The Copa Kings

The legendary Las Vegas hotel, The Sands, was founded by a native Texan. In the late fifties and early sixties, some of the greatest names in entertainment graced the stage of the world-renowned Copa Room at The Sands. Now, seventy years later, it seems fitting that a group of jazz and swing musicians, calling themselves The Copa Kings, also hail from the Lone Star State.
 With the release of their second studio album in 2019, the Austin-based swing/jazz outfit shows off their considerable chops and versatility within their chosen genre, including a swing version of Jerry Reed's "Eastbound and Down" and their spin on early jazz/blues classics such as "La Vie En Rose," "Knock Me a Kiss," "Choo Choo Ch'boogie" and "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out." Recorded in a one day session in Austin's legendary Arlyn Studios under the direction of recording engineer and band co-founder Stephen Ceresia, "Vol. 2" drops you right in middle of the sonic energy wave that is one of the band's live shows. From the lively piano artistry of Angelo Lembesis, the rhythmical thumps, plucks and beats of Ryan Gould (bass) and Wayne Duncan (drums), the big band and punchy sounds of Rick White (trumpet) and Dan Torosian (sax/clarinet) on the horns and lead vocalist Billy Murphy's chameleon-like voice that is somehow equal parts Frank, Louis and Ray, with a pinch of Connick Jr., you can tell they are having even more fun playing than you are listening, and that’s the way it should be.