Rambunctious
2009 – PRESENT
Most forms of music are top-down, authoritarian creations. Rambunctious is….NOT. Instead of reading music that one person wrote down, or learning songs from recordings of moments past, Rambunctious dives into a present tense moment in time, and gives life to a party. Each player taps into their muse, connecting to the vibe in the room, resonating with the contributions of their bandmates, to create their own part, all in service of the dance. It is musical anarchy, in service of the community.
You make up a title
We make up a song!
ram·buhngk·shuhs - adjective
• difficult to control or handle;
• wildly boisterous
• turbulently active and noisy
• a social gathering that became
rambunctious and out of hand
Seasoned veterans play alongside jazz school students or beginner amateurs of every age. Sometimes it’s a 5-piece "cabaret act", sometimes it’s a 15 or 20 piece explosion of good vibes; every show is a once-in-lifetime experience. We draw on the traditions of party music from various cultures: swing, ska, hip-hop, funk, disco, anything. We get a title from the audience, decide a key and a form, then launch into a new song, complete with lyrics, harmonies, choruses, the lot. But be clear, this is not some experimental artistic exploration, it's a party.
Elsewhere on the Internet
MLJ leading a community
“Get Rambunctious” workshop at
Small World Music, Artscape, Toronto
promo video made by our friend Pedja Milosavljevic from a party for a literary magazine at Saving Gigi, Toronto. guessing 2010?
Pedestrian Sunday, Kensington Market, October 2017
our annual Skeleton Parade
joined by Samba Elegua and other random drummers
featuring members of Lemon Bucket, Detroit Party Marching Band, and some random players who just got up and joined in. Pittonkatonk festival, Pittsburgh, PA, 2025.
a nice short DOC made by Small World Music in 2012
a decent overview of what Rambunctious is all about