The Shuffle Demons
Encyclopedia
The Shuffle Demons are a Canadian
jazz fusion
band, who had a surprise Top 40 hit in Canada with their 1986 single "Spadina Bus". The song, from their debut album Streetniks, referred to the Toronto Transit Commission
's Spadina Avenue
bus in Toronto
, Ontario
. This song was also used as the original theme to CITY-TV
's show, Speakers Corner.
The band consisted of Richard Underhill
, Mike Murley
, Dave Parker, bassist Jim Vivian and percussionist Stich Wynston.
The Shuffle Demons released four more albums over the next seven years. They never scored another mainstream pop hit, although the video "Get Out of My House, Roach" received considerable airplay on MuchMusic
. They retained a devoted cult following on the jazz scene, however.
In 1987, they appeared on the critically acclaimed children's television program Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show during season four. They help the trio find their lost pal, Elephant in the episode titled "An Elephant Never Forgets".
This audacious group played jazz, folk, world and rock festivals from Halifax to Vancouver and from Italy to Estonia from 1986 – 1997, touring across Canada 15 times and through Europe 15 times. The Shuffle Demons featured a fusion of hard bop and rap combined with exotic costumes and a no-holds-barred performance style. Over the course of 15 European tours they were a hit at several Jazz festivals including the North Sea Jazz, Molde Jazz, London’s Outside In Jazz festival, the Edinburgh Jazz festival, the Sfinks festival, and Jazz a Vienne.
Murley and Vivian left the band in 1989, and were replaced by Perry White and George Koller
. Koller left in 1993, and was replaced by Mike Milligan. The following year, Wynston and White left the band, and were replaced by Eric St. Laurent and Greg Smith
.
Parker left in 1995. The band subsequently broke up in 1997.
Underhill, Parker, White, Wynston, Koller and Milligan reformed the band in 2004, releasing a new greatest hits
CD to coincide with their reunion tour. During the tour, the band also coordinated a successful attempt at a world record
for the largest number of people playing saxophone
simultaneously. The official Guinness Book of Records count is 900 participants, all playing the theme from Hockey Night in Canada
.
The Shuffle Demons continue to tour and performed at festivals in India, China and Europe in 2006 and in Thailand, South Korea and the USA in 2010 with great success. The band is currently working on a new album and will play the Rochester, NY and Kingston, ON Jazz Festivals in summer 2011 as well as touring Australia and New Zealand.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
band, who had a surprise Top 40 hit in Canada with their 1986 single "Spadina Bus". The song, from their debut album Streetniks, referred to the Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
's Spadina Avenue
Spadina Avenue
Spadina Avenue is one of the most prominent streets in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Running through the western section of downtown, the road has a very different character in different neighbourhoods....
bus in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. This song was also used as the original theme to CITY-TV
CITY-TV
CITY-DT, Channel 57 , is a television station based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada owned and operated by Rogers Media...
's show, Speakers Corner.
The band consisted of Richard Underhill
Richard Underhill
Richard Underhill is a Canadian jazz saxophonist. A founding member of the jazz fusion group The Shuffle Demons, he has toured Europe and Canada to critical acclaim for over 27 years. Underhill won a 2003 Juno Award for his jazz solo debut Tales from the Blue Lounge, and was nominated for the Prix...
, Mike Murley
Mike Murley
Mike Murley is a jazz musician in Toronto, Canada who was a member of the celebrated jazz ensemble The Shuffle Demons. Along with leading various projects, he has also been a sideman with musicians and groups such as David Occhipinti, David Braid, Rob McConnell, and Metalwood...
, Dave Parker, bassist Jim Vivian and percussionist Stich Wynston.
The Shuffle Demons released four more albums over the next seven years. They never scored another mainstream pop hit, although the video "Get Out of My House, Roach" received considerable airplay on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
. They retained a devoted cult following on the jazz scene, however.
In 1987, they appeared on the critically acclaimed children's television program Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show during season four. They help the trio find their lost pal, Elephant in the episode titled "An Elephant Never Forgets".
This audacious group played jazz, folk, world and rock festivals from Halifax to Vancouver and from Italy to Estonia from 1986 – 1997, touring across Canada 15 times and through Europe 15 times. The Shuffle Demons featured a fusion of hard bop and rap combined with exotic costumes and a no-holds-barred performance style. Over the course of 15 European tours they were a hit at several Jazz festivals including the North Sea Jazz, Molde Jazz, London’s Outside In Jazz festival, the Edinburgh Jazz festival, the Sfinks festival, and Jazz a Vienne.
Murley and Vivian left the band in 1989, and were replaced by Perry White and George Koller
George Koller
George Koller is a Canadian bassist and multi-instrumentalist who has played professionally and extensively within most genres of music and is best known for his work in jazz, free jazz, folk music, world music and world fusion...
. Koller left in 1993, and was replaced by Mike Milligan. The following year, Wynston and White left the band, and were replaced by Eric St. Laurent and Greg Smith
Greg Smith (musician)
Greg Smith is a bassist and vocalist.Greg was born in 1963. He grew up in Valley Stream, New York and attended Valley Stream Central High School.He has collaborated with Wendy O...
.
Parker left in 1995. The band subsequently broke up in 1997.
Underhill, Parker, White, Wynston, Koller and Milligan reformed the band in 2004, releasing a new greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
CD to coincide with their reunion tour. During the tour, the band also coordinated a successful attempt at a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
for the largest number of people playing saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
simultaneously. The official Guinness Book of Records count is 900 participants, all playing the theme from Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
.
The Shuffle Demons continue to tour and performed at festivals in India, China and Europe in 2006 and in Thailand, South Korea and the USA in 2010 with great success. The band is currently working on a new album and will play the Rochester, NY and Kingston, ON Jazz Festivals in summer 2011 as well as touring Australia and New Zealand.
Discography
- StreetniksStreetniksStreetniks is an album by The Shuffle Demons, recorded over two days. Streetniks sold 15,000 units in Canada, becoming the bestselling independent release in Canadian music history, until Barenaked Ladies broke the record in 1991 with The Yellow Tape."", an ode to the Toronto Transit Commission's...
(1986) - Bop Rap (1988)
- What Do You Want? (1990)
- Alive in Europe (1992)
- Extra Crispy (1993)
- Get Right EP (1995)
- Greatest Hits (2004)