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Dave Orban & the Mojo Gypsies
Jazz-inflected blues and old-school R&B
Based in the central NJ/greater Philly area, Dave Orban and The Mojo Gypsies have, since 1998, been entertaining crowds from Baltimore to NYC, and as far west as Pittsburgh. And make no mistake: We’re not your father’s blues band™! Take a moment to look around to learn more about us!
Album Review
“Dave Orban and the Mojo Gypsies did a fine job with I Heard You Twice the First Time, and it’s well worth a listen. But you’ll want to listen to it more than once, as the songs are well-written and provide a personal feel that’s hard to find in the cover songs that fill many new blues albums.” >> Read more.
Meet the Band
Led by songwriter Dave Orban on guitar and vocals, the Gypsies feature Mike Scott on tenor sax; Mike Cruse on bass, and Mark Shewchuk on drums. Playing an eclectic mix of up-tempo jazz-infused blues and old-school R&B — with a dash of N’awlins funk — the Gypsies know how to keep a crowd up on their feet and dancing!
Dave Orban
Guitar & Vocals
Mike Scott
Tenor Sax
Mark Shewchuk
Drums
Mike Cruse
Bass
“Thanks again for making our wedding reception a real dance party! We’re thrilled that you made the music a centerpiece of the occasion!”
Steve T
Arden, DE
“…everyone commented on how good the music was and that the band really knew how to get a party going.”
Michael B
Yardley, PA
“You guys played a terrific set at the Weyerbacher Blues & Brews Festival!”
Bob H
Doylestown, PA
“Many thanks for putting on a terrific show! You guys are definitely on the call-back list!”
Rich C
South Brunswick, NJ
Background
Bandleader Dave Orban — an International Blues Hall of Fame inductee — has performed with or supported such national acts as James Harman, Debbie Davies, Rick Estrin and the Nightcats, Steve Guyger, Lucky Peterson, Murali Coryell, and Selwyn Birchwood.
Performing steadily since 1998, The Mojo Gypsies represent a welcome departure from the cookie-cutter approach favored by many contemporary blues bands. Performing a mix of Orban’s original compositions along with lesser-known tunes by both legacy artists and contemporary practitioners, the Gypsies have charted a unique path that clearly distinguishes them from the pack. “The band’s music integrates many influences from the greater blues tradition — from Chicago and West Coast electric blues to southern country blues and even New Orleans-styled marches. With a repertoire that shines a light on lesser-known but compelling tunes from the pioneers of the blues form, the band looks to impart a contemporary feel to a traditional form, while not departing drastically from the foundational elements of this type of music.”
“Influences ranging from Willie Dixon to Bob Dylan to the Rolling Stones and even Norah Jones can be heard in Orban’s original tunes. His songs are self-contained stories in their own right, and cover a variety of topics that can be both humorous as well as more serious.”
Their first CD, I Heard You Twice the First Time, containing 14 of Orban’s original tunes, was released in September 2016 and is available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, YouTube, etc. You can preview it here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Cy_frbACDKw
Their most recent single, The Trouble With You, was released in September 2021, and is available on iTunes/Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify, etc., and can be previewed on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_g6voGftrO8
They Gypsies maintain an active presence on Social Media, with nearly 1500 regional followers. They also regularly distribute targeted HTML email announcements to a mailing list of nearly 400 active recipients.
The Mojo Gypsies: Not your father’s blues band™
Q&A with Dave Orban
Mojo Gypsies bandleader Dave Orban is interviewed by Michael Limnios of Blues.gr
“Life. The ups, the downs, the successes, the failures, love, loss… you name it. It’s all about the human condition. If you’ve experienced sadness, heartache or joy, you can write a song about it.”
Read the entire interview here.
Booking and General Inquiries
Book The Mojo Gypsies Today!
Ready to bring some high-energy, sax-centric jazz-infused blues to your next event? Whether it’s a club, festival, corporate gathering, or private party, The Mojo Gypsies are sure to keep you and your audience entertained!
