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The Mint Julep Jazz Band’s first gig was on February 23, 2012 at an RDU Rent Party swing dance, which we decided to live stream primarily because one of our friends was in the hospital and requested it. It was a great idea and, not only was our friend able to tune in, 79 other people did, as well!

We are excited that the band has seen success over the past two years and to commemorate our second anniversary we will live stream our February 1, 2014 show at the Triangle Swing Dance Society swing dance in Durham, NC!

To tune in, visit our UStream channel on February 1 any time from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mint-julep-jazz-band

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Live from American Tobacco...
Usually live from American Tobacco, this is a special broadcast from the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh!

We are excited to announce that the Mint Julep Jazz Band has been invited to appear on WUNC’s The State of Things, hosted by Frank Stasio, on November 22, 2013 to help promote Housing for New Hope‘s inaugural Rent Party on November 23, 2013 at The Cookery in Durham (see post below). Tune in from noon to 1:00 p.m. to hear an interview and live music from the band – listen online or watch the live video stream!

Now, to figure out how to get 8 band members into a radio station studio… 🙂

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We are excited to announce that the Mint Julep Jazz Band is performing at Housing for New Hope‘s inaugural Rent Party on November 23, 2013 at The Cookery in Durham – this is a fundraiser for an organization that actually helps people pay their rent to help prevent homelessness, among other services to help people in need of housing and prevent homelessness in Durham. There will be dancing, food, an open bar, and the chance to help people in our community, all with a rent party/jazz age theme. Come help us raise the rent for the fine people of Durham!

Tickets and information available at http://durhamcookery.com/rent-party.

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We are excited to tell you that the Mint Julep Jazz Band was voted the best musical artist/band in the 2013 Best of Durham Awards, sponsored by Durham Magazine! We are supremely surprised and grateful for the love and send out immense thank yous to everyone who voted for us.

We named our first album after this town to show how much we love Durham, and we are getting the love back from you tenfold. 😀

Thank you, Durham!

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Jazz writer and archivist Michael Steinman, author of the Jazz Lives blog, has written a great review of the Mint Julep Jazz Band’s “Durham on Saturday Night!”

“The MJJB is a small hot group — well-versed in playing for dancers, so they set swinging tempos and stick to them. Their ensemble work is beautifully precise without being stiff, and they really understand the subtle mysteries of swing rhythm…one of their main inspirations is youthful Ella Fitzgerald and the small group out of Chick Webb’s band — The Savoy Eight — and they evoke that sound perfectly without turning out pale note-for-note copies of the records. I heard evocations of Sandy Williams and Sidney Bechet, but also Al Grey and Howard McGhee.”

“Laura’s got her own sweet style with a serious rhythmic underpinning…her rich voice reminded me of young Ella — that hopeful, wistful, asking-for-love quality — but she can turn corners at a fast tempo, as she proves on the CD’s closer, the band’s romping version of Lil Armstrong’s HARLEM ON SATURDAY NIGHT.”

To read more, click here to view the post.

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We’re back for another delicious gig at Durham’s G2B Gastro Pub! Bring your appetite and/or your dance shoes for a lovely evening of jazz and swing. 🙂

The show is free, but we recommend making a reservation if you would like to eat or have a seat, because the tables usually fill up before we arrive – please specify that you would like to be seated in the jazz lounge.

G2B Gastro Pub
3211 Shannon Road
Durham, NC

See you there! Bring a friend!

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Mint Julep Jazz Band bandleaders Lucian Cobb and Laura Windley are featured in the June, 2013 episode of Yehoodi’s Hey Mister Jesse podcast! The show features an interview with Lucian and Laura and clips from several of the songs off the Mint Julep Jazz Band’s new release, “Durham on Saturday Night.” Click here to listen to the show.

For those not familiar with the Hey Mister Jesse podcast, “DJ Jesse Miner will serve up a platter of swingin’ music that matters to dancers. Check out the show every month to hear music, interviews, listener feedback and news about the music swing dancers love.”

In addition to the feature, it’s a great podcast, full of amazing jazz artists (new and old) and a format that invites listeners to engage in and be a part of the show. Highly recommended if you are a fan of trad jazz, swing, and blues and are looking for new listening material.