Big Bad Voodoo Daddy brings swing, jazz to Doudna

Andy+Rowley+%28left%29%2C+a+member+of+Big+Bad+Voodoo+Daddy%2C+plays+with+fellow+band+member+Karl+Hunter+during+one+of+their+sets+Wednesday+night+at+the+Holiday+Concert+in+the+Doudna+Fine+Arts+Center%E2%80%99s+Dvorak+Concert+Hall.+Rowley+plays+the+baritone+saxophone+and+Hunter+plays+the+saxophone.

Analicia Haynes

Andy Rowley (left), a member of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, plays with fellow band member Karl Hunter during one of their sets Wednesday night at the Holiday Concert in the Doudna Fine Arts Center’s Dvorak Concert Hall. Rowley plays the baritone saxophone and Hunter plays the saxophone.

Dustin Hacker, Contributing Writer

‘Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’ performed a nearly sold out special holiday concert Tuesday night. 

The show was a part of the group’s holiday tour taking place nationwide this winter season.

The concert began with a rendition of “Rockabilly Christmas” that transitioned into “Santa is Coming to Town.”

The performance included original songs like “You, me and a Bottle Makes Three.”

“I found BBVD by looking for new jazz to listen to. They were the closest option in the area,” said Mattoon resident Jenny Hudspath.

The band’s guitarist, Scotty Morris, said he just loves the music.

“If I could, I would play for free, if I didn’t have to worry about transportation. I just want this music to be out in the world,” Morris said. “When I first started off, I found a Louie Armstrong album in my parents’ house. They didn’t have any music collections in the house. I wanted to bring that sound of the world,.”

Morris said he started in the punk rock genre.

As he got older, he began playing swing revival, and then started the band after graduating college.

Doudna was filled with self-proclaimed “revivalists,” diehard fans who are willing to travel great lengths to see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Some traveled as far as 6 hours away to see them Tuesday.

Christmas specials have been a consistent part of the band’s career.

Their first Christmas album was released more than 10 years ago as a result of their fans’ requests, when Christmas music had become a common element in their December shows.

The concert also featured covers by artists Louie Prima and Louie Jordan.

Both musicians are covered in Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s most recent album “Louie, Louie, Louie” which also features Louie Armstrong.   

The concert finished with classics like “Frosty the Snowman,” “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” and “Mr. Grinch.”

The band and its fans have the ultimate goal of bringing back swing music.

The ragtime-era hits were meant to bring listeners back to a certain time, or certain memory that reminds them of a happy memory.

“The energy Louie Armstrong brought when I first heard him, I just loved it. I’ve always tried to bring that when I play,” Morris said.

Dustin Hacker can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].