Prepare to dance, even if you are seated at your desk.
Duke Ellington said that the orchestra was his instrument, but I think this is even more true of the small groups he assembled for recording sessions, especially in the 1936-40 period. Guitarist-scholar Nick Rossi has been investigating, performing, and re-animating those classic but less-known works, with a wonderful band of musicians who can create the mysterious Ellington timbres and then solo most fetchingly in the idiom.
The Jazzopaters have a beautiful balance. They use the original recording as a framework (beautifully transcribed by, among others, the splendid Riley Baker) but then the solos are often original, which is what the music is all about. I’ve posted performances by the band here and here. And here are three new performances, captured by the energized Sunny Tokunaga, from only a few days ago.
JUBILESTA (Juan Tizol, 1937). Nick Rossi, guitar, leader; Patrick Wolff, alto saxophone, clarinet; Nathan Tokunaga, clarinet, tenor and soprano saxophone; Kamrin Ortiz, baritone saxophone, clarinet; James Dunning, trumpet; Victor Imbo, trombone; Rob Reich, piano; Mikiya Matsuda, double bass; Riley Baker, drums:
PECKIN’ (Cootie Williams, Harry James, 1937):
PELICAN DRAG (Harry Carney, 1940):
Exact and fervent.
But should the Bay Area have all the fun?
Swing dance bookers, concert and festival promoters, take note. I think every member of this band has an up-to-date passport and a suitcase with latches that close. Spread joy to the maximum.
May your happiness increase!
JAZZ LIVES 
On behalf of all of us involved with this project, thank you *very* much for this Michael. This music and presenting it to folks here and now is so important to us all. Anyone interested in following the band may do so via our Facebook page (website coming soon) and/or via my own web page which will soon have a Jazzopaters page and of course lists all performances.
It is excellent to hear these played in “modern sound”.
“I think every member of this band has an up-to-date passport and a suitcase with latches that close.”
I wish them good luck on this and I would also love to steal a few of their charts…figuratively speaking of course.
Their repertoire is most welcome, and the arrangements are outstanding. It’s a very good band.