Original Cypress Landing Dixieland Jazz Band

Location: R.A. Fountain

From our promo for this concert:

The Original Cypress Landing Jazz Band, specializing in Dixieland jazz, was formed in 1998 by residents at the Chocowinity Bay retirement community for whom the band is named. Its 6 members represent a variety of musical experiences over their careers, during which they each nurtured passions for Dixieland-style jazz.

“Despite our different careers and paths that got us to being neighbors, we discovered we all had this great interest in playing Dixieland,” said Les Sutorious, one of the band’s founders. “We have a lot of fun, and it’s really remarkable that so many fine musicians wound up living in the same place.”

Drummer Wayne Place played professionally in his native Canada with several bands and recording artists.

Ralph Stephenson, bassist, is a retired Air Force Lt. Col, B-52 pilot, and West Point grad. He performed in jazz bands throughout California before retirement and has recently begun to play bassoon.

Buck Rish, banjo picker, is a retired neurosurgeon who performed with many Dixieland bands on Mississippi River boats.

Art Schram, on clarinet, is originally from New Jersey. He retired from Western Electric in Winston-Salem before moving to Cypress Landing. He played in jazz bands in high school and college and was also in the US Coast Guard Band.

Tom Smith, trombonist, was a professional music educator in New Orleans, where he also played in Dixieland bands.

Trumpeter Sutorious has performed professionally since his high school days on Long Island, NY. He paid his way through college at UNC-CH playing in bands. “We played the Tin Can a lot,” he recalled. “Lots of student dances.” He returned to New York for most of his career as a print/packaging salesman.

Sutorious said patrons should expect a set list that will include such classics of the genre as “Up a Lazy River,” “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “St. james Infirmary,” “Jada,” “Basin Street Blues,” “Amazing Grace,” “Washington and Lee Swing.”

“We love to play requests, too,” he added.

Tags: Concert, Dixieland, jazz