The Grove Street Stompers
Arthur's Tavern57 Grove Street, New York 10014
The Grove Street Stompers continue their standing Monday-night run at Arthur’s Tavern with a set of Dixieland and traditional jazz. Current leader Peter Ballance, a self-taught trombonist who has played with the group since the 1970s, describes the sound as Dixieland and swing in the Eddie Condon style. The current band also includes bassist and vocalist Mike Weatherly, clarinetist Joe Licari, trumpeter Barry Bryson and drummer Giampaolo Biaggi. True to a long-held band policy, professional and amateur musicians may sit in.
Based in New York City, the Stompers have held the Arthur’s Monday slot since 1962, making this one of the city’s longest-running jazz engagements. Pianist Bill Dunham started and led the group until his death in 2016; Ballance now carries it forward. Their repertoire draws on Dixieland, New Orleans and swing, including tunes associated with Bix, Louies and Jelly Roll. Over the years, Pete Fountain, Wild Bill Davison, Tony Parenti, Bob Wilbur, Barbara Lea and Laurel Watson have sat in. The New York Times heard “the loose, relaxed swing of jamming group” alongside ensemble playing “surprisingly crisp” for a combo regularly joined by visitors.
Arthur's Tavern is a basement club in the West Village where jazz, Latin, and blues are played with deep roots and modern energy. The stage is small, the room intimate, and the audience sits close to the musicians, often with a few people standing near the back. Shows start around 5 PM and go late, with some sets extending into the early hours. The club has a history of hosting top-tier performers since 2001, including regular appearances by Yuichi Hirakawa Jazz Group. It's a place where music is the center, and conversation flows naturally between the audience and the performers.