Skavoovie and the Epitones were formed in Boston in 1992, and fuse third-wave ska-revival sounds with swing and big-band jazz. The ten-piece lineup features vocalist Ans Purin, guitarist Dan Neeley, keyboardist Eugene Cho, trumpeters Jesse Farber and Ben Lewis, alto/baritone saxophonist Jon Natchez, tenor saxophonist Ben Jaffe, euphonium player Joe Wensink, bassist Rob Jost, and drummer Ben Herson. After winning a Boston Music Award as Outstanding Ska Band, the group signed to Moon Ska and released their debut album, Fat Footin', in 1996. Ripe followed in 1997, and the group jumped to Shanachie for 1999's The Growler. ~ Steve Huey