On Easy Street

We strive to provide just what our client requires. Looking for quiet background music? We do not bring giant amps and a huge drum kit; we'll stay low volume and select more subdued arrangments of our tunes. Want your audience engaged? We play songs that everyone knows and loves; our vocalist will interact with the audience. Holding a family-friendly event? Our songs are accessible and suitable for all ages, and we have even invited children or special event guests to join us on stage for a tune or two. Holding a swing dance? We have the perfect set list to keep everyone moving. Senior living community? Private party? Outdoor concert? Indoor gala? Backyard barbeque? Winery? Fundraiser? We can bring our classic favorites to any event and suite it for your specific needs.

On Easy Street is a four-piece vocal and instrumental jazz band that has been playing the DC Metropolitan Area since 2015. Meet our members!

Ryan Benton - keyboard, guitar
Ryanis a pianist, guitarist, bassist and vocalist originally from Richmond, Virginia. He holds a bachelor's degree in music from James Madison University and is classically trained in piano, though he has an affinity for improvisational music such as jazz, blues, r&b and soul. You can find him performing most weekends in the Loudoun County, VA area and for the youth singers at his church.

Chip Hammond, drums
Chip began playing drums when he was 12 years old and was gigging in the northern New Jersey metro area by the time he was 15.  He studied orchestral and marching percussion with Dr. Alyn J. Heim, drum set with NY metro jazz great Carl Wolf, and later studied jazz performance with Anita Thomas. In addition to playing with a variety of bands, he played in the pit orchestras for musical theater productions in high school and college. After taking a hiatus, he began playing again in 2014 on the Northern Virginia jazz circuit.

Donna Hammond, vocals
Donna’s vocal training has been under excellent choir directors and various programs such as the Vocal Workshop in Vienna, Virginia. She has performed with numerous church and school choirs and musical theater productions; she has also directed a number of adult and children’s choirs. She has been performing jazz since 2015 at various venues in the northern Virginia metro area.

Chris Thompson, bass
Chris’s musical skills were honed in the clubs of his native Philadelphia. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, bass, pedal steel, and dobro, among others, in ensembles ranging from jazz to classic rock to country. He's always been a jazz aficionado and enjoys his role as the bass player for OES.

Our technical needs are minimal. We need a clean power source and a flat, level surface approximately 20 feet long by 8 feet deep. We bring our own PA system and all other gear.