Bringing Tuba Skinny to Philadelphia

We knew Tuba Skinny had a following but we weren't prepared for a standing room only crowd! I never saw so many joyous, boppin' people in one room. And they were young and old, rich and poor, plus three or four dozen dancers.On August 30th, at the Commodore Barry Club in NW Philadelphia, 'PUP' – the Philadelphia Unemployment Project – brought in arguably the best early New Orleans traditional jazz band in the world. It was a risk, but wonderfully successful in every way possible. How Tuba Skinny came about is an emerging legend that has been written about previously by 'Pops Coffee”, their unofficial chronicler, and several of their albums have been reviewed by Joe Bebco of this fine journal.For Eric Alan Isaacson, out on the West Coast and a long time jazz fan, this would be his first opportunity to hear them live. A recent “convert”, via YouTube, he was tempted by their July tour in France, but …“My wife said no way are we going to spend the month of July following a washboard band around France. So we compromised … by flying to the East Coast for August 30th. Wow! So, now I’m thinking France might be in the realm of possibility next year?”Eric is an appeals attorney and had to get a filing postponement from SCOTUS Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in order fit in the date. (Can't make these things up; a picture of the docket approval is on Face Book.) Such passion is
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