Rhumba Bums get fans off their seats
A journey into the energetic tunes of swing and rhythm-and-blues began a few days ago at the Half Note Jazz Club, with a series of performances by the Rhumba Bums (to January 10). Led by pianist-vocalist Steve Lucky and guitarist-vocalist Carmen Getit, this fun-loving band from San Francisco is a forerunner of the swing revival movement. The band’s popularity lies in its ability to mix various musical styles of the 1940s and 1950s, including blues, boogie, and rhythm-and-blues, while also presenting a contemporary dance show. This is also why it stands out on the novel and still developing swing scene: On the one hand it covers a vast repertoire, while on the other it offers an original presence on stage. The group’s founder, Steve Lucky, has enjoyed a long history on the blues scene of Detroit and New York and has performed alongside greats such as Johnny Copeland, Odetta and John Hammond. He began his career as a professional musician at the age of 13 – a career which developed into performing and composing for theater and dance, television shows and advertisements, among others. The establishment of the Rhumba Bums in 1993 was completed with the arrival of the sensational Carmen Getit. Besides Lucky and Getit, Jason Hansen takes on the drums as well as vocals, Scott Petersen plays both tenor and alto saxophones, Alexander Budman is on tenor and baritone saxophones, while Lorenzo Farell is on bass. All together they offer a combination of dance, drama, humor, and, of course, music.The Rhumba Bums at the Half Note Jazz Club, 17 Trivonianou, Metz, tel 921.3310.
