If you know Opice Monkey, you know he leads a magical life. As fast as he runs from his past, it sometimes overtakes him--often in the oddest ways. Not admitting to being the illegitimate son of J. Fred Mugs and NBC Peacock, he thought he'd escaped his days in broadcasting, but his name's still on at least one list (a hit list no doubt) and that's what got him invited to the Jazz Jubliee.

"They needed celebrity barkeeps and that's me all over."

He was put in charge of blending banana daiquiris, of course. "Cuz I mix 'em strong. I throw in the peel."

Madeline

No Jubilee could start without Madeline! Everyone recognizes her and looks forward to her yearly appearances. Monkey has always wanted to meet her and now that he's a dishonorable guest of the event, he figures he has the badges to do it.

"Jubilaters tell stories about her," he whispered afterwards, "but they're all made-up rumors because you never see her in Sacramento until Jazz. Then she magically disappears afterwards. I can guess the real rumor, tho. I think she's secretly a wealthy heiress who flies in each year in a private jet in order to distract the jubilaters from the washboard music.

"Thank goodness for Madeline."

Speaking of washboards, here's Opice on stage with the Reynolds Brothers Rhythm Rascals just before getting kicked out of their performance by guitarist Katie Cavera.

You'll also note how this (and the foto below) capture Monkey's view on jazz music.

Cursor the pic to see the kick.
Launch washboard music below.

Ophir Prison Marching Kazoo Band and Temperance Society

Monkey loves them soooooo much that the moment they turned their backs on him, he appointed himself an unophicial band companion.

Hear's a sample of their virtuosi...
musicali... profici... talen...
They play this.

Here's a sample of Monkey's Prison daze. He's picking a favorite band member to adopt and applaud performance to performance. Should it be Muff (left) or Captain Jimmy (right)?

Warning musicians! Opice is more of a stalker than a gawker. Once he latches hold of a new friend he hangs on for your life.

Click the photograph to jump to
Opice's Ophicial Ophir Oratory.

but not why to.

"I think I'm in love," Opice swoons as Eddie works the crowd into a frenzy with his frenetic licks.

Monkey's social, too, but more like a disease.

(Gargle, Eddie! Gargle!)

The Unfortunate Tuba Incident

Monkey found this tuba resting behind a venue. Some of his Ophir friends were seated at a nearby table (not drinking beer). Of course he politely asked them, "May I get some pictures of me with the tuba?"

Sure! they said. Go ahead. Ain't our tuba.

So he did and...  Well... You can find out what happened by clicking the picture. (or get a hint by looking below)

This is George The Horse and Sacramento Mounted Police Officer J. Babbage making the arrest.

"My horse spotted this one right off," he told the reporter from Mom, Guess What!? covering the festival. "George knows trouble when he sees it and he followed him 'round back behind the stage where Monkey got into that tuba."

Of course in Monkey's version of the story, he asked to ride off into the sunset after the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee.

Disclaimers:
The Sacramento Jazz Jubilee is the sole property of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society. This web chronicler is the sole property of Opice Monkey. Few musicians, one instrument, and no horses were injured in the fabricating of this monkey shine.

Oh! And one mustache.
And a couple of saxophonists, now that I think about it.

My apologies to Madeline who is the sole property of rumor and legend.