DETROIT BLUES JAZZ
RJ SPANGLER
Latest News
May 20, 2015
Our Latest Vinyl!
Check out the latest recording, a 45 rpm 7" vinyl RECORD (avail as an EP & as download as well) by the RJ Spangler Trio (Ralph Tope & Duncan McMillan, wsg's Keith Kaminski & Akunda Hollis). Funky Detroit organ jazz. Order Online
The recent "Record Store Day" seemed like a good way to tie in to my latest recording, a 45 rpm 7" vinyl RECORD (avail as an EP & as download as well) by my group, the RJ Spangler Trio (Ralph Tope & Duncan McMillan, wsg's Keith Kaminski & Akunda Hollis). Funky Detroit organ jazz.
RJ Spangler
drummer
Drummer RJ Spangler has been on the Detroit music scene for many years. In fact, he earned his first Motor City Music Award in 1982 with a band he co-founded called the Sun Messengers. After 15 years as a Messenger, RJ went on to running the band for Detroit blues guitar master Johnnie Bassett. With Johnnie, RJ made his way coast to coast in both the US and Canada as well as many European tours.
His résumé includes blues and R&B gigs with Eddie Kirkland, The Drifters, Earl King, Wanda Rouzan, James "Thunderbird" Davis, Big Jay McNeely, Larry McCray, Francine Reed, Tad Robinson, Shawn Pittman, Sir Mack Rice/the Falcons with Eddie Floyd, Johnny Adams, Bob Schultz, Eddie Bo, Andre Williams, Nathaniel Mayer, Robert Penn, Eddie & Jimmy Burns, Pinetop Perkins, Ron Levy, Shirley King, James Montgomery, Martha & the Vandellas, Catfish Hodge, Hamonica Shah, Mr. Bo, Willie D. Warren, Michael Ray & the Cosmic Krewe, Thornetta Davis, Jos'lyn B, Geno Parks, the Griswald Brothers as well as jazz gigs with James Carter, Faruq Z. Bey, Bill Heid, Leon Thomas, Marcus Belgrave and Roy Brooks.
Today he is a WC Handy nominated drummer, producer of CDs & live events & guiding force behind the Planet D Nonet in addition to leading a very busy organ trio.
RJ is on over 70 nationally available CDs.
Projects / Bands
Planet D Nonet, RJ Spangler Trio...and more
Planet D Nonet (PD9)
The Planet D Nonet is Detroit's award winning swing band founded in 2007 by RJ Spangler and James O’Donnell
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RJ's Kansas City Six
Swing meet the blues in Kansas City!
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RJ's Blues Gang
Playing a mix of swing and blues, including T-Bone Walker, Sinatra, Louis Jordan and more.
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RJ Spangler Trio
Classic organ, guitar trio.
View moreGigs/Calendar
2024
- Wednesday, April 17, the Paxton/Spangler Band at the Savoy in Detroit, 6 to 9:30pm. https://savoydetroit.com/
- Thursday, April 18, the Paxton/Spangler Band at the Treelawn Social Club and Music Hall, Cleveland, OH. https://www.ticketweb.com/event/the-paxton-spangler-band-treelawn-social-club-tickets/13516933?pl=treelawn
- Friday, April 19. the Paxton/Spangler Band at the Fermata Brewing Co, Ambridge, PA https://www.fermatabrewing.beer/
- Saturday, April 20, the Paxton/Spangler band at the Ginger Rabbit in Columbus, OH, https://www.gingerrabbitjazz.com/
- Wednesday, April 24, the Paxton/Spangler Band at the Savoy in Detroit, 6 to 9:30pm. https://savoydetroit.com/
- Thursday, April 25, the Paxton/Spangler Band at the Peacock Room in Toledo, OH, https://www.peacockjazzcollective.com/
- Saturday, April 27, RJ Spangler Quintet featuring James O'Donnell at the Rochester Hills Library, 6:15 pm. https://rhpl.org/
- Wednesday, May 1, the Paxton/Spangler Band at the Savoy in Detroit, 6 to 9:30pm. https://savoydetroit.com/
- Friday, May 3,the Paxton/Spangler Band at Fishbone's Rhythm Kitchen in St Clair Shores. 6:30 https://fishbonessushi.com/
- Saturday, May 4, the Paxton/Spangler Band at Brine Oyster House in Grosee Pointe Park. https://brineoysterhouse.com/
- Saturday, May 11, Tap Room All-Stars with James O'Donnell and RJ Spangler and special guest Tbone Paxton at the Ye Olde Tap Room Annual Prohibition Party. 7:30 pm. http://taproomdetroit.com/directions.html
- Thursday, May 16, the Bill Heid Quartet wsg RJ Spangler at Aretha's Jazz Cafe in Detroit. https://jazzcafedetroit.com/
- Thursday, May 30, the Paxton/Spangler Band wsg Doug Brown at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe in Grosse Pointe Farms. https://dirtydogjazz.com/
- Friday, May 31, the Paxton/Spangler Band wsg Doug Brown at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe in Grosse Pointe Farms. https://dirtydogjazz.com/
- Saturday, June1, the Paxton/Spangler Band wsg Doug Brown at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe in Grosse Pointe Farms. https://dirtydogjazz.com/
Store
Recordings are available for purchase in both CD and downloadable formats.
Bands
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