2008 Woodie Awards
Boston Horns funk up the North Shore
Brendon Cournoyer
Issue date: 10/29/03 Section: Entertainment
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10/29/03 - Bringing their exciting blend of jazz and funk to Narragansett, the Boston Horns rocked out at the Wheel House Tavern Friday night.
The show was just the latest stop for the six-piece that has spent the last few months touring all over the Northeast. For founding members Garret Savluk and Henley Douglas, Jr., however, the journey has been much longer.
The two are former front men of the Heavy Metal Horns, a well-respected funk band of the early 90's. Their first real taste of success came when they were asked to embark on a world tour, opening up for the rock band Extreme.
"It was great. We got to go all over Europe, Japan and Australia," said Savluk, who plays trumpet and covers lead vocal duties for the band. "It was a real topnotch tour. We got completely spoiled."
While in Japan, the band landed a record deal and toured the country with other funk bands like Tower of Power.
With the eventual breakup of Heavy Metal Horns, Savluk and Douglas returned to the United States where, in 1999, the Boston Horns were born. Since then, they have toured all over the country, but always come back to their home on the North Shore.
"We play a lot of festivals around here," Savluk said. "Recently, we've done the Beantown Jazz Festival and the Discover Jazz Festival up in Vermont."
Playing local festivals and touring towns like Boston and Portsmouth, N.H., has helped the band find a younger audience.
"Our fan base is pretty mixed, but touring college towns like Narragansett has really given us a nice little college following," Savluk said.
That following is something the band hopes to expand on during their current tour of the Northeast, which features a slightly altered lineup.
"Some of the (original) guys were needing more and more time away from the band, so we're touring now with an all new rhythm section," Savluk said.
The new members include keyboardist Mike Dansereau, bassist Dave Wolfberg and drummer Peter McLean, all formerly of the Boston based funk band Goodfoot.
The trio joined Savluk, Douglas and guitarist Jeff Buckridge this past June to form the new Boston Horns.
"It has worked out really well," Savluk said. "We were looking for some new guys and they really wanted to just beef up their sound a little bit."
The band plans to tour until the end of November, and fans of Phish or The Neville Brothers won't want to miss one funky beat of the Boston Horns new album, scheduled to drop early this spring.
The show was just the latest stop for the six-piece that has spent the last few months touring all over the Northeast. For founding members Garret Savluk and Henley Douglas, Jr., however, the journey has been much longer.
The two are former front men of the Heavy Metal Horns, a well-respected funk band of the early 90's. Their first real taste of success came when they were asked to embark on a world tour, opening up for the rock band Extreme.
"It was great. We got to go all over Europe, Japan and Australia," said Savluk, who plays trumpet and covers lead vocal duties for the band. "It was a real topnotch tour. We got completely spoiled."
While in Japan, the band landed a record deal and toured the country with other funk bands like Tower of Power.
With the eventual breakup of Heavy Metal Horns, Savluk and Douglas returned to the United States where, in 1999, the Boston Horns were born. Since then, they have toured all over the country, but always come back to their home on the North Shore.
"We play a lot of festivals around here," Savluk said. "Recently, we've done the Beantown Jazz Festival and the Discover Jazz Festival up in Vermont."
Playing local festivals and touring towns like Boston and Portsmouth, N.H., has helped the band find a younger audience.
"Our fan base is pretty mixed, but touring college towns like Narragansett has really given us a nice little college following," Savluk said.
That following is something the band hopes to expand on during their current tour of the Northeast, which features a slightly altered lineup.
"Some of the (original) guys were needing more and more time away from the band, so we're touring now with an all new rhythm section," Savluk said.
The new members include keyboardist Mike Dansereau, bassist Dave Wolfberg and drummer Peter McLean, all formerly of the Boston based funk band Goodfoot.
The trio joined Savluk, Douglas and guitarist Jeff Buckridge this past June to form the new Boston Horns.
"It has worked out really well," Savluk said. "We were looking for some new guys and they really wanted to just beef up their sound a little bit."
The band plans to tour until the end of November, and fans of Phish or The Neville Brothers won't want to miss one funky beat of the Boston Horns new album, scheduled to drop early this spring.