Two-Beat Bombers at Sacramento this year

Two-Beat Bombers at Sacramento 2007

Thankfully, Bill Richard's Two-Beat Bombers, a reunion band made up of top players from three or four other good bands, performed again at this year's Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. Click the image above for an album of photos from their set at the Yolo Room of the Convention Center.

Sadly, the Bombers, including Firehouse 5 Plus Two legend George Probert, were among the declining numbers of bands who play anything resembling real traditional jazz, as opposed to Tourist Dixie, Western Swing, Big Band and my personal favorite, Cajun Western Modern Bluegrass Dixie-Swing. Yeeech.

I guess the folks who run the festival, in their effort to please everyone with every form of music under the sun, have forgotten the music and musicians that got the festival started in the first place.

I realize they have to expand to bring in a wider audience to keep the festival solvent but, seriously, don't forget the girl you came to the dance with.

Photos added: Band Scrapbook

Go to http://picasaweb.google.com/spudhilton and see what the guys in the band used to look like -- and how many other fine musicians have been associated with the JNJB over the years. There are pictures from almost every era of the band's history, and as we get set to turn 27 years old, it's fun to look back. Above: A moment during practice (c. 1982) at the El Sobrante United Methodist Church, where the band first formed. (Left to right: Doug Franks, Tom Kamb, Paul Hilton, Bill Slessinger, Bruce Hilton and Bob Parker.)

New band photo

Veteran photographer Dick Schmidt took photos of the band in between church services on Memorial Day Weekend in Sacramento, CA. He took a lot of other great shots, some of which we will post later.

The guys in the photo are (left to right) Bob Parker (trombone), Bruce Hilton (leader and tuba), Paul Hilton (cornet), Bruce Stangeland (banjo), Mark Griffith (piano) and Bill Slessinger (clarinet).

Welcome trad jazz fans!

We're excited about our new blog, even though most of us aren't completely sure how to use one.

We plan to post text updates, photos and videos from the Joyful Noise's gigs, as well as post a few historical photos from our 26 year past. Feel free to comment, although keep in mind we're not known as the prettiest band in town.

All our best,

The Band