About the music
Jazz is a unique American Art Form. It evolved in New Orleans from roots in Africa, Europe and the Caribbean among Blacks, Creoles and Whites. This musical evolution may never have been possible without the melting pot environment of the Crescent City and the ambiance of Mardi Gras. As Louis Armstrong would say early in the 20th century, "There was music everywhere and when those Mardi Gras bands started to play, those cats would swing up a mess, no foolin."
About 1915, jazz started to move from New Orleans northward to Kansas City, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. Prohibition sped up the process as the music became a favorite in speakeasies. It became America’s popular music in the 1920s and thereafter spread worldwide.
Barbone Street Jazz is a continuation in the evolutionary process of Dixieland. We seek to put our own stamp on the Dixieland form of jazz by combining our individual styles into a free swinging band sound. We match the rhythm section to the function. For example, in concert, we often use a modern jazz guitar, and/or piano as the primary chord instrument, which results in a very different Dixieland sound.
We are proud to be a functional jazz band. Dixieland was always functional music in that it was played for dancing, or parties, or in clubs and concert halls with a view towards being good time, happy music. That is what we provide, good time happy music for all occasions.
As a result, we do about 160 gigs a year and have become the most sought after jazz band in our part of the world.
For Booking information call Steve Barbone. 610-998-0431
email: barbonestreet@earthlink.net