Submitted by RJ SPANGLER
The Paxton/Spangler Band will perform at Arlyn’s Good Beer, 520 Hankey Ave., Bowling Green, Saturday, June 3, 7 p.m. featuring music from John “Tbone” Paxton’s recently released CD “Joys.”
Paxton was born and raised on the east side of Detroit and graduated from Wayne State University. He is a veteran trombonist and vocalist professionally active in Southeastern Michigan for many years. Along with co-leading a band with RJ Spangler, he is the featured singer and trombone soloist with the award-winning jazz ensemble, the Planet D Nonet.
Paxton is a second-generation musician and a son of the “Jazz Age” in that his dad, a Detroit-based swing era pianist and educator, taught many notable players on the scene. Several of Tbone’s siblings are active musicians as well.
His soulful sense of swing, phrasing, and ability to interpret and bring personal meaning to a lyric allows him to connect with his audience at an emotional level, both as a vocalist and as an instrumentalist.
Paxton was an integral member of the Sun Messengers band for 36 years, leaving to develop his own career as a jazz singer and trombonist. His repertoire reflects all of these influences, most notably, his father Fred was an accomplished pianist working all the major rooms in the area. In fact, he was a regular pianist at the London Chop House for fifty years! Tbone is a regular performer at the Chop House these days, keeping the family tradition alive. On any given night Tbone performs great songs by Fats Waller, Hoagie Carmichael, Leonard Cohen, Hank Williams, Earl King, Danny Barker, Duke Ellington, Roy Ayers, Leon Russell, Jimmy Cliff, Nat King Cole and of course, Louis Jordan. His musical interests and versatility make him one of the most talented and exciting performers on the scene.
