El Dorado Jazz Band

The original El Dorado Jazz Band performed in Southern California in the 1960s. The individual stylists in the band — cornetist “Papa Ray” Ronnei, trombonist Al Crowne, clarinetist Mike Baird, pianist Dick Shooshan, banjoist/vocalist Dan Ruedger, bassist Mike Fay and washboardist Bob Raggio — set El Dorado apart from the other traditional jazz groups of the same era. Their repertoire included classic New Orleans standards, rags, stomps, blues and even some skiffle numbers.

The current EDJB is led by Hal Smith (playing washboard for an authentic sound). All of the El Dorado musicians are specialists in performing New Orleans style jazz and all are bandleaders.

Michael Steinman wrote an article for his JAZZ LIVES blog about the 2024 Jazz Bash by the Bay. Here is his description of the El Dorado Jazz Band’s performance which was published in THE SYNCOPATED TIMES:

Hal Smith’s pitch-perfect evocation of the El Dorado Jazz Band had three sets during the bash; I caught two. Typically, it was exact and abanoned at once, memorably. Andy Schumm played a hot cornet lead, honoring Papa Ray Ronnei; Hal swung the band on washboard; Brandon Au was his usual gutsy self on trombone; Jeff Barnhart played his dashing piano and sang powerfully; Bill Dendle kept it orderly and idiomatic on banjo (he was the only musician onstage who had seen the original El Dorados); Nathan Tokunaga and Mikiya Matsuda were stellar.

They gave new life to “Milneburg Joys,” “Snag It,” “Burgundy Street Blues,” and “Ory’s Creole Trombone,” but they also tore “Mona Lisa” from the museum wall and made her dance. I was particularly pleased by Jeff’s vocals on “If I Had Wings” and a mildly expurgated “Pretty Doll”/”Ugly Child” combination, as well as a perky Andy Schumm original, “Single Stringin'”…

Sunday began early with another El Dorado set, with wonderfully theatrical Barnhart vocals on “Early Hours,” “Tailgate Ramble” and “Cake Walking Babies From Home.” He is the most polished and casual of performers, playing bravura piano and singing with the ease we would eat a slice of toast. The band was raucous or subtle as the music demanded…

Band Members:
Andy Schumm – cornet
Brandon Au – trombone
Nathan Tokunaga – clarinet
Jeff Barnhart – piano/vocals
Brian Holland – piano (guest)
Bill Dendle – banjo
Mikiya Matsuda – string bass
Hal Smith – washboard/leader.