Taking their name from a longtime joke among the musicians of Illinois Jacquet & Big Band, the pop-friendly Yalloppin' Hounds have been one of the most industrious acts in the New York swing scene. Molding hip-hop sensibilities with classic swing beats, this seven-piece group is led by its founding members: bandleader and saxophonist Joey "G-Clef" Cavaseno and ex-Toasters trumpeter Brian "the Sledge." Cavaseno and the Sledge are veterans of Illinois Jacquet & Big Band and have been playing in bands and experimenting with swing music since childhood. Echoes of Cab Calloway and Louis Armstrong are evident. Yalloppin' Hounds' debut release, Ghetto Swing Extreme, was released in summer 2000. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, Rovi