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PARLOR JAM with Vocalist Brady McKay

 

Creativity is a restless thing. Given exposure to new and alternative ideas and information, it can’t help but expand. And so it is with Brady McKay. After years of memorable performances with the Wooden Nickel Jass Band, and a spate of appearances as an independent vocalist, Brady has formed a new band, Parlor Jam, to put those new ideas on the road. Brady was eager to perform some of the different styles of music she enjoys. “This is music I don’t often hear played at jazz festivals, ”she says, “but it fits the genre.” Not that Brady has gone completely off on a tear. Parlor Jam performs classic songs of such popular giants as Fats Waller, Hoagy Carmichael, Irving Berlin, Jelly Roll Morton, and Harold Arlen. But they also draw from the well of influential blues originals like Sippie Wallace, Camille Howard, and Mamie Smith, and more contemporary jazz and blues influenced songwriters such as Tom Waits, Dan Hicks, Randy Newman and the Beatles. Adding to her expanding songbook, Brady also includes a few original songs in the repertoire. Supporting this new direction is an assembly of skillful players including John Girton on guitar and reeds, Bill Douglass on bass, Daryl van Druff on drums, David Hull on piano, Chuck Bond on cornet, and Andy Lentz on violin. The versatile and multi-talented musicians also step up to the mic for vocal harmonies. The band members respect one another’s varied backgrounds and differences in age (up to 40 years) which adds to the diversity, excitement and honesty of the music.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vocalist Brady McKay has appeared as a guest artist at jazz festivals throughout the United States and abroad, performing with Harry Allen, Howard Alden, Duke Heitger, Banu Gibson, and many others. She has produced three solo albums and five band albums, and she can be heard on several others, singing jazz and doing character work on children’s collections. In 1990, she co-founded the Wooden Nickel Jass Band, and managed the group for ten years. In 2002, she appeared at several festivals with New Orleans-based Tom Hook & Les Chiens Noir, and has subsequently performed regularly at festivals and on Jazzdagen cruises with The Pieter Meijers Quartet, in addition to her guest artist appearances. At home, she co-leads Junkyard Burlesque, a Sacramento-based group performing all original music.                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guitarist John Girton is well known throughout the world for his work as lead guitarist with Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks. He wrote and arranged material for, and recorded three albums with, the group. He was also featured for many years as guitarist, saxophonist, clarinetist, and occasional mandolinist with popular vocalist Maria Muldaur. He plays regularly in his chosen hometown, Grass Valley, California, as a soloist and with several excellent ensembles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bassist Bill Douglass has worked and recorded with Marian McPartland, Mose Allison and Tom Waits. His 40 years of musical experience includes being Director of Sierra Jazz Society and Jazz Camp in Nevada County, CA. His bamboo flute work is included in the film scores for “Never Cry Wolf,” “Black Stallion,” and “Thousand Pieces of Gold.” His bass can be heard on more than 60

recordings.

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pianist David Hull began playing piano at age three. By the time he was eight, he had played for thousands of people; by 14, he had been featured at jazz festivals around the U.S. and Canada. In 2003 David and his father, Ed, were invited to play at the Edinburgh, Scotland Jazz Festival with Winston Marsalis and others. He currently plays festivals and concerts with various groups around the country, including his pop-rock project Sleeping Giant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cornetist Chuck Bond graduated from the Peabody Conservatory of music and toured for several years with shows such as “West Side Story” and “Anything Goes.” He played for several years with Mr. Jack Daniel’s Original Silver Cornet Band. While living in Nashville, he played with Boots Randolph, Danny Davis, the Nashville Symphony and Opera Orchestras, the Tennessee Repertory Theater. He was a founding member of the Titan Hot 5. His varied work since moving to Sacramento includes appearances with Joe Craven, Jackie Greene, The Bennys, and The Sacramento Choral Society & Orchestra.

 

 

Drummer Daryl Van Druff began playing professionally at age 15 in Los Angeles. He studied drums with Carlos Vega, Murray Spivack and Ralph Humphrey. After high school, he was part of the L.A. music scene for many years. Today he works part-time in a variety of jazz groups in Sacramento. In the last five years, he has enjoyed a musical second wind and is busy with live dates

and studio work.

 

 

Violinist Andy Lentz brings a variety of musical styles to Parlor Jam. After starting classical training at age six, he became interested in Celtic and bluegrass fiddling and continues to perform in many styles. He is a member of several ensembles in the area, most notably the UC Davis Baroque Ensemble, and the Mad Cow String Band, a Davis-based bluegrass band.