The Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band formed in New Orleans during the hot, humid afternoons of September 2009, when the living was easy, the heat was relentless, and work for musicians was, of course, very slow. Trombonist Colin Myers and bassist John Joyce had just returned from a trip to Europe and were anxious to see what trouble they could cause by busking on Royal Street. They called up Sean Clark, a drummer with whom they had performed many exciting street shows the previous spring. Then Colin remembered having met the stupendous banjoist Lee Floyd one night while he was sitting in with the band at Fritzel’s. A couple phone calls later, and the Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band was performing its first street show for the tourists who dared to brave New Orleans during hurricane season. In the days, weeks, and months that followed, they became more and more comfortable playing with each other and developed their signature energetic groove and witty musical banter.
An enormous thank you to all of our fans from Royal street to Bourbon Street to Frenchmen Street, to everyone at Fritzel’s and the Spotted Cat, to all the musicians we’ve been fortunate enough to work with, to jazz lovers worldwide, and to New Orleans and its people. We are blessed to live in a city home to some of the most inspiring, creative, generous, and of course quirkiest people on earth.
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