[Dixielandjazz] Trombone Veteran Bob Havens Joins the Jim Cullum Jazz Band

[Don Mopsick]

Trombone Veteran Bob Havens Joins the Jim Cullum Jazz Band

Bob Havens, a virtuoso jazz trombonist known for his many appearances at
jazz festivals and concerts worldwide, has joined forces with the Jim
Cullum Jazz Band. Kenny Rupp, whom Havens replaces, will continue to
play with the band at the Landing in San Antonio two nights a week. 
Havens was born in 1930 in Quincy, Illinois and received formal musical
training on violin, piano, trombone, and composition. After serving in
the Illinois National Guard as a bandsman during the Korean conflict, He
left Quincy in 1955 to tour with the Ralph Flanagan Orchestra. In 1956
he joined the George Girrard Jazz Band in New Orleans at the Famous Door
where he met his mentor, Jack Teagarden. 

Bob left Girrard in 1957 to join the newly formed Al Hirt band which
appeared at Dan's Pier 600 on Bourbon Street. The front line of that
band was Hirt, Bob, and Pete Fountain.

During the time in New Orleans, he recorded albums for the Good Times
Jazz and Vic labels with the Girrad band and on Verve and Audio Fidelity
with Hirt. He also recorded about a dozen albums for the Southland label
with many other New Orleans musicians.
Havens is among a handful of top jazz players such as Peanuts Hucko and
Pete Fountain who rose to fame via the long-running Lawrence Welk Show
TV series. 

During the 1980s, Bob found his services very much in demand. He worked
often with the Bob Crosby Bob Cats and the Benny Goodman Orchestra.
Bob says, "I'm absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to join the
Jim Cullum Jazz Band." 

Don Mopsick, charter member of DJML says, "We're having an almost
illegal amount of fun playing jazz with Bob. At age 76 his playing shows
no sign of slowing down in the least. I have to pinch myself to make
sure that I'm not dreaming that Bob is a member of our band, and that I
get to appear nightly with him on the stand. I hope we get to lay down
some tracks with him soon."

Also, there have already been a few nights when both Kenny and Bob
played together--it's really awesome, like what it must have been like
to witness Lou and Cutty together in their prime. To paraphrase Eddie
Condon, 'I hope I get stuck with Havens forever!'

mopo

Don Mopsick, Riverwalk Webmaster