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The Moe Band is mostly a Rhythm and Blues band, but in a more traditional sense than most. The band has traced the roots of R & B back to the days of Louis Jordan and his Tympani Five, who deftly combined the best of the 1930's Jump blues with catchy lyrical treatments and the compelling drive of boogie woogie. During the 1940's, Jordan's band enjoyed a string of chart-topping hits that set the stage for the 1950's brand of rock and roll. The Moe Band dips deeply into this well with jump and boogie tunes that play as well today as when they were new, then moves on to revisit another of the great crossover artists, Ray Charles.

Brother Ray's influence is long and wide in the music industry, but it's his early work that the Moe Band brings back. Ray brought the deep emotionalism of gospel music into the heart of the blues, and while it was controversial in the 50's, it plays today as the roots of soul, funk and hip-hop. The Moe Band pays tribute to Mr. Charles for his inspirational contribution, the first soul music.

All the while Louis and Ray were blending styles, it was down in New Orleans, home of the original gumbo, that a real stew was brewing. From Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong through Dr. John and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the music of the Big Easy has carried the recognizable joy of the street beat and the "Spanish tinge" that only a melding of cultures can bring. Like a steaming plate of jambalaya with a beer chaser, the Moe Band showcases several of the New Orleans styles, like the Meters, the Neville Brothers, Professor Longhair, and more.

Since its inception in 1989, the band has appeared in clubs and at parties and festivals thoughout eastern Iowa. From Bluesmore, the Freedom Festival and KCCK's Jazz Under the Stars in Cedar Rapids through Marion's Swamp Fox Festival, several RAGBRAI events, Iowa City's Downtown Concert Series and Jazz Festival, The Moe Band has consistently infected their audiences with their brand of swing and blues grooves.

But as Frank Zappa said, "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." Listen for yourself (mp3, 3.6 MB).

Moe Band Contact Info:

E-mail: moeband@codejazz.com
James Dreier 319-354-7115
John Shultz 319-350-3124

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Left front, with the sunglasses, is John Heim, a.k.a. Big Moe, bassist, vocalist and musician at large. Listen to John's radio shows Friday nights and Saturday afternoons on KCCK, 88.3 in Cedar Rapids , 106.9 in Iowa City.

Front and center is John Reasoner, who comes out of the closet as a blues/rock/fusion guitar monster when Moe takes the stage. Being the most recent addition to the band, John is a faux-Moe, but they don't make a big deal out of it.

Right front is Al Naylor (Four-eyed Moe), who plays his trumpet with such finesses and grease that you have to see it to believe it. You might have seen his other band, the I-380 Express, on the Variety Club Telethon. He's the hardest-working man in Moe-business.

Back row left is the ticker with the kicker, Jim Dreier (No Moe). As the designated drummer, he helps the band to start and stop together, but they don't hold it against him - he can't help it. Sometimes he sings. Sometimes he doesn't.

In the middle, in the back, protected by his posse, is John Shultz, sometimes known as Eatmoe (don't ask). He sings and plays piano and organ, usually with the rest of the band, sometimes not. Like the rest of the band, he's not planning to quit his day gig.

Rod Pierson is that guy in the right rear. Really. He likes to blow his own horn, which is good, since he's a fine tenor player. He has to be Little Bitty Moe, but it's not really true. Fortunately, he sells musical equipment. Sadly, the band is not buying.