The beginnings
This group was formed to continue the work-in-progress of the New Levee Serenaders, a band established by John Parker (cornet) in the late 1980s. John took his cornet and retired to Montana in 1998, leaving behind a damned good rhythm section and a great tune list.
About a year later, we "discovered" Chris Bradley, an extraordinary cornetist who was looking to join forces with a damned good rhythm section. Building on the Parker tune list, and with the addition of an occasional reed player and a trombonist, the Blackbird Jass Band came into existence in 1999. The group has since found favor as a preservationist band in the East Bay (San Francisco) area, specializing in pre-World War II "traditional" jazz motifs from New Orleans, Chicago, San Francisco, and St. Louis.
Louis Armstrong, "Fats" Waller, "King" Oliver, "Bunny"
Berrigan, "Jelly Roll" Morton, "Buddy" Bolden, Lu
Watters, "Turk" Murphy, and Clyde McCoy are among the "trad"
jazz artists we have welcomed into our musical "conversations"
in the past. The interesting thing about this kind of music is that no
one knows who might show up for the next debate.
Contact: Mike Brösius, (925) 337-3501,