[Dixielandjazz] N'AWLIN'S GUMBO KINGS

[Steve Barbone]

Anybody in Dallas heard this group? Sounds like an extraordinary band.
Rebecca, you might want to check their website and make a visit to Tierney's
when they are performing there. Let us know how they sound.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone 

N'Awlin's Gumbo Kings
http://www.gumbokings.com/

Bobby Breaux (drums)
Originally from New Orleans, Bobby Breaux has been playing and teaching in
the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1983. After receiving his Bachelor of Music
Education degree from Loyola University in 1977 he traveled throughout the
USA, Canada, Mexico and Europe performing with Al Hirt, Ellis Marsalis, and
The Woody Herman Orchestra. Bobby has worked for numerous entertainers such
as: Bob Hope, Frank Gorshin, Brook Benton, Jim Hall, Eddie Daniels, Pete
Christlieb, Bobby Shew, Eartha Kitt, George Kirby, Joe Williams and the
Gatlin Brothers, to name a few. He has also performed on several commercial
recording sessions for accounts such as: Popeye's Chicken, Great America
Theme Parks and BBC's Radio One. He has also played drums and percussion for
various stage shows and musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar, Hello
Dolly and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Brad Herring (trombone)
Born in the Gulf Coast town of El Campo, Texas in 1960. While in high
school, Brad was a four-year member of the Texas All-State Bands and won
numerous outstanding soloist awards on trombone and euphonium at the state
level of solo and ensemble contest. Upon entering college, Brad began
private studies with Dr. Neil Humfeld at East Texas State University
followed by Charles Hurt, professor of trombone at Southwest Texas State
University,and Dr. Donald Knaub, former professor of trombone at the Eastman
School of Music. While living in the Austin area, Brad performed with the
Austin Symphony as well as shows including the Ringling Bros. circus band,
Ice Capades, Holiday on Ice and with personalities such as Mel Torme, Steve
Lawrence, Johnny Mathis, The Bee Gees and the Four Freshmen. The Colony, TX
is now home for Brad, his wife, and three children where he is active as a
live and studio musician as well as a private low brass instructor and
clinician in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.

Steve Howard (trumpet)
Born in Dallas, Texas in 1951, Steve grew up in a home filled with music.
Steve¹s father played piano and guitar, introducing him to jazz standards
and Dixieland music at an early age.  Steve began playing trumpet in the
school band in fourth grade. By the time he was in high school, he had
become skilled enough as a trumpet player to be chosen for the Texas
all-state high school band. Believing he was destined for a career in music,
Steve accepted a music scholarship to Henderson State College in Arkansas.
After two years in Arkansas, he transferred to the famous jazz school at
North Texas State University. Steve jumped at the opportunity to move to New
Orleans a few years later to work with famous songwriter/record producer
Allen Toussaint. As first call lead trumpet player at Allen¹s studio, Steve
performed on such hits as Patti LaBelle¹s ³Lady Marmalade² and Allen
Toussaint¹s ³Southern Nights² LP. Paul McCartney met Steve on a trip Paul
made to New Orleans to study the regional musical styles and to record.
Steve was hired away from Touissant¹s Sea Saint Studio by McCartney and
asked to join the Wings Over America tour. He performed and recorded with
McCartney from 1975 to 1980. For the next two decades Steve continued to
record and perform with artists such as Dr. John, Albert Collins, Ray
Charles, Junior Wells, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Edgar Winter, and German
superstar Peter Maffay. Steve¹s playing has always been influenced by New
Orleans music. Those early days on Bourbon Street with his dad made an
indelible imprint on his style and infused him with a lifetime love of New
Orleans jazz. The N¹Awlins Gumbo Kings represent a joyous return to his
musical roots. 

Brian Piper (piano)
Brian grew up in a musical family. His parents met in New York in the 50¹s,
performed and traveled with many of the biggest musical names of the day,
and eventually settled in Hollywood, California, where Brian was born. In
1967 the family moved to Texas, where his father became writer and producer
for two of the largest "jingle" companies worldwide. As a child, Brian
became a professional musician at age 10, when he began singing commercials
for Manor Bread and Dole bananas, as well as many others. Brian has followed
in his father¹s footsteps and has also blazed a trail of his own in the
commercial music industry. He was Vice President and Director of Operations
at The Axcess Group in Dallas for several years and now has his own company,
Piper Nagy Media. From local jingles to national advertising campaigns,
Brian has written, produced and/or performed music for Miller Brewing,
Barbecues Galore, Ford, John Deere, Wyndham Hotels, American Airlines and
countless others. Recently he produced the music for NBC Sports Arena
Football League. He has become one of the most sought after studio musicians
in the business. Brian is also in demand as a conductor, orchestrator,
arranger and producer.
As a player he has made quite a name for himself, performing and recording
with musicians and artists of all musical styles, from Texas legends Jerry
Jeff Walker and Lloyd Maines to jazz greats Cab Calloway, Kenny Rankin and
Clark Terry. He has conducted for Eartha Kitt, Rosemary Clooney and many
others as the assistant musical director at Dallas¹ famous Venetian Room in
the Fairmont Hotel. He has also played for the Dallas Summer Musicals and
traveled with New York touring companies of several shows, including Grease
and Godspell. He has worked with actors James Earl Jones, Tim Curry, Kris
Kristofferson and Patrick Bergen. He has recently performed with Sheila E,
Will Kennedy, Mike Davis and Bill Reichenbach.
Brian can be heard locally performing with bassist John Adams and singer
Rosana Eckert, and is finally underway with his first jazz trio recording
project, featuring Lynn Seaton and Ed Soph, on the 90th Floor record label.
Be sure to check him out with a new contemporary jazz band called Tactical
Jazz, which is starting to make quite a splash! Brian¹s first love in music
has always been jazz, especially New Orleans jazz, so what could be better
than playing with the Gumbo Kings?  Brian lives in Lewisville, Texas (just
across the bridge from the infamous de facto ³home base² of the Gumbo Kings,
Tierney¹s 


Mike Sizer (clarinet)
Michael Sizer's professional career has taken him to a number of musical
venues around the country, including a stint on the riverboat Mississippi
Queen and on to New Orleans. There, he spent six years touring with the
Dukes of Dixieland and playing numerous engagements at such famous French
Quarter hot spots as the Maison Bourbon, Court of Two Sisters and many
others. A career change took Mr. Sizer to San Francisco, where his main call
was studio recording. His work has appeared in many ads and industrial
videos. Since his move to Dallas, TX in 1995, he has become the "first call"
for many local agents and contractors. Also a talented arranger/composer,
some of his arrangements are still used by the Dukes of Dixieland, and his
work can often be heard on PBS and cable TV as background music.
In 1998, Mr. Sizer appeared as a guest soloist with the Texas Wind Symphony
on two separate occasions. His swing arrangement, "A Glimpse of Goodman,"
was premiered in the spring, and a November 1998 concert in Ft. Worth's Bass
Concert Hall saw the premiere of the work Mr. Sizer performed with the ASB
on February 17, 2000, the jazz arrangement "French Quarter Suite."

Kerby Stewart (bass)
Bassist Kerby Stewart grew up in Ft. Worth, and has established himself as a
first-call sideman both in the recording studio and in live performance. His
big band credits include the North Texas State University One O' Clock Lab
Band and the Stan Kenton and Woody Herman orchestras; he has also performed
with a long list of jazz and pop music stars, including:
Mel Torme, Ray Price, Tony Bennett, Gary Burton, Mose Allison, Chet Atkins
Stan Getz, Jim Hall, Phil Woods, Louis Bellson. On the other side of the
microphone, Kerby has established himself as a successful educator. He is an
active teacher and clinician, not only on bass and improvisation, but also
in the field of recording technology.