Pete Lay Memorial Party
The Alvar Treefrogs
Will be replacing The Riviera Ramblers at the Gunton Hall event due to a communication goof.
The Sound of Alvar Street: A New Orleans Wild Adventure
"The Alvar Tree Frogs are not only a jazz band - they are a high-octane celebration of the music that made New Orleans the heartbeat of the world. Conceived on the porch of a house on Alvar Street in the Crescent City, they deliver a 'wild adventure' through the hip, humorous, and deeply danceable sounds of the 1920s/30s. Expect a setlist that dives into the 'forgotten gems' of the era - everything from garbage men to the 'Frogs' themselves—all delivered with the precision of world-class session players. This is New Orleans music with an authentic soul and a 'brass-heavy' bottom end, driven by the unique, thumping pulse of the sousaphone. Whether they are reviving a vintage swing classic or a humorous 'Race Record' rarity, the Tree Frogs play with a infectious energy that is quite simply 'the bee’s knees', or, maybe 'the frogs legs'. ☺
The "Race Records" Definition
A term that sounds a bit jarring to modern ears, but in the history of the music industry, it’s a very specific "filing cabinet" label from the 1920s through the 1940s. Back then, the major record labels (like Okeh, Victor, and Columbia) used the term "Race Records" as a marketing category for music performed by and for African American audiences.
The Genres: It covered everything from Jazz and Delta Blues to Gospel and early Rhythm & Blues.
The Shift: In 1949, the industry (specifically Billboard) realized the term was outdated and replaced it with "Rhythm and Blues."
Why the Alvar Tree Frogs call them "Rarities"
When the band talks about "Race Record rarities," they are being musical detectives. Instead of playing the "Great American Songbook" (the famous hits by Gershwin or Cole Porter that everyone knows), they dig into the "B-sides" of the 1920s and 30s. These were songs often recorded in tiny studios in Chicago or New Orleans that were full of:
Witty "Street" Lyrics: Songs about daily life, like "The Garbage Man" or "Eggs and Butter."
Raw Energy: These records weren't "polished" for the ballroom; but for the dance halls and "juke joints."
Humour: A lot of these rare tracks were "novelty" songs—funny, slightly naughty, or just plain weird - which fits the "Frog" personality perfectly.
BAND BIOS:
Sam Bullard (Clarinet): The "Frog-in-Chief." When he’s not with the frogs, he’s a staple of the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and major West End shows.
Gavin Broom (Trumpet): A founder member of the Heritage Orchestra. He’s worked with Quincy Jones and Pete Tong—he brings the "cool" to the New Orleans heat.
Jon Stokes (Trombone): A regular with the John Wilson Orchestra. He’s the one who brings the "frothy" New Orleans trombone sliding.
Thomas Gray (Br/Vocals)anjo/Guita: Known as "Newt the Lute." He’s the one who "expertly knitted together" their lockdown album, Pondemic.
Mike Poyser (Tuba/Sousaphone): The "Bullfrog." His sousaphone is the heart of the band—it's what gives them that authentic, "greasy" street-parade bottom end.
Pat Levett (Drums): A legend who has recorded with Tom Jones and Paloma Faith. He’s the rhythmic engine.