By ERIK McINTYRE
Submitted by PEMBERVILLE OPERA HOUSE
Michigan traditional jazz performer John “Tbone” Paxton will bring his band the Old Town Stompers to the the historic Pemberville Opera House, 115 Main St., Pemberville, for a Live in the House concert, Saturday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $12 and are available at Beeker’s General Store, at the door or by contacting Carol at 419-287-4848 or from www.pembervilleoperahouse.org.
Roughly one century after the repeal of prohibition, a distinct troupe of musicians gathered in a dimly-lit nightclub in Lansing, Michigan’s Old Town neighborhood to partake in a soirée celebrating the history and aesthetics of the 1920s. This ensemble, curated by bandleader John “Tbone” Paxton, gave their inaugural performance with such immediate joy, ease, excitement, and chemistry, that it seemed as though they had been working together for decades.
The event was such a success that they began getting called on for more performances, and the Old Town Stompers were born. With the primary goals of inspiring connections with audiences and simply having a good time sharing their talents, T-Bone and the Stompers relate an authentic translation of the studied yet spontaneous spirit of 1920s traditional jazz. They take inspiration from historic recordings by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Sidney Bechet, Jimmie Noone, Bix Beiderbecke, Frank Trumbauer, and so many more.
The skill and love that each member pours into the group manifests into a collective energy that is greater than the sum of its parts, which has been known to cause involuntary smiles, laughter, foot-tapping, and feelings of transcendence.
To experience this band live may feel like a trip back in time, but it also shows you that this music is truly for the here and now, as it always has been.
In an interview discussing “Joys”, his second album as a bandleader, Paxton had this to say to Gary Graff of the Oakland Press: “I’m no visionary, cutting-edge changer of the art form, but I love to be in it and to use it to reach people so I can make their spirits feel lighter and bring some emotional and spiritual relief to them. It’s an esoteric art form that can raise people’s consciousness and hopefully lift them to another place.”
