The Band -

The Skiffle Minstrels is a Western Swing dance band. Over the last 20 years they have received multiple popularity and "best of" awards from local publications and music organizations, including "Best Band of 2018" from the Sportsmens Americana Music Foundation. They have played everywhere in the Buffalo, NY area from The Colored Musicians Club to Nietzsches -  as well as venues and festivals in Central NY, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. The band recently completed a 15 year residency at Sportsmens Tavern with their Western Swing Happy Hour.

The music is a fun, upbeat mixture of country, jazz and blues. The band features the tunes of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Hank Williams, The Boogie Woogie of Louis Jordan, as well as big band tunes with a country kick from Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington.

The current lineup includes: Buffalo Music Hall of Famer Jim Whitford on Steel Guitar, multi-instrumentalist Dave Mussen on Clarinet, Midwest Fiddler Chris Jones, veteran jazz and polka drummer Bill Hutchison and  original members Phil Knoerzer on guitar and leader Paul Todaro on Upright Bass.

 

Paul Todaro - Bass Fiddle, Vocal

Paul is a devoted follower of Hank Williams, Hank Thompson, Hank Locklin, Hank Penny, Hank Snow and all the other Hanks of country music. He is a self taught bass player and a founding member of The Skiffle Minstrels. Paul enjoys the challenge of writing music in specific styles. He has written several vocal scores for the plays of Bertolt Brecht, hours of incidental music for the theatre, commercial jingles as well as old timey country and western swing songs for The Skiffle Minstrels.

Phil Knoerzer - Rhythm Guitar, Harmonica

Phil is no stranger to Americana music - back in 1971, he was a founding member of The American Flyer Jug Band. He is the band's official archivist and librarian, God bless him.  A self-taught guitarist and harmonica player, he's also a founding member of the Skiffle Minstrels.

Bill "Hutch" Hutchison - Drums

Bill is and has been a well known figure in the Western New York music scene since the late 70s. Although known as a jazz player, for his recording work with Gospel group Strike The Rock and member of the national award winning Sikora Post Legion Band, Hutch's main influence and favorite music to play is Country and Texas Swing.

Chris Jones - Fiddle

Over the last ten plus years Chris has sang and played guitar and banjo in several Mid-western bluegrass groups including "The Whistlepig Stringband" and "Pochontas County."  He enjoyed playing theaters, music camps and festivals all across the Mid West and Canada. Chris studied traditional music at Chicago Illinois's Old Town School of Folk Music in the early 90's  All along Chris has been a fan of old time fiddle music. "Truly one of my favorite things in life to make music that makes people dance."

Dave Mussen - Clarinet