Doug Finke’s

West Market Street Stompers

Louisville’s Voice of Early Jazz

The West Market Street Stompers were a fixture at the Jazz Factory in downtown Louisville from early spring of 2004 until its recent closing in March of 2008. Ken Shapero, owner of the Jazz Factory, created the whole idea, which was supported weekly by the regulars and supplemented by tourists and passers-by drawn in by the fun. Bandleader Doug Finke took it from there with the music.

Contrary to what its name may suggest, the band is not your textbook Dixieland band sporting striped costumes and a book of musical clichés. The Stompers are first-call musicians in Louisville, veteran players with an interest in all kinds of music who share in their love for “happy music” and the good times at venues like the Jazz Factory. Their Dixieland recalls the high-spirited, high-swinging performances of the legendary groups of the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s that included class players like Eddie Condon, Jack Teagarden, Bobby Hackett and Louis Armstrong and the All-Stars.

The West Market Street Stompers are a versatile and swinging four-beat band whose repertoire stretches from the very early years of jazz right through the mid-20^th century -- from Joe “King” Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton to Duke Ellington and a seemingly endless treasure of American popular and jazz composers. And jazz’s humbler beginnings haven’t been overlooked. A typical Stompers performance might include the experience of a spontaneous New Orleans “Second Line”, complete with decorated parasols, or even some unscheduled swing dancers. Sometimes it’s hard to tell who is having more fun, the performers or the listeners!

Contact: Sterling Music, Inc. (502) 810-0605 or (502) 762-1200 ♪ info@SterlingEntertainment.com