Elevator Bio

Eclectic Vinyl Orchestra is a high energy dance band from Guelph playing music from the 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. The infectious power of this four-piece orchestra has been moving crowds with their upright bass, glittering saxophones, tight harmonies, polished spats, and crisp button-downs since 2015.

EVO Biography

Since 2015, the infectious power of this four-piece orchestra has been moving crowds with their upright bass, glittering saxophones, tight harmonies, polished spats, and crisp button-downs.

These guys play Etta James, Ray Charles, Little Richard, and Laverne Baker. Their styles are klezmer and swing, New York ritz, Saturday night gospel, New Orleans jazz, Philadelphia soul, Chicago southside, and St. Louis blues.

Check them out at https://eclecticvo.com.

 

EVO's Journey

2015

Eclectic Vinyl Orchestra was formed in 2015 with the current personnel, playing a succession of gigs at Guelph's Red Brick Cafe.

2016

By 2016, the gigs were turning into swing dances in Waterloo, cafes and jazz club performances, private parties, and fringe shows at the Guelph Jazz Festival. A video was recorded for Leiber & Stoller's “Saved”.

2017

In 2017, EVO recorded the album "Last Chance to Dance" which contained renditions of songs such as “Saved”, The Andrews Sisters' “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”, and Sam Cooke's” Bring it on Home (to me)”. As well, four originals made their debut on this album including the eponymous title track.

2018

By 2018, word had gotten around about the energy and fun that EVO brings to its events and nearly every single engagement that year sold out. From their annual weekend at Manhattans in Guelph, to their annual Spring Swing Dance in Elora, from the club dance parties to the fundraiser events for non-profits (United Way, Humane Society, and Hospice Grey-Bruce) to Elora's Riverfest after-party, the people came in droves and danced the night away.

2019

In 2019, EVO performed at two showcases for Folk Ontario's annual conference, and progressed into the summer concert series at Fonthill's Bandshell to the season’s only standing ovation with over 1200 in attendance. They also played the 2019 tri-Pride Live Music Festival.

2020

In 2020, a re-branded EVO revealed new merchandise and a new video to wrap up a recording session in March, just in time to play a few summer festivals in July. The band was excited for the new songs, t-shirts, and venues; but the pandemic had other plans.

2021

In 2021, in the middle of the pandemic, EVO release a 4-song EP, titled "Mumbo Schmumbo". It contained two originals by Matty and Stu, and two covers including Roy Montrell’s '(Everytime I Hear That) Mellow Saxophone' and the classic, 'Moon River'. The recording started in March 2020 and they intended to record more but recording had its own set of pandemic problems. The tracks were sent off to an old friend Jim Neil in Stratford and he mixed them for the band.

2022

In 2022, EVO started to emerge from the post-pandemic world with a rousing show at the Hillside Festival and a benefit for Hope on the Streets. They also played Fixed Gear’s Junctionfest helping the Junction businesses and Kids Ability.

Did you know? You can find EVO music on Spotify.

2023

In 2023, EVO went semi-annual with their sold-out spring and fall flings in Elora. Other events included: Revival 1863 in Orangeville, Shawn and Ed Brewing Company in Dundas, the Elora Brewing Company and their annual two nights at Manhattan’s Music Club in Guelph.

2024

In 2024, EVO released a new video of a crowd favourity: "It Don't Mean a Thing (If it Ain't Got That Swing)"

... keep an eye on their social media (facebook/X/instagram) for road trips and local shows, and come out and hear these guys jump, jive, and wail!

2025

In 2025, wait and see.

EVO Members

Stu Peterson leads the band on piano and guitar. In 1980 Stu wrote and sang “I’ll Cry For You” which reached #26 on the Billboard Dance charts. In 1982, he co-wrote seven songs for singer Mary-Lu Zahalan’s debut album “Think of Me” which garnered her the 1983 Juno nomination for ‘Best Female Vocalist’ of the year. In 1983 the Canadian rock band Toronto recorded his co-write “All I Need” for their album “Girls Night Out” which is also on their “Greatest Hits” album and still receives extensive radio play.

Jim Duffield is the virtuoso horn player in the band who constantly wows audiences with his improvised solos on a number of different saxophones, or clarinet, or even piccolo. Jim has led jazz ensembles all over Toronto including the groups ‘Out of the Blues’ and ‘Jazz Unhinged’, and he played as a member of The Queen's Own Rifles Regimental Band when they performed at the opening ceremonies of the Juno Beach Centre in France.

Kerry Mullen, formerly of The Bill Quigley Band, King Neptune and his Tridents, and The Monster Show is the Eclectic Vinyl Orchestra’s rhythm man, creating infectious grooves on drums that add to the band’s unmistakable swing. His years of playing in the Guelph music scene have resulted in a unique style that is deep in the pocket and tight on groove.

Matty Cooper is the boogie bass-man who puts his years of performance (Toronto’s Swift Kick and Guelph’s The Ragged Bankers) into a swing energy that gets audiences moving. Having shared the stage with Serena Ryder, and Neil Sanderson of Canada’s rock phenoms Three Day’s Grace, and being an elementary school music teacher, Matty’s animated stage presence brings the band’s energy level even higher.