The Gang

The Smoky midnight Gang evolved over the years through influences by Louis Jordan, Joe Turner, Jimmy 'Honeydripper' Liggins, Amos Milburn, Paul Gayten, BB King and T-bone Walker, to name but a few of their old favourites.

The band established itself as a real show band, which strongly reminds of earlier jump bands: sweeping sax parts and trumpet solos , alternated with a fine piece of guitar and a stomping piano. Drums and double-bass drive the band along like a well-oiled machine. The Smoky Midnight Gang is a bunch of fine musicians that can already look back upon a great number of successful gigs both in the homeland and abroad.

Backed up by the talented members of the Smoky Midnight Gang, baritone sax player Big Smile Tony, also the singer-front man, works his way through the playlist like a genuine blues shouter and sets a smoky mood. The lyrics are interwoven with a melancholic humour and sung with full devotion. When he isn't smoking his saxophone, he sounds a voice that will set you swinging and there can be no standing still!

You can be sure to have swinging fun when The Smoky Midnight Gang is out to entertain. They’re all smiles and passionate like Kansas City musicians, keeping their musical performance up to date with the best.

The musicians:

Baritone and altsaophone + vocals : Big Smile Tony (Hans Verhelle)
Tenor saxophone: Jumpin’ Gerry (Geert Polfliet)
Trumpet: Hot Lips Rudy (Rudy Reunes)
Guitar: Low Down Phil (Filip Verneert)
Piano: Sonny Steinway (Stijn Wauters) of Piano Postman (Wouter Debode)
Double bass: Slappin’ Slim (Selim Meiresonne)
Drums: Handy Heinz (Karlheinz Chambaere) or Junior in the back (Brecht Verhelle)

Discography:

LIVE AT THE SLOWCLUB PARIS - FANNIE BROWN - BUSTED.



BUSTED

The Smoky Midnight Gang - Bisted I. CALL OF THE GATORS (Willis jackson)
II. ALL NIGHT LONG (Ben. clarence ‘Bullmoose’ Jackson)
III. BOOGIE AT THE HARBOR (Filiep Ketels)
IV. COLE SLAW (Frank Culley)
V. I’VE GOT THE LAST LAUGH NOW (Roy Brown
VI. SMOKY (Filiep Ketels
VII. BLUE BOOGIE (Filiep Ketels)
VIII. MORNIN' NOON AND NIGHT (‘Big’ Joe Turner)
IX. PAGEBOY SHUFFLE (Joe Thomas)
X. IF YOU DON’T KNOW (Roy Milton)
XI. WHAT‘S THE USE (Roy Milton)
XII. SAINT LOUIS BLUES (W.C.Handy)
XIII. PATATO SALAD (Jimmy Preston)
XIV. IF YOU LOVE ME BABY (Roy Milton)
XV. STICKS AND TONES (Hans Verhelle)
XVI. YANCEY SPECIAL (Meade 'Lux' Lewis)


No one has the blues when the Smoky Midnight Gang's around. Their good humour is infectious, their camaraderie heart-warming. With their dark suits, two-tone shoes, slicked back hair and on-stage antics, a night with the Gang is a treat for the eyes as well as the ears. Their philosophy is fun, they are here to make us smile, to share and communicate their love of this essentially joyful music, to pay homage to its creators and make sure they are not forgotten.

Frances Illingworth
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