About
The Southside Aces are:
Tony Balluff - Clarinet, co-leader
Erik Jacobson - Sousaphone, co-leader
Robert Bell - Guitar
Dan Eikmeier - Trumpet
Dave Michael - Drums
Eric Johnson - Trombone
Southside Aces perform jazz and popular tunes spanning over 100 years, all done up in the New Orleans tradition. The band began as the brainchild of clarinetist Tony Balluff and sousaphone player Erik Jacobson. Since their first gig on a flatbed truck in Apple Valley, they’ve played hundreds of festivals, weddings, clubs and concerts.
Members of the Southside Aces have had the privilege of being mentored by musical greats who navigated the traditional jazz waters before them, including Charlie Devore and Bill Evans of The Hall Brothers Jazz Band, Uncle Lionel, Butch Thompson, Henry Blackburn, Bob French and Benny Jones. There is no better education than playing jazz alongside such stellar talent.
The Southside Aces have performed in clubs all over the Twin Cities and the Midwest. They were the house band 5 years for The Best of Midwest Burlesk and have been featured at over a dozen national Lindy Hop and Balboa dance competitions in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado, all of which, if you’re keeping score, makes them a “territory band”. The Aces have been heard on MPR, KFAI, KBEM, and the Current.
The Southside Aces utilize the traditional cannon for its sweetness, its spice, its joy, its sorrow; whatever the mood should call for. They’ll even take requests.
Photos
Robert Bell, Dave Michael, Tony Balluff, Erik Jacobson, Eric Johnson, Dan Eikmeier
Photo by Jonathan Hankin
Quotes
"Here we are some 1,500 miles from New Orleans and the Mardi Gras. And what do you think? It's bouncing around the Mississippi River up here, close to the Northern Star."
-- Leigh Kamman, talking about the Southside Aces on MPR
“A serious strength of the band lies in Tony Balluff’s arrangements and the marvelous, relaxed rhythm laid down by Dave, Robert and Erik. And, the thoughtful interplay amongst the ‘front line’…represents high-level ensemble work that is rare in much of today’s jazz.
“How gratifying to see them serving (traditional jazz) up hot and heavy for a young, appreciative audience.”
--Traditional jazz legend, Charlie DeVore
“The Southside Aces work that old-time jazz feel, a loose swing that can take a joke.”
--Lightsey Darst, reviewing Best of Midwest Burlesk for MNArtists.org
“What’s great about these guys is they are the real deal…they spend a portion of every year in New Orleans, they’re down there all the time: they’ve been anointed by the elders, they’ve gotten the ‘thumbs up’ from people who know what they’re talking about.”
-- Jill Bernard on Art Hounds, Minnesota Public Radio
-- Leigh Kamman, talking about the Southside Aces on MPR
“A serious strength of the band lies in Tony Balluff’s arrangements and the marvelous, relaxed rhythm laid down by Dave, Robert and Erik. And, the thoughtful interplay amongst the ‘front line’…represents high-level ensemble work that is rare in much of today’s jazz.
“How gratifying to see them serving (traditional jazz) up hot and heavy for a young, appreciative audience.”
--Traditional jazz legend, Charlie DeVore
“The Southside Aces work that old-time jazz feel, a loose swing that can take a joke.”
--Lightsey Darst, reviewing Best of Midwest Burlesk for MNArtists.org
“What’s great about these guys is they are the real deal…they spend a portion of every year in New Orleans, they’re down there all the time: they’ve been anointed by the elders, they’ve gotten the ‘thumbs up’ from people who know what they’re talking about.”
-- Jill Bernard on Art Hounds, Minnesota Public Radio
Interview with Phil Nusbaum on KBEM
Contact
Tony Balluff
(612) 250-5719
(612) 250-5719
