Introducing ...THE BEARCATS

One of the Northeast's favorite Jazz and Swing bands, The Bearcats were formed in 1977 by Joe Hanlon for the purpose of preserving and promulgating one of America's national treasures- traditional jazz--and to enjoy doing it. After achieving wide local recognition, THE BEARCATS were soon performing for jazz societies and festivals in CT, DE, NY, NJ, PA., VA and Florida. The band made its West Coast debut in August, 2000 at Big Bear Lake in CA. For the eleventh straight year we return to the Connecticut Traditional Jazzfest at Guilford, CT in July, 2004 and we returned to Florida again (having played for the Sarasota Jazz Club in 1996) for our second consecutive appearance at the Suncoast Classic Dixieland Jazz fest in Nov, 2002. In 2002 we played for the Spokane Jazz Festival and the PA Jazz Society. In 2004 we played at the Orange County Jazz Fest, CA, Old Time Jazz Fest in Cleveland, OH and once again at the Suncoast Jazz Fest in Clearwater, FL.

In 2006 we also appeared at the Sacramento Jubilee Jazz Fest in CA. The members of THE BEARCATS are devoted and skilled musicians with a style firmly rooted in the New Orleans tradition and a flair also for the variations known as Chicago and West Coast. The band can appeal to a wide variety of Trad audiences by easily migrating from a strict 1920's Louis Armstrong style with clarinet, tuba and banjo to a driving Eddie Condonesque, four-beat rouser with guitar and string bass. For dancing, the repertoire also reaches to Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Ellington, Basie and Louis Prima.

Locally, the Bearcats have played at the Blazer Pub in Purdys, NY since 1978, 28 years; The Silvermine Tavern, Norwalk, CT for 7 years and many town concerts, parades and private affairs such as weddings, concerts and dances.