The Paper Moons: Blending Timeless Jazz with Nostalgic Americana
Paper Moons Photo taken by Paul Carabello
Nestled in the vibrant music scene of Springfield, Missouri, The Paper Moons stand as a testament to the enduring appeal of jazz, fused with an eclectic mix of Americana. Formed through the creative aspirations of Joe Dillstrom and united by a shared love for music, this band has carved a niche for itself, echoing the romanticism of a bygone era.
The band started almost serendipitously, "Joe Dillstrom was writing his third album (Heart String Tugs) and decided he wanted to add instrumentation. He reached out to me (Corey Johnson, Trumpet), Ryan Dunn (saxophone), and Mike Williamson (stand-up Bass). We began messaging in the early winter of 2020, then COVID struck and put us on hold. We began to reconnect about a year later, in the winter of 2021. We started meeting at Joe's place, listening to what he had recorded and what additional ideas we all had, and from there we began to create. " Their initial meetings at Joe's place, filled with discussions and musical experimentation, laid the groundwork for what The Paper Moons would become.
The name 'The Paper Moons' itself reflects the band's essence. " 'The Paper Moons' was based on three aspects," Corey explains. "One, the period and sound we wanted to represent, two, a favorite movie of Joe's "Paper Moon" (1973), and a song from that movie which we had worked up "It's Only A Paper Moon". The name encapsulated the feeling of nostalgia that we wanted to bring with the style of music that we loved and were playing."
Their musical influences read like a who's who of jazz and beyond – from Louis Armstrong to Nora Jones, and from The Band to Simon & Garfunkel. "This group brings many influences to the Gumbo pot that we cook from.” Corey mentions. “We also mesh in a good mix of pop, rock, country, western, dixie land, and multi-genre influences.”
Performing mainly as a trio, The Paper Moons have a democratic approach to music creation. " Joe is the true leader in that regard, however, he is extremely open to everyone's input. We work with Joe's originals quite a bit, which he is constantly creating as a roadmap for us to build upon. But we all have contributed ideas of standards that seem to be a good fit, as well as songs outside of our main genre of Jazz, which we all find interesting to rearrange the sound and styling of."
Their chemistry is palpable, both in practice and performance. "We are all experienced musicians and do a great job of listening and respecting each other. We enjoy the music and we enjoy each other. I feel this comes off as a very positive listening experience during performances. " Corey states. "We love to pass the 'solo' around the horn. We have learned through time not only how to enhance each other's sound, but also to understand when not to play. Listening and blending are key. We get better with that every time we play together."
Favorite moments for the band often involve the humorous banter between Joe and Mike, seasoned musicians with a knack for storytelling. "With a storyteller like Joe Dillstrom in the group and someone as experienced and seasoned as Mike Williamson, you get a constant barrage of good banter and laughs." Corey adds.
As for the future, The Paper Moons are actively booking gigs and writing new original music. "We are also beginning to write new original music to compliment Joe's lyrics and vision. " Corey shares. Their involvement in the community goes beyond performances, as they strive to support and nurture local jazz culture. "We are always open to playing when we can, to provide the perfect atmosphere to accompany special events and personal occasions. We are also open to ideas and take requests from our audiences." he mentions.
Their unique sound? "It could be called Jountry, Crazz, Fazz, or Jolky," Corey jokes, highlighting their fusion of Jazz, Country-Western, and Folk.
For aspiring jazz bands, Corey's advice is straightforward yet profound: "1) practice. Don't underestimate the power of practice. 2) keep your mind open. Music is so diverse, don't restrict your sound and influence to one genre. Be willing to push the boundaries. 3) be willing to play where people want you. Better gigs will come with time. Be willing to pay some dues."
In the realm of Springfield's music scene, The Paper Moons continue to shine, bringing their blend of nostalgic jazz and American tunes to life, one note at a time.
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