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Hollywood Rhythm Kings play elegant music for your event or special occasion!

Celebrating A Life

Hollywood Rhythm Kings were honored to celebrate a life by performing at a memorial service for a jazz fan. His family wanted a joyful feeling for the reception after his memorial. We were touched and impressed with the joyful feeling jazz can bring. Christian Boyd subbed on piano on this gig.

Hollywood Rhythm Kings in Downey, CA. Kerry Crutchfield, Christian Boyd & Martin Blasick
Hollywood Rhythm Kings in Downey, CA. l-r. Kerry Crutchfield, Christian Boyd & Martin Blasick

Hollywood Rhythm Kings come roaring into Burbank with 1920s sound

Examiner.com published a nice piece about Hollywood Rhythm Kings’ gig at the Burbank library.

National Endowment For The Arts Poster For Hollywood Rhythm Kings
National Endowment For The Arts Poster For Hollywood Rhythm Kings

Original Examiner Article:

Times—and music—were “a-Changin” back in the 1920s when Anne Shaw Faulkner wondered “Does Jazz Put the Sin in Syncopation”. That improvisational music with its unexpected rhythm left some people aghast, while others simply felt sublime listening to the great jazz musicians of the era.

At the same time, The Roaring Twenties did have its sharing of literary giants. Amongst them was F. Scott Fitzgerald whose novel “The Great Gatsby” presented an extraordinary view of American society, highlighting its avarice, idealism and individualism.

Those extravagant parties Fitzgerald commemorated just wouldn’t be the same without jazz music.

So it makes sense that in promoting The Big Read, which includes “The Great Gatsby” on its list of noteworthy books, the Burbank Public Library would host a concert by the Hollywood Rhythm Kings, featuring music of the 1920s.

The jazz trio, with David Coleman on piano, Kerry Crutchfield on drums, and Martin Blasick on bass, joins together to create the perfect nostalgic sound. As individuals, their extensive experience spans several decades, whether it’s been composing music for the theater (Coleman), performing live with bands at venues across the country (Crutchfield) or creating scores and soundtracks for TV shows and movies.

So too, the band has its finger on the pulse with a repertoire that includes songs like “Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue”, “What’ll I Do” and “It Had to Be You”, three songs on the soundtrack of the 1974 “The Great Gatsby” film, which starred Robert Redford, Mia Farrow and Bruce Dern.

Through their music, the Hollywood Rhythm Kings allows listeners to get a glimpse into the past and a better understanding of the 1920s popular culture.

The musical concert is being sponsored by Shakespeare at Play, a non-profit organization made up of professional, award-winning actors, directors, writers and producers, who are dedicated to keeping the arts alive. As they are avid supporters of The Big Read, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts that encourages reading for “pleasure and enlightenment”, there will be Big Read bookmarks, readers guides and CDs given away at this event.

Simply said, it’s an opportunity to be “…borne back ceaselessly into the past.” (From “The Great Gatsby“)

(The Hollywood Rhythm Kings will perform at the Burbank Central Public Library Auditorium, 110 N Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, 91502, on Tuesday, November 19, from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. This event is free.)

What Happens In Las Vegas Is Jazzy

Hollywood Rhythm Kings travelled to Las Vegas to play at the M Resort And Casino, entertaining at the opening party for a corporate convention. Attendees travelled from all over the world and enjoyed an amazing view from the top floor as they settled into their event.

Hollywood Rhythm Kings in Vegas
Hollywood Rhythm Kings in Vegas – Kerry Crutchfield on drums, David Coleman on piano, Martin Blasick on bass – photos by Natasha Blasick

Photographer Jerry Thompson was kind enough to send us these photos after the event.

A Beautiful Wedding

Hollywood Rhythm Kings love being able to share our music on the important occasions of people’s lives. And there’s not a bigger day than a wedding. This lovely couple tied the knot in Los Angeles. Here’s to love and life!

Six Sets Of Jazz

What a fun gig it was to play six sets of jazz outdoors on a beautiful day. Hollywood Rhythm Kings kept the standards flowing at a real estate development opening. Christian Boyd subbed on piano. The home shoppers came and out of our tent to enjoy tunes and refreshments around their condo shopping adventures. A delightful day in a delightful area.

Hollywood Rhythm Kings Jam Six Sets At Real Estate Showcase (l-r Christian Boyd, Kerry Crutchfield, Martin Blasick
Hollywood Rhythm Kings Jam Six Sets At Real Estate Showcase (l-r Christian Boyd, Kerry Crutchfield, Martin Blasick)