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Welcome!
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Location courtesy of Distillery 209 |
Bug Horn Rex is a street band dedicated to bringing the sound and energy of traditional New Orleans music to parties, festivals and fund raisers in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The flexible horn-based lineup of Bug Horn Rex allows for unique performance opportunities at any event, indoors or out, stationary or mobile, day or night.
Origins
Bug Horn Rex was formed in 2004 by clarinetist Erik Rosenquist and trombonist Mark Proudfoot after a late night discussion revealed a common appreciation of traditional jazz.
These experienced arrangers assembled a group of traditional street band musicians to perform high-energy arrangements of jazz standards mixed with stylistic adaptations of modern music.
After honing chops as a sister group of the California Repercussions at festivals locally and on international tour, Bug Horn Rex debuted as an independent act the opening of the Poor House Bistro, an authentic New Orleans restaurant near the arena in downtown San Jose.
New Orleans native trumpeter Todd Gray joined Bug Horn Rex in 2006, bringing his natural and easy style to the front of the band.
Lineup
The basic lineup of Bug Horn Rex is trumpet, trombone, clarinet, tenor sax, tuba, and drums.
This lineup is adjusted according to performance requirements and often includes banjo and string bass in lieu of tuba. When mobility is required, the standard drum set is replaced with marching equipment.
Accomplished vocalist Ray Wilcox is a regular performer with the band, providing bluesy and soulful renditions of classic vocal charts.
Performances
Bug Horn Rex is modeled after a traditional street band, and the flexible horn-based lineup allows for unique performance opportunities that are not available with modern amplified musicians.
In addition to standard performances, this has included spirited set-ending parades to lead guests from the reception to the dining room and opening sets in front of venues to greet guests as they arrive.
In a festival setting, Bug Horn Rex can easily provide non-stop live music at audience level during the changeover time between bands on the main stage.
Anything that will make for a lively and memorable event is possible!
Songs
The music of Bug Horn Rex is based on pre-World War II New Orleans jazz, including many timeless classics such as Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?, Duke Ellington's It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing and Mood Indigo, Wait Til The Sun Shines Nellie, and the transformed spiritual Just A Closer Walk To Thee.
Bug Horn Rex isn't a historical recreation band, though, so plenty of high-energy songs from the Dixieland Revival of the 50's and 60's are mixed in as well.
The members of the band are also known to create new arrangements of modern songs in the traditional style. Not only great for a smile, these adaptations help make complex improvisational music more accessible to a fresh audience.
Performances can be tailored to be lively or subdued depending on the nature of an event. Special requests can even be custom arranged and performed when desired!
