“We'd all be really happy
if we could keep getting together
to play this music
two or three times a week
for the rest of our lives.”

-Steve Briggs

Canadian cowboy jazz heros, The Bebop Cowboys have developed a reputation for outstanding song arrangements and stellar musicianship. Each of the players brings an impressive set of influences and pedigree to the mix: noted jazz guitarist Steve Briggs devises strong arrangements that portray a deep knowledge of and respect for the jazz and country-western canons. In addition to his long apprenticeship to the blues, harp player Howard Willett's whisky-soaked baritone voice offers reverential readings of classic western swing and country in a manner that clearly shows how dear this music is to his heart. And in steel player Burke Carroll (George Fox, Nathan, Justin Rutledge), drummer John Adames (Prairie Oyster), string bassist Dennis Pendrith (Bruce Cockburn), fiddler Drew Jurecka (Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards), with frequent participation from piano guru John Sheard (Vinyl Cafe) and multi-instrumentalist Chris Whiteley (you name it), the Bebop Cowboys have the musical ingredients to serve up a hot brand of Western Swing rarely if ever heard outside Texas and Southern California. Most of all, they deliver the goods with the obvious excitement of top-shelf musicians playing for the sheer joy of it.

As presenters, the Bebop Cowboys' on-going undertaking has been to curate and host the successful HOMETOWN COUNTRY JUBILEE! series in Toronto, inviting other roots-influenced groups to join them in a one-night, indoor, festival-like setting. Past performers include the Jenny Whiteley Band, the Weber Brothers, Atomic 7, Greg Quill, Alex Pangman, Terra Hazelton, the Brothers Cosmoline, and others.

In May 2006, the Bebops released their highly anticipated third CD, Canadian Dance Hall, which pays tribute to the many Canadian dance bands of the '30s, '40s, and '50s.

The Canadian music industry has produced some of the world's finest musicians over the years. Some moved away finding success in other countries, such as Oscar Peterson, Hank Snow and Maynard Ferguson, but many more stayed, entertaining generations of Canadians in community halls and ballrooms across the country. Canadian Dance Hall revisits an era of musical activity which is sadly under-recorded and in danger of being forgotten. The project has attracted a number of celebrated Canadian artists as guests, including Prairie Oyster's Russell de Carle, Sarah Harmer and Downchild's Chuck Jackson among others, and features both original tunes and traditional songs from the era.

“We'd all be really happy if we could keep getting together to play this music
two or three times a week for the rest of our lives.”

-Steve Briggs