Keyboardists: Brian Auger, Chester Thompson, George Duke, Jimmy McGriff, Chuck Leavell, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Nicky Hopkins, Elton John, Billy Preston, David Maxwell, Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons, Al Copley, Gregg Allman, Max Middleton, Bill Payne, Art Neville, Jon Cleary, Jamie Cullum, Ben Folds, Scott Kinsey, Leon Russell, Liz Story, Marc Cohn and many more.
Bands, songwriters, artists: The Beatles, Allman Brothers, Little Feat, Santana, Doobie Brothers, Neville Brothers, Cold Blood, Headhunters, Frank Zappa, Steely Dan, Yellowjackets, Jean Luc Ponty, Pat Metheny, Sea Level
Inspirations: Johnny Cash, Jim Croce, Paul Simon, Jonathon Edwards, Dolly Parton, Debussy, Miles Davis and many more.
Sounds Like
Instrumental Music: Headhunters, Steely Dan, Yellowjackets, Jean Luc Ponty, Pat Metheny, Sea Level, Maceo Parker
Gary Backstrom Band Music: Little Feat, Santana, Doobie Brothers, Neville Brothers, Allman Brothers, Todd Rundgren, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton
Sam James Band: John Mayer, Ray LaMontaigne, James Morrison, Maroon 5
Vykki Vox Band Music: Cold Blood, Little Feat, Black Crowes, Sheryl Crow
Dave Osoff is an award winning keyboardist, songwriter and instrumental artist based in Boston, MA and a "musical chameleon" according to internationally distributed Keyboard Magazine, who featured him in the July, 2002 issue. Equally adept at genres as wide ranging as Rock, Funk, R&B, Boogie-Woogie, Acid Jazz, Electronica, and Jazz-Rock-Fusion, his palette of sounds, colors and grooves is equally wide ranging, incorporating acoustic and electric piano, organ and clavinet as well as an array of vintage/modern synthesizers and samples into the music.
Dave's debut instrumental album 'Mosaic', with it's innovative mix of contemporary and acid jazz, funk, rock, pop, blues and electronica was awarded '2004 Instrumental Jazz Album of the Year' as well as the track 'Never Enough' as '2004 Instrumental Jazz Song of the Year' by Just Plain Folks, a worldwide community of over 25,000 Songwriters, Recording Artists, Music Publishers, Record Labels and other members of the Music Industry.
He currently performs and records with the Gary Backstrom Band (http://garybackstrom.com), the Sam James Band (http://myspace.com/samjamesmusic), the Vykki Vox Band (http://vykkivox.com), the house band of the Boston chapter of Chick Singer Night (http://chicksingernight.com) and has recorded and/or performed with many other New England based artists artists, including Max Creek, Jiggle, Rounder recording artist Michelle Wilson and Evil Gal, Tone-Cool artist Tony Lynn Washington, dynamic Boston/New York blues/R+B/soul artist Nicole Nelson, Boston Music award winner, The Chris Fitz Band, innovative songwriters Pat Burtis, Jennifer Matthews, Jordan Carp and the live organic trance/electronica of Nikulydin.
Dave's music has also been licensed to productions by the New England Sports Network, United Airlines and the Fuel Network as well as independent films, several Boston area public access television stations, and dozens of websites and corporate presentations.
Dave has recently launched http://groovinloops.com, providing custom music and licensing for internet, corporate and multimedia use and is also a staff composer/producer for Atlanta based BBM.net and Phoenix, AZ and Darien, CT based Jupiter Media.
For more info, music, cd/mp3 sales, press and much more, visit http://daveosoff.com.
The Gary Backstrom Band is a high energy, innovative original act featuring the infectious riffs and songwriting of nationally recognized guitarist Gary Backstrom, the mesmerizing grooves of award winning keyboardist Dave Osoff and the dynamic, soulful rhythm section of bassist Brian O'Connell and drummer Dave Scandura.
The band’s music features clever, hook filled songwriting and arrangements with intense interaction among the musicians. Their unique sound is interwoven with exciting, unpredictable improvisation that can only be heard in the best live acts on the scene today. Along side Gary's originals, we also feature original instrumentals from my 'Mosaic' album as well as covers by Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Santana, Todd Rundgren, Jimi Hendrix, David Byrne (Talking Heads) and Paul Simon.
The band is currently producing a new studio album to be released in Winter, 2009.
Visit http://garybackstrom.com and http://myspace.com/garybackstromband
Sam James is a singer-songwriter rising to prominence in the alternative folk-rock scene. Fresh off an extended tour, he has already amassed a sizable fan base. .James writes and performs his own songs on guitar and piano. His touching lyrics and creative style find their way into your heart and soul. And his powerful stage presence and energetic shows guarantee that live audiences will sit up and take notice.
Sam has performed alongside such hit bands as THIRD EYE BLIND, ROBERT RANDOLPH, INGRAM HILL, COLLECTIVE SOUL, JOHN POPPER, RUSTED ROOT and CHUCK BERRY. Here’s Just a few Events Sam James has performed at/for: ROCK THE GRIDIRON(at last years Superbowl - Miami,FL) Dick Chaney’s INAUGURAL BALL (Washington, DC) The AT CHILDRENS PROJECT(with Ben Afleck) USO TOUR w/Ingram Hill (Cuba, Honduras, Curacao) etc....
After being seen at a coffeehouse in his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts, he began touring extensively at colleges and venues up and down the East Coast, from Vermont to New York to Florida. Sam’s new CD will be out this summer so stay tuned!!!
Visit http://myspace.com/samjamesmusic
The Vykki Vox Band:
"Vykki Vox is a red-headed bombshell of atomic soul...”
"This powerful, dynamic singer/songwriter has a refreshing style all her own and brings her radiant personality and fun into her music.”
When hearing Vykki sing, one may think of Sheryl Crow with a harder edge, while others have made reference to Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Joss Stone and Aretha Franklin. The band’s infectious grooves have been compared to the Dave Matthews Band and the Black Crowes, while others speak of the legendary Little Feat. At Vykki's high energy live performances, people are always amazed at the “huge voice" that comes out of this "petite package".
Alongside many funky originals written by Vykki, Dave Osoff, bassist Justin Kolack, and drummer Greg Allison, the band also features well known covers by (to name a few) the Beatles, the Allman Brothers, Little Feat, Aretha, Stevie Wonder, the Neville Brothers, Dave Matthews, Deelite, Bob Marley and Earth Wind and Fire.
dave! yes, great to play with u again , too ... bmb was sweet last night ... you did a real nice job fillin' in for some big shoes ... keep up the great work ... please send my best to gary and vykki. stay in touch, - gd
