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Riff Raff jazz/vintage swing band
Riff Raff Jazz
Events calendar and official home page of California band, Riff Raff Jazz
Riff Raff Jazz
vintage swing band
Romantic Gypsy Jazz, Hot Jazz & Western Swing… 30’s Style.
Folks looking exciting live musical entertainment will enjoy Riff Raff’s fine mix of vintage jazz and swing tunes from the 20s, 30s, and 40s. Orange County party band Riff Raff plays in a variety of acoustic styles. At a Riff Raff gig you will hear a bluesy blend of jazz standards, gypsy jazz, and western swing. Riff Raff’s sweet and lowdown sound is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. This is a swingin’ blend of vocals and jazzy instrumentals that creates an instant party atmosphere. The Riff Raff band has been performing at special events in Orange County, Long Beach, and LA since 1999. Email: riffraffjazz@aol.com for booking information.
parties / weddings / receptions
Riff Raff is the perfect acoustic swing band for your wedding -
We provide our own PA.
Indoor and Outdoor Receptions are our specialty.
Listen to selections from our Swingin’ Strings CD online.
CDbaby
Upcoming Events
Saturday, June 14, 2008 (2nd Sat. of the Month). Gypsy Den showcase performance. Gypsy Den, Santa Ana, 8:30 to 11:30 pm.
Showcase at The Gypsy Den, Grand Central Cafe Santa Ana, CA 92701
125 N. Broadway (map) right (south) side of Santora Arts Building.
Riff Raff Jazz Band Events Calendar
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Django Gypsy Jam Sessions
Acoustic jams are first and third Wed. of the Month - Gypsy Den in Santa Ana
7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Second Wednesday of the month jams are at Cobantigua Coffee at the Old World Motel on Center St. in Huntington Beach. 7 pm.
Bring your acoustic instrument! 7:00pm to 10pm • All 20s, 30s, 40s style jazz instruments welcome!
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The Musicians
Eric Nichols Acoustic Gulitar, Vocals, & Laptop Steel
Renowned luthier (guitar maker) Eric Nichols is a vocalist who plays six-string, resophonic, and  lap-steel guitars. Eric has played and sung in an assortment of groups that go back to his days in junior high school, through high school and college. After getting a job, raising a family and going back to finish college he started playing in musical groups again, including The Metropolitan String Band, (a swing group), and the acoustic band, Secondhand Smoke.
John Mapson Lead Guitar
Fourth generation native Californian, John Mapson’s interest in music dates back to the early sixties when he was exposed to the music of his four older siblings. The house was filled with records from big band to folk, as well as jazz, blues, and rock n’ roll. Soon, John began trying to figure out how to duplicate the sounds he heard on records, and began to play the guitar by ear. By the early eighties, John was gigging in bands that played everthing from rockabilly to punk- rock, as well as the blues. By the early nineties, John grew tired of the electric guitar scene, and soon found himself delving into the acoustic guitar roots of the blues.
 Steve Marsh Violin, Mandolin
Steve Marsh decided he wanted to play the violin at age nine. After moving to Fullerton, California in the mid-sixties. Steve taught himself how to play the guitar and then the mandolin. The hot jazz violin style of Stephane Grappelli is his now an integral part of Steve’s gypsy spirit.
Steve bought his signature Barcus-Berry electric blue violin in 1980. In the 90s he was introduced to the coffee shop circuit by his gifted friend, vocalist/guitarist, Jo Nita now with the Stepsisters folk-rock band. Fullerton, Oct. 15, 1994, Steamers' Cafe opened promptly at noon and the very first two musicians to perform at Steamers were Jo Nita, guitar/vocals and Steve Marsh, mandolin.
Steve's discography includes gyspy violin on Erich Von Kneip's new album, A Collection of Abject Musings (Funeral for a Romance from this CD has been played on the Morning Becomes Eclectic radio show.) A Collection of Abject Musings was the album of the week on the show Aufgedreht on Radio Flora (Hannover, Germany) Dec. 2007, Joe Ongie’s track, Waking the Dead, of highly acclaimed CD, Critical Darling, produced by Joe Ongie.
 Bill McHolm Harmonica, Vocals
A multi-talented musician, Bill McHolm is an excellent vocalist and harmonica player. He has always been fascinated with simple musical instruments he could teach himself to play. Starting at age seven with his first instrument, (a treasured jaw harp, which he still has and plays), Bill went on to spoons, washboard, jug, washtub bass, and then to his ever present harmonica. Barbershop harmony, with its unaccompanied singing, has played a prominent part in his musical life. Bill sang for a decade with the Scrap Iron Four and from there got involved with jug band music, playing in such elite groups as the Sophisticats and years later Second Hand Smoke.
Like the majority of the members of Riff Raff, Bill enjoys building musical instruments. It was in a guitar building class that he met Eric Nichols, John Mapson and Abby Kahn, (and also made his first acoustic guitar.) After class these musicians participated in jam sessions that would lead the band Second Hand Smoke and later to Riff Raff. In 1999 When these luthiers teamed up with the talented fiddler, 'gypsy djazzster' Steve Marsh, the band was established.
His motto is If it ain’t fun, it ain’t music.
Abby Kahn Upright Bass
Formerly with The Metropolitan String Band, Abby now plays upright bass for Riff Raff. Abby Kahn was born in South  Africa and came to the USA in 1986 at age 28. He picked up the guitar at age 22 and has performed on the upright bass for the past 5 years. Abby is a fine luthier and craftsman well known for creating beautiful musical instruments.
Abby is a master goldsmith and diamond expert, with years of jewelry repair experience and his retail jewelry shop in San Juan Capistrano near Dana Point serves Orange County and most of California for that matter.
Abbys Fine Jewelry Designs: Abby’s Designs
Custom designer jewelry retail shop near the San Juan Capistrano Mission that specializes in all precious metal such as PLATINUM 18-karat and 14-karat white and yellow gold. Their designs showcase some of the most beautiful DIAMONDS and COLOR GEMS. They have the ability to create any one of a kind design you may dream up or have seen in a magazine or jewelry store. Every piece of jewelry is hand made with lots of attention to detail and finish.
Fine Art Gallery - Worldwide - Art of different styles and media. Website offers a wide variety of features and services that enable customers and artists to buy and sell art online.
The Pat Cloud Banjo Website
Jim Bottorff's Banjo Page - Jam packed with goodies!
theGuitarPort.com - Includes a jazz/gypsy directory.
Gail Chasin
Southern California Lindy Society - links to places/bands/clothing.
Late Night Lindy
Vintage Vanguard - one of our favorites
GypsyJazzNet - Directory of gypsy jazz musicians
Jazz Manoucheries - will bring out the gypsy in you.
Just a few highlights from our numerous live, local performances since 2000.
Wedding reception at The Villa in San Juan Capistrano
Wedding reception on front lawn of beautiful and historic Lindley-Scott House in Azusa, California
Salt Creek Beach August wedding ceremonyfollowed by cocktail hour music at reception.
Borders Books, Music, Cafe in Long Beach, (block S. of the 405 on Bellflower Blvd.) August 4, 2001.
Huntington Beach Pier Plaza Concert Series noontime performance
Long Beach Museum of Art Wedding and reception on the patio overlooking the ocean.
Forest Avenue Fine Art Reception, Saturday, January 21, 2006, 6pm - 9pm. Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Sunday, April 30, 2006 and April 22, 2007, Entertainment for ROP Celebration of Success - Heritage Forum Theatre
June 3, 2006 Wedding at the Sandpiper Golf Course in Goleta, CA
Sept 9, 2006 and Sept. 8, 2007 - Senior Saturday, Huntington Beach Pier Plaza
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5/19/08
Copyright 2008
StevestudioeventS
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