The Jim Cullum Jazz Band: Keeping the Music Alive
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band has been keeping the music alive for over 40 years. Based in San Antonio, Texas, the band has toured the world and recorded over 20 albums.
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band is a band that is dedicated to keeping the music alive. The band was formed in the mid-1960s by Jim Cullum and has been playing together ever since. The band has been featured on NPR, PBS, and has even played at the White House. The band is known for their traditional jazz sound and their ability to appeal to a wide range of audiences.
Jim Cullum’s background
Jim Cullum was born in San Antonio, Texas, on April 30, 1937. He started playing the cornet at the age of 8 under the direction of his father, Jim Sr., a professional musician. In high school he played in the band and orchestra, and after graduation he joined his father’s Dixieland band on a tour of Japan. It was during this trip that Cullum had his first experience playing traditional jazz.
When he returned to the United States, Cullum enrolled in the San Antonio College of Music, where he studied classical trumpet with Joseph Knipple. After two years at SACM, Cullum transferred to The University of Texas at Austin to study jazz with Conrad Johnson. He played lead trumpet in the university’s Jazz Ensemble and worked professionally in world music ensembles and rock bands around Austin.
The band’s history
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band is a Dixieland jazz band based in San Antonio, Texas. The band was founded in 1963 by clarinetist and bandleader Jim Cullum, Jr.
The band has performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Wembley Stadium. They have appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, and NPR’s All Things Considered.
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band has recorded more than two dozen albums, including Grammys for Best Traditional Jazz Album (1989) and Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album (1997).
The band’s sound
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band has been playing traditional Jazz and Swing music since the early 1960s. The band has a unique sound that is a blend of traditional Jazz, Swing, and Dixieland. The band’s sound is characterized by its use of improvisation, its focus on melody and countermelody, and its use of syncopation.
The band today
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band has been keeping the music alive for over fifty years. The band is made up of some of the most talented and experienced musicians in the world. They have toured the world and played at some of the most prestigious venues. The band has released over thirty albums, and their music has been featured in movies and TV shows. The band is still going strong, and they show no signs of slowing down.
The band’s current members
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band has been led by cornetist Jim Cullum since 1963. The band’s current members are:
-Jim Cullum: cornet
-John Sheridan: piano
-Bart Dalton: trombone
-Kevin Dorn: drums
-Andy Schumm: trumpet
-Mike Pittsley: clarinet, saxophone
-Jack Wyatt: banjo, guitar
The band’s touring schedule
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band is currently on tour in the United States. Check the band’s website for upcoming performances in your area.
The band’s recordings
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band has been making records since the early 1970s, when they recorded for various labels including Audiophile, Sackville, and Stomp Off. In recent years, they have focused on their own Riverwalk Jazz label, which has released over two dozen albums of largely traditional jazz. The band today features many of the same musicians who have been with Jim Cullum for many years, including John Sheridan on piano, Howard Elkins on bass, and Nakayo Ikeya on drums.
One of the things that sets the Jim Cullum Jazz Band apart from other traditional jazz bands is their commitment to playing new compositions in the style. Jim Cullum has always believed that jazz should be a living, evolving music, and he has encouraged young composers to write new pieces in the traditional jazz idiom. As a result, the band’s repertoire includes not only classic jazz standards but also original compositions by members of the band and other contemporary composers.
Why the band is important
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band is one of the premier traditional Jazz bands in the world. The band has been together for over 50 years and has toured all over the world. They have been featured on NPR, PBS, and have even played at the White House. The band is important because they keep the music alive.
The band’s influence on jazz
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band has been a prominent force in the jazz community for over 50 years. The band’s influence can be felt in many ways, but perhaps most significantly in their dedication to preserving and performing traditional jazz.
Traditional jazz is a unique and important genre of music that has its roots in the early 20th century. This type of jazz was developed primarily by African American musicians living in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is characterized by a focus on improvisation, syncopated rhythms, and a full-bodied sound.
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band has made it their mission to keep traditional jazz alive through their performances and recordings. In doing so, they have helped to ensure that this important musical style is not lost to future generations.
The band’s dedication to traditional jazz
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band is one of the few remaining traditional jazz bands in the United States. Traditional jazz is a style of music that originated in New Orleans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was developed by African American musicians who blended elements of European and African musical traditions.
Traditional jazz is characterized by its improvisational nature, its use of syncopated rhythms, and its focus on collective rather than individual expression. The Jim Cullum Jazz Band has dedicated itself to keeping this musical tradition alive. Based in San Antonio, Texas, the band has been performing for over three decades and has released numerous albums.
The band regularly features guest artists from across the country who are experts in traditional jazz. In addition to performing, the band also offers workshops and educational programs to help young people learn about this important musical genre. Thanks to the dedication of the Jim Cullum Jazz Band, traditional jazz continues to be enjoyed by music lovers around the world.
The band’s commitment to keeping the music alive
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band is dedicated to keeping the music alive by performing it for audiences and by recording albums of traditional jazz. The band has been together for over thirty years, and has performed at festivals and concerts around the world.
The band’s repertoire includes standards from the early days of jazz, as well as original compositions. The band’s albums have received critical acclaim, and their recordings are preserved in the Library of Congress.
The Jim Cullum Jazz Band continues to be one of the most popular traditional jazz bands in the world, and their commitment to keeping the music alive is evident in everything they do.
