The Jivewires
The Jivewires is my main project and as leader I’ve produced 6 albums since the bands’ inception in 1989. “The Missing Link Between Swing & Rock ‘n Roll”, this seven piece horn driven group performs original music in the “jump jive” or “jump blues” style, although the band has incorporated many diverse musical styles in its long history. Reformed 4 times, the Jives “alumni” includes many of the best musicians from the Ottawa area!
Inspired by Louis Jordan, Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, Winnonie Harris, Duke Ellington, the bands’ original music blends the social satire of post war black popular music with jazz improvisation in the early rhythm & blues musical format.
After a chance meeting with Huey Lewis backstage at a major Ottawa venue in 1990 during which he told me the band should go to London, The Jives began touring the UK, making 4 tours in the early 90’s after breaking into the burgeoning London scene and beyond. The band also toured extensively in the Northeastern US during the revival of swing music in the late ’90’s, including an appearance at The Greatest Bar On Earth, on the 110th floor of the World Trade Centre on August 11, 2001.
Since then the band has continued to perform in the central Canadian region and appeared in “Prisoners Of Time”, a movie in which we played, believe it or not, an early 50’s “jump blues” band at a nightclub.
Discography
1989 No Vacancy
1991 Aw Shaddup!
1994 Jive-O-Matic
2003 Laughin’ In The Poorhouse
2011 Jivewires Do Jordan
2015 Drive Me Sane
Social Media
Jivewires Facebook
Jivewires Instagram