Hot House (band)
Encyclopedia
Hot House an American jazz
band which performs mainly in the Dixieland
tradition. Formed in 1978, the band has kept the same three main members, Eric Henry (tuba
), Paul Butler (clarinet
) and Jim Smith (lead vocals, banjo
, tenor guitar
) while rotating in others to fill out a larger ensemble as needed. Instruments frequently added include trumpet
, trombone
, drum set.
Hot House has released four studio albums. Their most recent, Bleemheelgers and Glue was released in 2008. Hot House was named Best Jazz Band of Philadelphia in 1996 for their live performances at bars and restaurants.
Also during this period, the band toured Paris in 1997. They stayed for 3 weeks, playing at clubs and restaurants as well as large venues.
Track List:
, Maryland at an estate with unusual architecture. Allegedly, the band drove over a hill to catch a glimpse of the modern mansion and could find only the word "thoik" to describe the building. Thus the title was born. The cover of this album showcases a simple black and white photograph of the band in their younger years, when Eric Henry]and Paul Butler had shorter hair.
Track List:
, they recorded their only live album, entitled Hot House: Live; and they were sent on tour overseas as Jazz Ambassadors. Their worldwide tour included stops in Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Morocco and Tunisia. They were very well received in all the countries. Highlights of this tour include playing with a group of high school musicians who were learning to play the American jazz
style; sampling the many cuisines of the native areas; debacles involving the transport of a tuba
on so many airlines and much more.
and focuses on 5 main tenets: Listening, Aesthetics, Counting, Watching, and Teamwork. This camp has been well received by the groups involved, and is in its 6th year.
Track list:
style of jazz
. Their combination is unusual, in that they have replaced an upright bass with a tuba
. Throughout the years, Jim Smith has changed instruments: going from a banjo
early on, to a four-string tenor guitar
presently. The band plays mostly jazz standards, including songs by such greats as Duke Ellington and Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton.
Dixieland
was one of the first styles to value and utilize improvisation, and Hot House continues this traditions. On their recordings, the solos are fairly organized and constrained within a normal song length. During their live performances, however, the band gauges the crowd's mood and can jam as long as the audience is willing to listen. Each member is excellently proficient in solo improvisation, both vocally, often in scat
and on their respective instruments.
Another important aspect of Hot House's style is their ability to engage the audience. Using songs such as It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
and French Toast, the band encourages the audience to sing and shout along. Since so many of their songs are standards, people are always welcome to accompany Jim Smith on vocals when they know the words.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
band which performs mainly in the Dixieland
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
tradition. Formed in 1978, the band has kept the same three main members, Eric Henry (tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
), Paul Butler (clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
) and Jim Smith (lead vocals, banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, tenor guitar
Tenor guitar
1932 Martin 0-18 T Sunburst Tenor Guitar|thumb|rightThe tenor guitar or four-string guitar is a slightly smaller, four-string relative of the steel-string acoustic guitar or electric guitar. The instrument was developed so that players of the four-string tenor banjo could double on the guitar...
) while rotating in others to fill out a larger ensemble as needed. Instruments frequently added include trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
, drum set.
Hot House has released four studio albums. Their most recent, Bleemheelgers and Glue was released in 2008. Hot House was named Best Jazz Band of Philadelphia in 1996 for their live performances at bars and restaurants.
Formation and early years (1978-1988)
Hot House formed in 1978 as a group of college musicians performing in summer resort areas. The members met while attending Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. Their first cassette was a recording of a live show performed by a group of 5, supplementing the regular two with a trumpet and trombone. The cassette was sold mainly to local fans and friends, and has never been reformatted to CD.Recording Period (1988-1998)
Hot House proceeded to release two albums during this period, Pucker For Y'all and Spetchin' at the Thoik. Beginning with these, Hot House developed a trend for naming and designing their albums. Each has a specific story which locates it within the timeline of the band's evolution.Also during this period, the band toured Paris in 1997. They stayed for 3 weeks, playing at clubs and restaurants as well as large venues.
Pucker For Y'all
The name for this album came about accidentally during conversation while the band was playing at Magnolia's Cafe in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (now closed). The cover of the album features a simple light purple and white background with a bright pink impression of a kiss. The kiss imprint was provided by a favorite waitress at Magnolia's, and was preserved on a napkin by Paul Butler until the album was finalized.Track List:
Spetchin' at the Thoik
Again a result of conversation, Spetchin' at the Thoik was named for another gig. This one occurred in ChestertownChestertown
Chestertown may refer to a community in the United States:*Chestertown, Maryland, a town in Kent County*Chestertown, New York, a hamlet in the Adirondacks in upstate New York...
, Maryland at an estate with unusual architecture. Allegedly, the band drove over a hill to catch a glimpse of the modern mansion and could find only the word "thoik" to describe the building. Thus the title was born. The cover of this album showcases a simple black and white photograph of the band in their younger years, when Eric Henry]and Paul Butler had shorter hair.
Track List:
Touring (1999-2000)
The band's longest tour thus far occurred after Hot House was recognized by the U.S. State Department as members of the USIA Jazz Ambassadors Program. This great honor accorded them two opportunities: at their farewell concert at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, they recorded their only live album, entitled Hot House: Live; and they were sent on tour overseas as Jazz Ambassadors. Their worldwide tour included stops in Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Morocco and Tunisia. They were very well received in all the countries. Highlights of this tour include playing with a group of high school musicians who were learning to play the American jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
style; sampling the many cuisines of the native areas; debacles involving the transport of a tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
on so many airlines and much more.
C.I.M. Era (2001-2009)
The band has recently been focusing more on side projects involving education and outreach in combination with performance. Hot House has been doing residencies in schools for days or weeks for years, but have only recently begun permanent projects. The biggest of these projects is called Children Improvising Music or C.I.M.. This program is set up in week long 'camps', where groups of students ages 3 and up come and work with the band at least twice. The program aims to help children explore music through improvisationImprovisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
and focuses on 5 main tenets: Listening, Aesthetics, Counting, Watching, and Teamwork. This camp has been well received by the groups involved, and is in its 6th year.
Bleemheeglers and Glue
Hot House's most recent release was named after a comic inability to produce the term 'macaroni and cheese' led to this amalgamation.Track list:
Style
Hot House mainly plays in the DixielandDixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
style of jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. Their combination is unusual, in that they have replaced an upright bass with a tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
. Throughout the years, Jim Smith has changed instruments: going from a banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
early on, to a four-string tenor guitar
Tenor guitar
1932 Martin 0-18 T Sunburst Tenor Guitar|thumb|rightThe tenor guitar or four-string guitar is a slightly smaller, four-string relative of the steel-string acoustic guitar or electric guitar. The instrument was developed so that players of the four-string tenor banjo could double on the guitar...
presently. The band plays mostly jazz standards, including songs by such greats as Duke Ellington and Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton.
Dixieland
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
was one of the first styles to value and utilize improvisation, and Hot House continues this traditions. On their recordings, the solos are fairly organized and constrained within a normal song length. During their live performances, however, the band gauges the crowd's mood and can jam as long as the audience is willing to listen. Each member is excellently proficient in solo improvisation, both vocally, often in scat
Scat
-Education:* School and College Ability Test* Somerset College of Arts and Technology, a community college in Somerset, England* Shrewsbury College of Arts & Technology, a community college in Shropshire, England-Games:* Thirty-one , a card game...
and on their respective instruments.
Another important aspect of Hot House's style is their ability to engage the audience. Using songs such as It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
"It Don't Mean a Thing " is a 1931 composition by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills, now accepted as a jazz standard. The music was written and arranged by Ellington in August 1931 during intermissions at Chicago's Lincoln Tavern and was first recorded by Ellington and his orchestra for...
and French Toast, the band encourages the audience to sing and shout along. Since so many of their songs are standards, people are always welcome to accompany Jim Smith on vocals when they know the words.
Band members
- Eric Henry – tubaTubaThe tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
, Manager/President (While Eric Henry does the majority of managerial duties, the band is organized in a strictly democratic 33% distribution. The money and decision making have always been split three ways.) - Paul Butler – clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, other woodwinds where necessary - Jim Smith - banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, tenor guitarTenor guitar1932 Martin 0-18 T Sunburst Tenor Guitar|thumb|rightThe tenor guitar or four-string guitar is a slightly smaller, four-string relative of the steel-string acoustic guitar or electric guitar. The instrument was developed so that players of the four-string tenor banjo could double on the guitar...
, lead vocals, whistlingWhistlingHuman whistling is the production of sound by means of carefully controlling a stream of air flowing through a small hole. Whistling can be achieved by creating a small opening with one's lips and then blowing or sucking air through the hole...
Touring members
- Carol Henry - tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
- Glenn Zockel - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Mike Dimonte - drums
- Eric Rassmussen - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
Studio albums
- Pucker for Y'all (1992)
- Spetchin at the Thoik (1995)
- Bleemheeglers and Glue (2008)
Live Albums
- Hot House: Live (1999) Recorded at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
