Musicians
In true Bix Fest style, we have gone to lengths to hire excellent professional musicians that not only can perform authentic hot jazz and early swing music, but also breathe life into and have fun with it! We hope that you will join us in March 2026 to enjoy this wonderful lineup including…
The Chicago Cellar Boys
Comprised of several Chicago natives, most of whom are Tribute to Bix regulars from back in the day, the Chicago Cellar Boys make it their mission to present some of the most authentic 1920s and '30s hot jazz and dance band music, transcribed straight from original 78rpm discs of the era. And they pull if off, too! We are so excited to welcome them back to the Fest and look forward to what they have prepared for our listening - and dancing - enjoyment!
The Westerlees
The wonderful cross-over genre called Western Swing was born in the early 1930s that mixed together the best elements of jazz and fledgling country music into a sound that was stomping, sentimental and FUN. Few bands bring that sound to life like our friends, The Westerlees! With a terrific repertoire of jazz standards in the style of Bob Wills and Milton Brown, these guys are a treat for dancing feet!
The Saint Louis Contingent
If you’ve ever fallen on your “yas yas yas,” you’ll get just the pick-me-up you need with Miss Jubilee and members of the Yas Yas Boys who will be bringing the barrel house sound of St. Louis to A Tribute to Bix Fest. They are Valerie Jo Kirchhoff (vocals), Ethan Leinwand (piano) and T.J. Muller (banjo, trumpet, trombone). HOT STUFF!
Three Daves
We are blessed to bring not one but three guys all named Dave to A Tribute to Bix Fest. It may wind up becoming a tribute to Daves!
Chicago’s own Dave Bock holds it down on the bass, a veteran of the Chicago vintage jazz scene and just getting started, having played with the Fat Babies, Cellar Boys, Riley and the Red Hots and many more!
Dave Kosmyna joins us from Cincinnati with his terrific trumpet, though he could probably heard all of the way in Wisconsin if the wind blew in the right direction - no mistaking his hot horn!
David Boeddinghaus, a longtime resident of jazz’s hometown of New Orleans, returns to A Tribute to Bix Fest with his magnificent piano playing, with every bit of the masters’ magic and more. No one brings the magic of Jelly Roll Morton to film, television, record and radio like David!
The Sweet Sheiks
The Sweet Sheiks are a toe-tapping quintet inspired by pop music of the teens, twenties, and thirties. Jen Lauren leads this New Orleans-style street band with her vintage vocals, rhythm guitar and musical saw. With bass sax, banjo, trumpet, and trombone, they bring a modern flair to early jazz, blues, French, and Americana classics. Their acoustic stylings are compelling, diverting, and are best summed up in two words: “refreshingly vintage.”
Josh Duffee
Visiting from Bix’s old stomping grounds of Davenport, Iowa is Josh Duffee, legendary percussionist and bandleader in the vintage jazz scene. When he’s not trotting out toe-tapping tempos, he’s transcribing full big band charts that are seldom heard and rarely performed with the panache of his Graystone Monarchs Orchestra, an homage to the glorious early big bands of the 1920s and ‘30s.
The Talented Mr. Tolentino
Were you fresh out of hot accordion music? Matt Tolentino is the medicine man for your blues! Our suave sultan of the squeezebox - and also piano and reeds - lays down his unique hot music from Cincinnati. Matt’s perhaps most widely known for his band formed nearly 20 years ago, the Singapore Slingers, who have a unique repertoire of music ranging all of the way from 1895 to 1935!
