The New Bourbon Street Jazz Band plays traditional New Orleans Jazz 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 6-8:30pm, Hal and Mal's Restaurant Jackson, Ms. 200 Commerce St., JACKSON, MS 39201. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NEW BOURBON STREET JAZZ BAND of Jackson, Mississippi. NBSJB is the heir of a long and distinguished line of traditional New Orleans jazz bands playing for monthly dance meetings of the The New Bourbon
Street Jazz Society, a non-profit organization of players, dancers, and listeners formed March 21, 1960 in Jackson, MS. The NBSJS's purposes were: "To educate its members and the members of the general public to the esthetic and cultural value of Traditional New Orleans Style Jazz, one of America's original art forms, and to promote, encourage, and facilitate the preservation and enjoyment of Traditional New Orleans Style Jazz." The late Dan Wright, owner of Wright's Music Store, was a primary mover/founder of the Society, and served as the Society's musical director, booking local, professional bands, and visiting New Orleans bands to perform at the monthly New Bourbon Street Jazz Society dance meetings held in a variety of hotel and country club ballroom venues in the Jackson area. Around 1990, Dan Wright began presiding and teaching during weekly, Wednesday night rehearsals, playfully referred to as "prayer meetings," at his music store on HWY 80 in Jackson, for younger musicians wanting to play traditional New Orleans jazz and to improve their musical skills. A master of educational attendance encouragement, Dan maintained, for every rehearsal, an open bar in his office, where all congregated during breaks. https://scontent-dft4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/11705433_1659388924276905_5675077134846940864_o.jpg?oh=8db68df0414442d305a0fad3fca177f1&oe=5A2B76C6
Dan's "Circle of Fifths" teaching chart was as omnipresent at the "Don't Shoot The Piano Player" sign by his piano. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155646387999938&set=ms.c.eJwzNDA0NTUzMTO2MLe0tLQ0ttAzhIiYGFsYGxqCRACBRwcz.bps.a.10153623530329938.1073741836.649384937&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155644383119938&set=a.10153623530329938.1073741836.649384937&type=3&theater
This 1990 "beginner" trad jazz band, initially called the "Junior High Band," became polished enough a few years later to "open" for the main local or New Orleans band at Society meetings. It eventually became the main band for the Society's monthly dance meetings, and became known as The New Bourbon Street Jazz Band, after its then non-profit sponsor. The current New Bourbon Street Jazz Band has been playing bi-monthly at Hal and Mal’s. since January 11, 2012, sharing the original, traditional jazz from New Orleans, where jazz was born. The general public of all ages is welcome. Current NBSJB members are: RANDY DICKERSON, trumpet, Band Music Director and Deputy Band Manager, retired Miss. Legislature computer and internet systems manager, church orchestra member, and private trumpet teacher; JAMES “JIMMY SCLATER, clarinet, retired Mississippi College music professor, composer, and arranger; TYLER KEMP, piano, multi-band member, accompanist and teacher at Mississippi College; TODD BOBO, saxophones, retired band director, and private reeds music teacher; BOB PILCHER, trombone, former band director and musical instrument repair specialist, and retired Director of Purchasing ; BRUCE CARTER, drums, long time Band Director at Jackson Academy, now retired; STEVE KINCAID, bass, Band Director at Jackson Prep High School; JEFF REYNOLDS, guitar, multi-band member, and retired auto parts businessman; RON WELCH, banjo, retired attorney. CONTACT THE BAND:
STEVE KINCAID, NBSJB Band Manager
email [email protected]
Cell 1-769-257-4407
RANDY DICKERSON, Deputy Band Manager
email [email protected]
Cell 1-601-278-5027
Ron Welch, banjo, former band manager
Cell 1-601-937-4133
Email [email protected]
