The Shanghai Woolies

About

Founded by Pink Martini trumpet player Gavin Bondy, the Shanghai Woolies put a:

"new twist on the music of the flapper era: Jitterbug music. Big band. Swing. The raucous, slippery, foot-happy jazz you’d expect to hear at the legendary Cotton Club,”

-The Oregonian.

Vocalist Khilmony Downs formerly of Pink Martini and The Portland Opera, passionately shares her several sultry octaves while Gavin Bondy plays trumpet and cornet, writes songs and creates arrangements for the band.

Brought up in Portland, Oregon, he studied music from old-school horn players who showed him how it was made in the first part of last century. They had worked in live radio orchestras and in the bands of people like Glenn Miller and Tex Beneke. It became Gavin's task to reconcile this training with the newer sounds he enjoyed. Along the way, he discovered beauty in musical elements others had discarded in the name of progress. So, he chose the music of the 1920's when, in 1999, he began work in earnest on the material for the Shanghai Woolies.

In 2004, the band released their debut CD, Jungle Nights, to an enthusiastic house at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon. National Public Radio later put the third track, Concerto for Trumpet, on their Open Mic web site where the public voted and gave it one of the highest ratings ever.

Soon after, though, various members’ schedules prevented the band from accepting most of the requests for bookings, until recently, when the line-up shifted and grew so that they can now accept almost all the dates that come in.

It is often noted that the Shanghai Woolies' live shows are the best: "That's the coolest band I've ever seen," said Marv Ross of Quarterflash, after seeing their performance at a Cycle Oregon show he had organized.

"Though Brian Setzer, Cherry-Poppin' Daddies, and others have paved this road, the fanciest, coolest machine on the highway is The Shanghai Woolies." -- Victory Review

Personnel

Bernardo Gomez: string bass
Gavin Bondy: trumpet, cornet, band leader
Clark Bondy: saxophones, clarinet, flute
Tyson Schmidling: lead guitar
Nick O'Donnell: guitars, banjo
Khilmony Downs: vocals
Joe Haegele: drums, percussion
Special Guest: Trombone

What to Expect

Typical Gig Duration: 30 - 240 minutes

The type of show one can expect from us depends on the type of event or venue we are in. We pride ourselves in our range and versatility and we respect the different roles our music can fulfill. The challenges brought by each venue and each customer’s taste make our craft even more interesting to us. We see music as a tool of communication between people and love the opportunity to do that beautifully.

So one can expect harmonious, subtle, and rich sounds, alternately soothing or rousing, all of which hearken to and refresh memories of decades long ago in a way that brings them very alive now. If this all reads a little geekish, just prepare yourself for an unusually elegant and unique time.

Set/Song/Sequence List:
Louis Armstrong:
Basin Street Blues
Everybody Loves My Baby
I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)
King Of The Zulus
Muskrat Ramble
On The Sunny Side Of The Street
Our Love Is Here To Stay
Russian Lullaby
Saint Louis Blues
What A Wonderful World

Tony Bennett: The Best Is Yet To Come

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy: Go Daddy-O

Bobby Darin: I'm Beginning To See The Light

Duke Ellington:
Black And Tan Fantasy
East Saint Louis Toodle-oo
Haunted Nights
Jungle Nights In Harlem
The Mooche
Mood Indigo

Benny Goodman:
How Deep Is The Ocean?
Puttin' On The Ritz
Sing Sing Sing
Why Don't You Do Right?

Harry James: Concerto For Trumpet

Juan Carlos Cobain: Nostalgias (tango)

Peggy Lee: Fever

Glenn Miller: In The Mood

Royal Crown Revue: Topsy

Artie Shaw:
Nightmare
Serenade To A Savage

Frank Sinatra:
Angel Eyes
It Had To Be You
The Way You Look Tonight

Paul Whiteman:
Charleston
Happy Feet

Ballads:
I Surrender, Dear
My Funny Valentine
Stardust
Summertime
The Very Thought Of You
Willow Weep For Me

Rock:
Ravel's Bolero
Led Zeppelin: Kashmir
Jimmi Hendrix: Manic Depression
Edgar Winter: Rock And Roll Hoochie Coo
Chicago: 25 Or 6 To 4
The Doors: When You're Strange

Rhythm & Blues:
Etta James: At Last
Elvis Presley: Can't Help Falling In Love
Otis Redding: These Arms Of Mine

Iz: Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Performance Schedule

Past Booked Dates:

01-02-2009 — Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW 10th Ave.,, Portland OR, (503) 295-6542
12-19-2008 — Tony Starlight's Supperclub & Lounge, 3728 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland OR, 503-517-8584

Available for Your

Anniversary Party, Awards Night, Bachelor Party, Bachelorette Party, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Party, Bar/Lounge, Birthday Party, Club/Nightclub, Concert Venue, Convention, Corporate Event, Cruise, Dinner Dance, Ethnic Celebration, Festival, Fundraiser, Funeral Service, Grand Opening, Launch Party, Private Party, Prom, Religious Celebration, Restaurant, Sporting Event, Studio Session, Trade Show, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Reception

Browse Other

1920s Era Entertainment in Portland, Oregon

Search a different location

Whether you hire The Shanghai Woolies or other 1920s Era Entertainment in Portland for your party, wedding, or event, Gig Salad makes it super-easy to book professional 1920s Era Entertainment.

We strongly recommend that all communication be kept on the Gig Salad Booking Platform as you book your 1920s Era Entertainment. When you do, we’re able to offer numerous benefits that we can’t guarantee if you take communication or deposit payment off the Gig Salad platform. Our booking system is easy to use and handles secure deposit payments from you to the Portland 1920s Era Entertainment of your choice.

Additionally, the quote/agreement sent from your 1920s Era Entertainment to you using the Gig Salad platform, should outline performance fees, extras, arrival and departure times, cancellation policy, insurance information and other details.