"HOUNDS CHOSEN TO PLAY FOR NYC FIREWORKS on 4th "

(July 04, 2004)

Your patriotic swingin' favorites have been tapped to bring in the 228th birthday of the United States of America for New York City's Fireworks Display at Roosevelt Island. The event is sponsored by the Dept. of Public Works, and G-Clef, Sledge, Jakineko and da boyz will all be there to swing in the 228th. If you can't hear us on the radio broadcasts, or see us on the TV snippets, just kindly think of us when you see the fireworks, and think to yourself, "damn, the hounds are at it again!" The Yalloppin' Hounds will also be performing another show in the city this month, marking a return to visibility and swinging infamy. Come see us at Union Square Park outdoors for a free concert on Wednesday, July 21st, and yes, you can dance! We will only be performing for an hour, as a part of this live music festival, so make sure you get there on time! We would love to see some of our old friends back out for this event, especially since it's FREE. So all you Swing Free Riders, pay... attention, here is your chance to love the Yalloppin' Hounds once more! Featured on both shows: G-Clef (original member), Jakineko, Lord Sledge (original member), Peter Van Vostrand, Peter Hartmann, William Ash (original member), and Julian Pressley. Come on out we'd love to see you!

"G-CLEF AND DA HOUNDZ ALBUM NEARING COMPLETION"

(May 28, 2003)

Yes, the premier sonic experiment is almost completed. After over a year of deep studio, Komposa/Leader G-Clef da Mad Komposa and the gang, have been focused on just two tasks: 1) Doing sporadic college shows (Rutgers, Bowdoin, Bates, Amherst, etc) and 2) Working on exactly what kind of musical statement will be made with this new and innovative group as they totally depart their "modern swing" roots. "You can't really categorize our new sound... it is not merely hip-hop, nor is it jazz, nor just pop music. It is a living breathing genre in itself is all I can say!" explains G-Clef, who has added a new moniker to his palette, now calling himself "Joe Aton". "Fans who wondered what all the "Dune" referencing has been about are about to receive the realization of that movement very soon..." The name of the album has now been announced as a direct reference from author Frank Herbert's Sci-Fi classic "Dune",  as "Fear is the Mind Killer" is the working title of the project. Da Houndz will be both releasing this album independently and shopping it to larger labels. Featured in the band: G-Clef, aka Joe Aton, vocals, raps, saxes, ASR Progrmming, keys, etc; Archangel Metatron, raps; Jakineko on vocals, Peter Hartmann, bass/vocals; Marlon Sobol, drums/percussion; Joe Rybsczyk, Jr., keyboards. Guest include thus far: Lord Sledge, J. Walter Hawkes, Mike Seropyan, DJ Jase Mason, Lee Hogans, Julian Pressley, and others.

"THE ARCHITECT- YALLOPPIN' HOUNDS RELEASE FINAL SWING LP"

(April 29, 2003)

For the 104th birthday of Duke Ellington, The Yalloppin' Hounds have released their long-awaited tribute album, "The Architect". This album is a documentation of what had become an annual tradition of the band within it's live performances in the NYC area. Every year, since 1998 the band performed a tribute dance/show where they featured only the music of the late, great American Composer, Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington. "Ellington has always been my hero!" says Hounds' leader and composer, G-Clef. Another notable aspect of this recording is the return of original member Brian "Lord" Sledge on trumpet. Also featured on this recording are special guests J. Walter Hawkes and G-Clef and Da Houndz' vocalists Jakineko Loversidge and Archangel Metatron, both heavily featured on the upcoming premier album of G-Clef and da Houndz (Rayzd) entitled "Fear is the Mind Killer" due out this Summer. "The Architect" is available on Amazon.com, Cdbaby.com, as well as on our own secure server. See and hear it here.

"LINDY HOP DELUXE" FINALLY RELEASED!"

(September 9, 2002)

Finally, its the third studio album from the Swing Band who introduced the Hip-Hop to the Lindy, and the Ghetto to the Swing, the Yalloppin' Hounds.  Hounds' leader Joey "G-Clef" da Mad Komposa has penned what is perhaps the first original suite for contemporary swing dancers.  "Lindy Hop Deluxe Suite" is a six part journey in the form of abstract impressions of each major dance style that has been visited within the last few years as a part of the swing resurgence.  G-Clef got the idea of presenting some original music as a backdrop to inspire the swing dancer as the soloist, originally to improvise as the music was played for the very first time. The suite was originally presented at one of the Lindy Hop scene's most prestigious events, the American Lindy Hop Championships, on October 27th, 2002, in Stamford, Connecticut.
The movements of the suite cover every style from "Savoy Style" to "West Coast", and the challenge is to create a creative communion between the dancers and the musicians.
The second half of the album is strictly smooth swingin' covers based upon all G-Clef's swing band experience with the likes of the late Panama Francis, the late Lionel Hampton, as well as great tenor saxophonist Illinois Jacquet, with whom G-Clef served as Lead Alto on and off for twelve years. All the songs on this Hounds' album are dedicated to and arranged for the dancers. The band will be available to perform the "Lindy Hop Deluxe Suite" for swing dance clubs and societies worldwide.

HOUNDS RECORDING "LINDY HOP DELUXE"

(May 16, 2002)

The Hounds have been busy recording the suite of original music they premiered at the American Lindy Hop Championships last October, 2001, in Stamford. CT. This album will be mainly for dancers, but not limited as to who can the music. The suite itself is G-Clef's most creative and ambitious writing since the inception of the Hounds back in 1998. Although the Hounds have seemed to have been moving away from Lindy Music of late, and more into a progressive Hip-Hop infused sound, they have not forgotten their roots as a dance band. G-Clef says the suite is "an actual accompaniment to improvisatory swing dance, where the dancers are the soloist...." The suite will also be presented to National Swing Dance Societies as a part of a musicality package where local dancers can perform it with the Hounds live. The album also includes several traditional "swing" covers with Hounds' treatments. Reports are it is swinging pretty hard!

"SUN RAY" PICKED FOR SWING COMPILATION ALBUM!

(November 20, 2001)

The next single from the New Yalloppin City album is slated to be "Sun Ray" by popular demand. Well, no sooner was a new single picked, when mp3.com selected the G-Clef original for its new Swing Compilation album entitled "Zoot Suits and HepCats". Mp3.com evidently has a team of musical "experts" who hand picked our song for this album, "Our content managers paid special attention to, among other things, production quality, songwriting skill, and genre and theme suitability." 

"NEW YALLOPPIN CITY RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC

(September 6, 2001)

The new Hounds album is finally here! New Yalloppin' City, the new CD, is finally available for public consumption. DJ Alan White of SwingTop40.Com has proclaimed it "A masterpiece!" "It's a far more complete musical statement than the last album. We have more variety, more danceable tracks, and better overall production," says G-Clef, who wrote all but one of the songs, as well as doing all the production and arranging. The first single, Thugbrat, really made quite a buzz around the internet, and the second single, Sun Ray, is up as of today on the Hounds' mp3.com page. Also, coming soon will be a special deejay CD single, featuring official Hip-Hop Remixes of Thugbrat, and We, (bonus remix from the first album.) You can order the album on this site here. Also, you can read the complete track list and see more here.

 

 

"OOPS, MY BAD" SNAGS 'SWING AWARD'/ GETS PICKED UP BY INDIE FILM! 

(May 14, 2001)

Well, the results are all officially in. The only International Readers' Poll in the Swing Scene is held by Diana at swingawards.com, and it seems that, thanks to all our fans, the Yalloppin' Hounds, namely Komposa Joey "G-Clef" Cavaseno, has snagged the award for Best Song for the Year 2000. "Oops, My Bad", the same song that was covered by David Berger and the Sultans of Swing was voted to be the best Swing Song of 2000 by all the readers of the swingawards.com website! The Hounds also came in second in the category of Best Swing Band, right behind our good friends Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers. Not too shabby for a band who is from the East Coast with no record deal!. Also, Marlon Sobol, Peter Hartmann, Joey 'G-Clef' Cavaseno, Lord Sledge, and Mark McGowan, all placed very highly in the polls. The Swing Award Show was originally broadcast on internet radio site SwingTop40.com by DJ Alan White. Furthermore, G-Clef recently learned that the same song, "Oops, My bad" was also picked up in the Independent Film "Dead Pet" starring and directed by Kevin Cotteleer, NYU graduate, currently one of the hottest new directors. The film is a comedy, and is available as a part of the Internationally distributed "First Rites" series at Hollywood Video, and is being licensed to Comedy Central and the Independent Film Channel. Watch for the cheating/sex scene, and you will hear those familiar strains start right up as the action unfolds! Here is some information: Buy Dead Pet and a review.

 

 

YALLOPPIN HOUNDS' ANNUAL DUKE ELLINGTON BIRTHDAY JAM

(April 13, 2001)

In 1999, they did it at Lo-Fi Lee's TATOU, in 2000 they did it at the Supper Club, and this year they will bring it to NYC's only 7 night per week "all swing" venue, Swing 46 Jazz and Supper Club. On Sunday, April 29th, 2001, one of New York's top "new swing" bands, The Yalloppin' Hounds, will be paying tribute to the greatest American composer, Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington on the occasion of what would have been his 102nd birthday. Normally know for their ground breaking original music, the Hounds will on this night be playing only the music of one composer: Duke Ellington. Joey "G-Clef" Cavaseno, the group's leader and musical director cites Ellington as his biggest influence in all genres of music. "Duke's music is about the only stuff we normally feature other than our own music." The program will be a loosely constructed combinations of Ellington Favorites with rare obscurities, will be played for both listeners and dancers alike. "We will be playing everything from C-Jam Blues type stuff to a new arrangement of the never recorded "Spankin' Brand New Doll"! There will even be a couple of danceable selections from the Sacred Concerts." The band, extra tight from recently completing the recording of their upcoming album, "New Yalloppin' City" , will be presenting the program live at Swing 46, located at 349 West 46th Street (Btw. 8th & 9th Avenue) N.Y.C., call 212-262-9554 for reservations. Show starts: 9:30 pm until 12:30 am. *ADDENDA: It was a huge success, and tenor great Lew Tabackin, who is currently Mike Seropyan's teacher, came down and sat in all night long! It was a blast and positively reviewed on Yehoodi. click here to read.

 

 

NEW YALLOPPIN CITY NEARING COMPLETION! 

(March 14,2001)

Here is a message from G-Clef regarding the progress of the Yalloppin' Hounds' upcoming album, New Yalloppin' City:
Hey all Yalloppin Hounds fans and friends!!!

1) The Yalloppin' Hounds' new album, "New Yalloppin' City", is finished. Just tightening up a few details, and artwork, and we should be pressing as early as two weeks from now, with a possible street date as early as early April. The album features 13 new songs, all originals, and generally shorter song lengths and danceable tempos. I think you all may really enjoy this one if you enjoyed our last one! It will take us "where no swing band has gone before!" Two songs are already available for listening on mp3.com: http://www.mp3.com/YalloppinHounds 

2) We have a new radio station on mp3.com's radio networks called 'Urban Swing Deluxe' which, for right now, will only be playing the Yalloppin Hounds' music, but eventually will feature other things like us, when they get invented! The point is, to create a new market using internet radio. I already have uploaded 'Thugbrat' and 'Sun Ray' on mp3.com for listening only. What this means is, people who like you, as well as people who don't yet know us will get the chance to hear our music, while they are chilling, at work, or cleaning their house, hey it doesn't matter, you can hear us!  But, I need a favor from each and every Hound fan. If all of you guys bookmark the internet address of Urban Swing Deluxe, you will be able to just click on it anytime and your computer will just play all the songs on that station (assuming you are online and have Real Player Jukebox or Musicmatch). Right now, it's just five songs, but it will be expanding! Keep it bookmarked and just click it whenever you are online....(even if it means turning down your speaker volume) The more you click it, the more we will rise up the charts on mp3.com and be exposed to more people. This is your chance to help the Hounds go National, and reach new audiences. If you have any questions at all, please email me back , and don't be afraid to ask! 
Here is the address, please check it out and bookmark it, and play it ad nauseum, and pass it on to EVERYONE who would be interested at all: http://mp3.com/stations/urban_swing_deluxe

3) To access the actual file locations of hi-fi play links of the songs, click now:
Thugbrat  or Sun Ray

Enjoy our music and feel free to give us your feedback!
G-Clef, Yalloppin Hounds

HOUNDS RECORDING NEW ALBUM, GOING TO GREECE!

(December 21, 2000)

The New York swing/jazz band, the Yalloppin' Hounds will be taking another trip this winter: back to Greece. The number one jazz club in Athens, Greece, has, due to popular demand, hired the Hounds back once again, as the band now seems to be officially transitioning into both a Swing and Jazz group. As yalloppinhounds.com readers already know, YH has always consisted of top jazz musicians who enjoy playing for dancers as well as listeners, since their inception in 1998. They will leave on December 27th and return to New York on January 5th, just over a week later. Their departure comes just a few days after they spend a full day in the studio, recording their second album, tentatively titled "New Yalloppin' City". The album will feature their new full time female vocalist, Miss Sasha Dobson, along with Joey "G-Clef" Cavaseno, Mark McGowan, Lord Sledge, Herman X, Jeremy Bacon, Peter Hartmann, and their new drummer, wunderkind, Marlon "the punisher" Sobol. The album will contain no less than 13 originals and no covers. 

When drummer Kenny "Vietnam" Bolds and G-Clef mutually agreed on his taking a break from the rigors of the Hounds' busy show schedule, it was right around that time that, one afternoon, after dropping off Lord Sledge at the Union Square subway station, G-Clef heard the sound of a drummer playing in the street, outside, really grooving, playing duets with a sax player. "I immediately had Lil Green jump out of the car to get the kid's number, and the rest is history..." says G-Clef. The drummer's name was Marlon Sobol, 20, and he continues to play night after night with the Hounds, bringing a new, exciting flare to the rhythm section. "The best thing about Marlon is not only how hard he can swing, but also that he has the rare combination of being a great Hip-Hop drummer as well, which should really help us move into the next phase of our musical development."

There is also a new female vocalist on the way named Gillian Palette who G-Clef claims to be his greatest discovery yet. G-Clef stumbled upon Gill in as much an odd way as he did Marlon; G-Clef explains, "I was at my sax repairman's place and gave them the Hounds CD, and as they started to hear Nobody Knows, one of the repairmen tells me that Queen Esther, our vocalist on the CD, reminds him of another singer, a girl who is the daughter of another customer, Sax man Frank Palette. He then played me their CD, and I was immediately blown away by the sound of this girl's voice, as well as her dad's compositions. I proceeded to get in touch with her dad Frank Palette, and eventually got to meet and hear Gill." Since then, G-Clef has been working with Gill, cultivating her as the future singer in the Hounds. G-Clef says, "All I know is, at the first rehearsal with Gill, after hearing her sing Nobody Knows for the first time, I ended up with eyes full of tears because I felt it was the first time I had really heard that song since I wrote it!" Gill has not yet appeared publicly with the Hounds, but will be making gigs soon enough. Unfortunately, at this date, she is sidelined with an ear infection, but we all hope Gill gets better real soon!

 

 

SULTANS OF SWING COVER HOUNDS TUNE!

(April 6, 2000)

The New York Swing band The Sultans of Swing recently debuted one of the Yalloppin Hounds most well-known tunes, "Oops, My Bad", at Irving Plaza. Led by arranger, composer David Berger, who is widely known for his transcriptions of Ellington, is reported to have arranged the tune for his Big Band. He even transcribed G-Clef's alto sax solo and reharmonized it for his entire saxophone section, ala Supersax! According to many reports, the arrangement sounded very good, and was quite well received by the dancers. G-Clef said about the event, "All I can say is it's truly an honor to have my favorite composer's leading transcriber transcribing me!!!"

LAVAY SMITH NAMES HOUNDS CD AMONG HER FAVORITES! 

(April 6, 2000)

G-CLEF JOINS RANKS OF JAZZ LEGENDS

(April 5, 2000)

You know him as the Mad Komposa, the composing, arranging, saxophone playing leader of the Yalloppin Hounds. But before the swing resurgence, Joey "G-Clef" Cavaseno, was and remains quite an accomplished jazz musician. 
As of the latest edition of "The Encyclopedia of Jazz" (the last one having been published in the seventies), he is listed along with a summary of his accomplishments as well as his vital statistics. His career highlights have included stints and recordings with Doc Cheatham, Lionel Hampton, Illinois Jacquet, Panama Francis, Bobby Forester, Carrie Smith, Clark Terry, Wild Bill Davis, as well as many others, all of whom are mentioned in the new edition. The title of the latest printing is : 'The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz', which is co-written by legendary Jazz critics Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler. This book has served as the primary reference for jazz studies internationally since its first version in the 1940's.