Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret
We're jazzed to be at one of Denver's top nightclubs on January 25, 2009 -- and we'll be even more jazzed to see YOU there. Tickets are on sale now, so jump on it today: Here's Lannie's website!

Catch us at smooth venues all around the Front Range!
Get on our mailing list of Friends of the Hoagies (see below) and we'll let you know when we're in your neighborhood.

    The new CD "SHADOW BALL" is available now!
 If I Were You is one of the tunes on the new recording, which features Wade Krauss on drums and Bill Pontarelli on clarinet. Mike found this number on an old Fats Waller disc from the mid-30's, and gives it the Hoagies touch on the new CD.
I'll Never Say Never Again Again is one of those great Nat King Cole numbers when he was playing with his fabulous Trio in the '40s. Listen to the cool licks of guest guitarist Gordon Schrag.

And here's a few Christmas goodies from the old Jazzy Bean days.

   You can get our CDs right now at Amazon by clicking on either one. While you're there, you can leave a review if you like the disc. We can use all the PR we can get!


Join the Friends of the Hoagies! >>> Just send a little ol' email to scott and we'll put you on our list for future performances and events. Be sure to mention the Hoagies in the email header.

Here are some of our favorite people:

   Wade Krauss -- he's either a full-fledged Hoagie, or is doing a damned good impression. Here's a link to one of his many music projects, the Streetsmart Band.

   Bill Pontarelli really set things afire on the new CD. You can keep track of his comings and goings at his website, docjazz.net.

The Denver Mandolin Orchestra which is the group in which we all got to know and kinda like each other.

Mandolin Cafe a great site for all things mandolin.

  

REVIEW:
 The Hoagies
"Smooth"
James Hanley
Rock Group Monthly

Any bride-to-be worth her rice will tell you; to look your best, dress those bridesmaids down. At the very least, fatten their legs with a mid-calf hem.

So forgive us grimacing when we saw novice songwriter Scott Johnson's "Iowa" standing at the altar flanked by beauties from legends Hoagy Carmichael and Louis Jordan. C'mon ... Hoagy he ain't.

Or is he?

"Iowa" might well have been channeled by Johnson from Carmichael. Its lyrics, composition and execution are stunningly Carmichael-esque. Produced by Johnson's Scotnik Records, "Smooth" will appeal to even those who are not clear on what a "record" is.

This CD is toe-tappingly rich, without being too sweet to savor. Johnson (guitar & vocals), Mike Billings (mandolin & vocals), Dave Ball (bass), and some talented friends get swinging and do not stop with classics like "Two Sleepy People", "Is You Or Is You Ain't" and "The Very Thought of You".

Mandolin work by Billings and, on several tracks, Charlie Provenza, is exacting with its ebbs and flows that punctuate here and serenade there on covers and originals. Vocals by Johnson and Billings are perfectly imperfect, suggesting a live performance happened in that Boulder studio.

Make room on your iPod for 17 new tracks -- including a stunning one dressed in white. Here come the Hoagies.