The Tonearms plays jazz with our own groove. We include guitar, piano, bass, drums, and vocal. Our music is traditional jazz, standards and not so standards, played with our own spin. Look for our website to find out more.
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Write a reviewPrice range: $200 - $1,000
Languages: English
Gig length: 30 - 240 minutes
Clients can expect an eclectic mix of jazz standards as well as some lesser known jazz tunes. We enjoy interacting with our audience, but we are also content to play in the background if that's what the gig calls for.
While the full contingent of the band includes keyboard, guitar, bass, drums, and vocals, we often play as a lighter trio with only keyboard, guitar, and bass so that we can meet whatever needs you have.
Lastly, we arrive ready to play and can provide all our own sound gear for a small to medium size venue.
The Tonearms is a jazz band based in Indianapolis. We chose our name to honor the days when we listened to music by dropping a tonearm, with a needle, onto vinyl records. Although our music might go back in time, we add our own style, which comes from the variety influences and experiences from our individual musical careers. Check out our website for more about that.
The Tonearms group includes friends and family who have come together to play jazz. We are: Phil Smith on Guitar, Paul Gill on keyboards, Greg Smith on bass, Bob McLeaish on drums, and Paul “PJ” Gill as featured vocalist. As you might guess, some of us are family. Phil and Greg are brothers, and PJ is Paul’s son. This naturally adds to the chemistry of the group.
Because we can provide all of our own sound equipment, we have very few needs other than electrical power and a modest amount of space to set up.
This is a sample song list from a recent gig. We can do other tunes, and, if you have a request, let us know.
Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
The Girl From Ipanema
East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)
Blue Turning Grey Over You
Out Of Nowhere
Blue Bossa
All Of Me
Old Folks
Frim Fram Sauce
The Days Of Wine And Roses
Dreamsville
Road Song
Nature Boy
Sometime Ago
One Note Samba
Day In The Life Of A Fool
I Thought About You
Stella By Starlight
Rainbow Connection
Moonlight In Vermont
Solar
Corcovado
Georgia On My Mind
Laura
Your Mind Is On Vacation
Comin’ Home Baby
The members of The Tonearms come from different musical backgrounds, so influences will be varied. However, here's a sample.
Phil Smith – Guitar: Phil is inspired by the guitar greats such as Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell, Django Reinhardt, Biréli Lagrène, John Scofield, and many more. Besides jazz, his background, which spans over five decades, includes classical, rock, soul, and folk.
Paul Gill – Keys: Paul started on trumpet and was influenced by Lee Morgan, Louis Armstrong, Clifford Brown, Fats Navarro, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, and Miles Davis. He studied jazz piano with Luke Gillespie at IU Bloomington, Gary Walters at Butler, and Harry Miedema at the University of Indianapolis.
Greg Smith - Bass: Greg also started on trumpet, but in 1964, he learned the electric bass and started a band with his two brothers. He eventually gravitated to acoustic music and upright bass. For over forty years, he has been playing in various string bands while retaining a strong interest in jazz.
Bob Mcleaish - Drums: Bob started playing drums in the 60s and took music classes in the 70s at a small community college in NW Florida under the tutelage of Al Nudo, the alto sax master. Bob went on to study at the University of New Mexico, under percussionist Robyn Schulkowski and drummer Rudy Fox. He’s played in every possible musical setting over the years, and in all genres.
PJ Gill - Featured Vocalist: PJ has naturally been influenced by his father, Paul, our Keyboardist. He brings a new generation of influences to the band as he listened to the great jazz and soul vocalists.
We have our own gear and have no special lighting requirements.
Jazz Band
