Our email address: crustyjazz@gmail.com
Person to contact: Anne Abler 805-748-0139


We are happy to talk with you
about your event
&

How our music might add
to its festivity and charm

***
Below There is
A Brief Video Displaying
Crustacea Jazz Band's Players
& Some of Their Performances


*******

I found this brief observation about the pleasures of jazz. The thoughts are those of an aristocratic Count who is required by a Russian revolutionary tribunal to live the rest of his life inside the Metropol Hotel in Moscow. It's a charming novel.

"On the platform in the opposite corner of the bar, the jazz ensemble was playing a perky little tune. Admittedly, when the Count had first encountered jazz, he hadn’t much of an affinity for it. He had been raised to appreciate music of sentiment and nuance, music that rewarded patience and attention with crescendos and diminuendos, allegros and adagios artfully arranged over four whole movements—not a fistful of notes crammed higgledy-piggledy into thirty measures.

And yet . . .

And yet, the art form had grown on him. Like the American correspondents, jazz seemed a naturally gregarious force—one that was a little unruly and prone to say the first thing that popped into its head, but generally of good humor and friendly intent. In addition, it seemed decidedly unconcerned with where it had been or where it was going—exhibiting somehow simultaneously the confidence of the master and the inexperience of the apprentice. Was there any wonder that such an art had failed to originate in Europe?"

Towles, Amor. A Gentleman in Moscow

Crustacea Jazz Band plays danceable and swinging tunes in the New Orleans jazz style, tunes popular between about 1900 and 1935 whose melodies are often still familiar.

San Luis Obispo audiences like and respond to this music first because it is upbeat, happy, humorous and romantic; and second because the creative act is happening right in front of the audience: Right Here, Right NOW!

In this “old fashioned” Jazz, the players improvise and develop variations around a familiar melody line and unique variations result.

Over a hundred years ago this “small band improvised jazz style” originated in New Orleans. Throughout the twentieth century this music worked its way up the rivers to Memphis, St. Louis, and Chicago, and was spread by great players to New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco and to all the towns in between.

Crustacea’s repertoire showcases this original music, this "Music of America," as well as rags and gospel music, blues and early pop tunes--all played in the New Orleans jazz style.

There are bands playing this legacy of music all over the United States, as well as in England, Holland, France, Japan and elsewhere. "What matters is not the receptacle in which we keep our heritage but the desire we feel to take it out and enjoy it."

*******

Some historical observations from Jacques Barzun may be of interest.

 

A Brief Video:
Crustacea Jazz Band's Players
& Some of Their Performances

This picture and video present the players who were in the band as it was in the fall of 2019. Over time some players leave and new players come into the band. They all share the band's love of playing this traditional jazz so that we can continue to play this unique music of America

 

 

We are available for your event:
wedding parties, anniversaries, birthdays,
winery parties, residential concerts.

Our email address: crustyjazz@gmail.com
Person to contact: Anne Abler 805-748-0139

Here is our current playlist.

(This is a list of tunes currently in our music book. We will select
tunes from it for your event. We can usually play about
15 tunes in an hour-long show.)

Here are a few recordings of the band.
Listen by clicking on the title.

1. Bei Mir Bist Du Schon

2. Midnight in Moscow

3. Shim-me-sha-wabble

4. Si tu vois ma mere

5. The Fish Vendor

Our Performance Schedule

2023


May 28, 4:30-6:30 Private Birthday Party, Templeton
May 14, 1-3 Tweed Ride San Luis Obispo Triangle Park
April 6, 6-8 Private Party, Los Osos
March 30 6-8:45 SLO Farmers Market corner of Morro Street and Higuera Street
March 23 6-8:45 SLO Farmers Market corner of Morro Street and Higuera Street
February 21 : 2-3 Mardi Gras Party at Garden Creek in The Villages, SLO
February 8 11:30-1:40 Cayucos Seniors Luncheon

2022

December 3 6-10 pm 75th Birthday Party, Templeton
October 27 6-8:45 SLO Farmers Market corner of Morro Street and Higuera Street
September 24: 5:30-7:30 10th Wedding Anniversary Celebration (private party)
September 15: 6-8:45 SLO Farmers Market corner of Morro Street and Higuera Street
September 9: 3-4 Party at The Palms in The Villages, SLO
August 18 6-8:45 SLO Farmers Market corner of Morro Street and Higuera Street
June 23: 6-8:30 SLO Farmers Market Corner of Morro Street and Higuera Street
June 5: 12:30-4 pm Private Wine Club Party, Paso Robles
May 30: 3-4 Party at The Palms in The Villages, SLO
May 1: 1-4 At The Jack House in San Luis Obispo
April 28: 6-8:30 SLO Farmers Market Corner of Morro Street and Higuera Street
April 11: 3-4 Party at The Palms in The Villages
March 24: 6-8:30 SLO Farmers Market Corner of Morro Street and Higuera Street
March 12: 2-4 Private Birthday Party
March 1: 3-4 Party at The Palms in The Villages
February 17: 6-8:30 SLO Farmers Market Corner of Morro Street and Higuera Street
January 20: 6-8:30 SLO Farmers Market Corner of Morro Street and Higuera Street

A Short History of the Band

We are essentially a local jazz band playing the early music of America. Since 2009 we have performed at over 400 celebrations, parties, benefits, and weddings.

Our public performances for farmers’ markets and festivals always draw an appreciative and enthusiastic crowd. We invite you to check us out at the any of the public performances that are listed on this website.

As our band has become known we have played birthday parties (among others, the 50th, 80th, 90th, 99th, and in July 2016 we played a 100th birthday party), anniversaries (several 50th, one 70th), ten wedding parties, and several winery shows and benefits.

We are a familiar band to the residents at Casa de Flores and Bayside Care Center and at The Villages and at The Manse.

Since 2011 we've played the SLO Tweed Ride (fun folks with old-fashioned bicycles and dress--look them up!).

We have played multiple times for both the Strawberry Festival and the Cayucos Senior's Luncheons. The Santa Maria Model A Ford Car Club hired us because we play the music that was popular in the era of the early automobiles.

Our players all live in San Luis Obispo County.


A great band for any celebration!

 

Call this number to discuss possible dates for your events:
Phone: Anne Abler 805-748-0139
Email us at: crustyjazz@gmail.com