Johnny Angel and the Swinging Demons genuinely represent an era of American classical music (jazz) that has passed. But the sounds that come from Johnny's bandstand when he swings out are anything but stuck in time. Johnny and his top-flight New Orleans cats have a progressive sound that is still being shaped. Ergo, this is not a revival band, but a working group of serious musicians who know they've started something much bigger than its component parts. Whereas many bigger names have already made it, the hunger of the Swinging Demons means they follow their fearless leader wherever he takes them from his own bag of favorites to big-band standards to personally penned classics, Johnny is still making his sound and proving his artistic vision nightly. Anyone who saw Duke in the '20s (Washingtonians) or Goodman's incarnations in the '30s knows that special time when a genuine sound is about to explode. You can feel Angel and his Demons undeniably dynamic freshness in every song; they cause feet to tap and heads to turn wherever they play. New York supplies the roots for Johnny, but New Orleans gives his sound a caramelized backbeat sweeter than local molasses. Johnny doesn't just cover songs he embraces them, making each melody his own. The way Johnny sings truly redefines the music from this by-gone era as he and his mates expand the ever-growing definition of swing. With the way Johnny makes his audience part of the show - via his big band dance lessons and Sinatra-esque schmoozing patrons always clamor for more. Just Johnny's fashion sense and pompadour make you take notice, but it is his command of the entire offering that keeps you glued to his every note. Hey, this guy who used to do hair for Bobby DeNiro and other top stars must do pretty good if he can ditch his day job to become one of the best bandleaders/singers that the Big Easy has ever known...and he does... Here are a few of the accolades Johnny and his band(s) have received: OFFBEAT MAGAZINE Entertainer of the Year 1998 Newcomer of the Year 1998 MUSICIANS ATLAS Band of the Year (South region) - 2000 And these are just some of the amazing gigs where Johnny has performed: NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL (ACURA stage)- New Orleans,LA. FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL (Main stage) - New Orleans, LA. THE MANDEVILLE SEAFOOD FESTIVAL -Mandeville, LA. THE BLUE ROOM - ROOSEVELT/FAIRMONT HOTEL -New Orleans, LA. DISNEY WORLD Orlando, FL ISLE OF CAPRI Shreveport, LA CASINO MAGIC Bay St. Louis, MS THE BEAU-RIVAGE & GRAND CASINOS - Biloxi, MS HARRAH'S CASINO - New Orleans, LA BALLYS - New Orleans, LA TREASURE CHEST - New Orleans, LA D-DAY MUSEUM - New Orleans, LA MEDAL OF HONOR Ceremony - Houston, TX HILTON HOTEL - New York, NY BOOTLEGGERS BISTRO - Las Vegas, NV Democratic and Republican Party Events - Washington, D.C. BBC-TV for Sickle Cell Anemia Benefit - London, ENG OGLOBAL TV - Sao Paulo, Brazil Opened for THE STRAY CATS - Sao Paulo, Brazil Opened for JERRY LEE LEWIS @ HOB - New Orleans, LA Broadcast on BRAZILIAN NATIONAL RADIO Broadcast on WWOZ-FM Radio 90.7 in NEW ORLEANS, LA And a few of Johnnys other choice accomplishments: Cameo appearance with Burt Reynolds in film TEMPTED (with Julie LaShae) Appeared with Jamie Fox (who won an Oscar for his role) in the film RAY Appeared in the CBS Mini-series ELVIS Bandleader and Studio Producer for the film THE RISING PLACE Johnnys original song, IN HIS ARMS, used in CBC-TV show LE MADAME CONSUL Writer and Producer of the live musical theater; CLUB DEUCE.-Dave Hershorin, editor, "National Champs."
Welcome back to a time when girls are dames, dudes are cats and swing is king! Join New Orleans’ favorite swing band and get ready to jump and jive. Honored as OFFBEAT MAGAZINE’s “Entertainer of the Year”, Johnny Angel unpacks a devilishly-good show that’s sure to get everyone out on the dance floor. As a frequent performer at Jazz Fest, Johnny has also appeared on screen with Burt Reynolds in the film “TEMPTED”, with Jamie Fox in “RAY” and in the CBS mini-series “ELVIS.” So slide on over to the ASC and have a jazzy good time. No zoot suit required.
On Thursday, May 20, Johnny Angel and the Swingin' Demons swing to the ASC. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Call (205) 975-ARTS for tickets.
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