The New El Dorado Jazz Band

The New
El Dorado Jazz Band

* News *

As of August, 2011, the New El Dorado Jazz Band is scheduled to play the following events in 2012: -

Seaside Jazz Festival (Seaside, OR) Feb. 24 - 26
www.jazzseaside.com

Also, a new CD by the band -- recorded live at the 2011 Chattanooga Traditional Jazz Festival -- will be released by Trad Jazz Productions later this year. The catalog number is TJP - 2147. Check out www.tradjazzproductions.com to see their entire catalog of great traditional jazz recordings.

Late in 2007, Clint Baker and Hal Smith collaborated on forming a new group, modeled
on the El Dorado Jazz Band which played in Southern California during the mid-1960s.

The “New El Dorado Jazz Band,” made its debut at the Fresno Mardi Gras Festival in
2008 and electrified the festival audiences. NEDJB returned to perform at the Mardi
Gras Festivals in 2010 and 2011, as well as the 2011 Chattanooga Traditional Jazz
Festival.

The band consists of: Clint Baker – trombone, clarinet, banjo, vocals, co-leader; Hal
Smith – washboard, co-leader; Marc Caparone – cornet, vocals; Howard Miyata –
trombone, tuba, vocals; Mike Baird – clarinet; Carl Sonny Leyland – piano, vocals;
Katie Cavera – banjo, bass, vocals; and Georgia Korba – string bass. (Mike Baird
was an original member of the ‘60s-era El Dorado Jazz Band and his great playing adds
a stamp of authenticity to the band’s performances). The New El Dorado repertoire is
based on that of the original band — New Orleans Jazz classics, blues and skiffle songrs
– plus Boogie Woogie numbers performed by the inimitable Carl Sonny Leyland.

In 2009, the band released its first CD, “Hot California Jazz,” which quickly sold out. A
second disc, from material recorded live in Chattanooga, is presently in the works.

Below are several performances by the New El Dorado Jazz Band, recorded at the Fresno
Mardi Gras, plus one from the Chattanooga Traditional Jazz Festival. Enjoy the band’s
unique approach to New Orleans music and the guest appearances by our friends Kim
Cusack and Ray Skjelbred!