Minor Note Orchestra, An Old Sound With a New Feel

by Charlie Sullivan

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 If you spend your Monday nights sitting around at 3 Kings watching the burlesque show, then you’re more than likely aware of the Minor Note Orchestra, formerly the Pawn Ticket Trio. And what better sound for the burlesque atmosphere than a little vintage crime Jazz – oh yeah, the sounds you used to hear emanating from those seedy, smoke-filled backroom bars in the crime dramas of yesteryear. The catch is they’ve brought the music up to speed with a little Latin flair. This is a great act to catch.

Bret Ahroom (standup bass) and Steve Brooks (drums) pulled the act together in 2007, and the crew has found its niche on the local scene. The two have been joined by Keith Larsen (trombone), Mont Brown (tenor and baritone sax), Mark Miller (alto sax), and Dustin Adams (Rhoades piano) and things are starting to click. “It took a while, we wanted to get the right mix of people in the band,” states Brett. “We wanted to get a group of people together who weren’t detrimental to each other or the band.” 

“People don’t really get the opportunity to audition for the band, we sort of just bring them in, give them a song list, and say, ‘Learn a couple of the pieces,’ then we’ll invite them to a show, bring them up, and let them sit in,” adds Steve. “It’s not the best way to do things but it works, it’s kind of theschoolofJazz.” It’s obviously worked as the band is playing on average three shows a week performing at events, clubs, and private parties, and ironically they’ve become synonymous playing on the ticket at local venues with Punk bands. “People come up to us after our set and will say, ‘I didn’t think I liked Jazz, but you guys are really cool,’” affirms Steve.

On the name change, “We changed our name right after the People’s Fair auditions,” discloses Brett. “The new name is something I used over the years for various side projects; it just made sense to start using it full time.” 

The guys have been playing a set list of standards with some original pieces thrown in. “We have two, two-song EPs completed (both recorded at Green Door Recordings), Crime Jazz Volumes 1 and 2,” discloses Keith. “We’ll keep putting them out there for the fans to pick up, who knows where it will lead.” 

Most of their music is instrumental with an occasional guest vocalist. The lads love performing and embrace the whole Jazz scene, minus the drugs. Above all they don’t believe in their own hype, they don’t want to take themselves too seriously. They want you to know they are for hire, playing their Swing Jazz with a Latin touch. “It’s great dance music,” expresses Brett. So if you’re out and about, feeling a little seedy, want to let your bad out, you just might want to stroll into one of their shows.

Category: Planet Buzz