name). We played music by Brain Setzer, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Cherry Poppin’ Daddies. This was because swing music had become very popular in the late 1990s. As the new swing craze faded we added more classic rock and dance music that featured horns.
HULICK: There seems to be a rise in tribute bands the past couple years. I think that bands from the 1960s through the 2000 plus years have created a resurgence of great music that you can understand and relate to through the casino circuit. That has been tapped as an amazing tool for them to play in smaller venues with a more intimate setting, and I think younger music fans are getting into the music from those decades.
LINSNER: I’ve definitely seen a rise in tribute bands. We’ve jumped on the band wagon by playing quite a lot of Steely Dan music. Great song writing and virtuosic musicianship is so much fun to recreate.
HULICK: Buffalo and the Western New York area has become a haven for the music scene over the past couple years, which is great. Have you seen that happening?
LINSNER: Yes! Although I feel that there have always been great musicians in Western New York.
HULICK: Reading all the bios of the members of JJ Swing shows a history in music studies and degrees which has lent itself to teaching locally.
LINSNER: Most of the band members are music teachers as well as performers. Two of the horn players are career high school band directors. Two others teach at Western New York colleges.
HULICK: It also shows the band members working with some heavy hitters like Goo Goo Dolls, Johnny Mathis, Bonnie Raitt, Maynard Ferguson, KISS, Frankie Valli and so many more. It’s impressive at what everyone has accomplished. You yourself won “Top Original Drummer” from the Buffalo Music Awards, not to mention you co-authored the instructional drum method called “Groovezilla.”
LINSNER: Yes, I’ve been a private drumming instructor since 1990 and I’ve written a few books on different aspects of drumming.
HULICK: Do you have a favorite place to play?
LINSNER: I’m pretty sure everyone in the band would agree that The River Grill is our favorite place to play. We’ve been there every summer month for about the last 15 years! The staff, food, and atmosphere are just pure joy.
HULICK: Is there a practical joker in the band?
LINSNER: Not really, but we all love to laugh.
HULICK: What can we expect from your show?
LINSNER: You can expect to see and hear a 10-piece band of highly talented musicians and singers recreating your favorite Steely Dan tunes for the first set. In the second you, won’t be able to sit still because we’re going to play some classic, booty shakin’, soulful dance music that you’ll be singing along to.
HULICK: Do you have a message for everyone coming out to see you at the Festival?
LINSNER: Yes. Be thankful for Ellicottville and the committee that puts together these shows. We’re all going to have a blast!!!!