A native of East St. Louis, Alvin Jett has been entertaining audiences throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area for twenty-five years. Although Jett came from a musical family, he didn't seriously start playing guitar until he was 20 years old. Jett quickly learned the rudiments, and received his formal blues education playing with Tommy Bankhead & the Blues Eldorados honing his skills into his own fiery brand of hard driving St. Louis blues.
The Phat noiZ Blues Band is Jett’s means for delivering to the audience his brand of in-your-face, hard driving blues. The band performs its own unique style of original blues music as well as blues, R&B and rock standards. Currently operating as a four-piece, the Phat noiZ Blues Band consists of Alvin Jett on guitar and vocals, Frank Bauer on saxophone and background vocals, Corey "Woody" Woodruff on drums and Matt Davis on bass and background vocals.
Saxophonist Frank Bauer led his own band, Blues Attitude, for some five years before hooking up with Jett in 1999. A fan and player of both jazz and funk; Bauer is rooted in the blues sounds pioneered by Dexter Gordon, Gene Ammons, Maceo Parker as well as local St. Louisian’s Oliver Sain, Corky Blake, and Dennis “Chicago Slim” Lansing. Having given up playing sax for sports as a child, he returned to his true love back in the early 90’s and has been performing in front of audiences ever since.
Literally a student of music, bassist Matt Davis, who joined the band in 2003, is a graduate of the Webster University music program. Describing his music as Saikyou-Ryuu, Davis toured with nationally renowned jazz vocalist Erin Bode, the Mighty Big Band and Stoned Walls.
In 2007, Corey "Woody" Woodruff began drumming with the Phat noiZ. In his 22 years of playing, Woody has performed with an eclectic mix of artists including political funksters 9-1-1, guitar-pop whizkids Big Red G, and alt-country rebels Whiskey Daydream. A student of the late Ren Hoeck, Woody is also a professional drum maker and an avid writer.
In addition to a demanding regional tour schedule of over 200 gigs a year, Alvin Jett & the Phat noiZ performed at the 2005 King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas in addition to festivals throughout the nation. Alvin has also been a featured performer in the Guitar Masters Concerts promoted by the St. Louis Blues Society.
Alvin Jett & the Phat noiZ Blues Band were finalists at the 2006 International Blues Challenge, sponsored by The Blues Foundation, and their first CD, Wet My Beak (Self-released 2005), made the final four for the title of Best Self-Produced CD. In 2007 the band's song "Angels Sing the Blues" was honored as Best Blues Song at the Independent Music Awards. The song appears on the 2006 release Milk & Cookies.
Influences
Oliver Sain, Tommy Bankhead, Big George Brock, Erkskine Oglesby, Big Bad Smitty, Renee Smith, Erma Whiteside, Soulard Blues Band, Rich McDonough, Eric Mcspadden, Arthur Williams, Bennie Smith, Boo Boo Davis, John May, Bottoms Up Blues Gang, FolkinBluesGrass, David Dee, and The Fab Foehners
Want to know when Phat noiZ is coming to YOUR town??? No problem--just fill out the form below and we'll keep you posted. And NO, we do NOT share your info with anyone!
PhatnoiZ on KSDK's Show Me St. Louis Program, August 22nd, 2008. Nephew Davis guests on bass guitar.
Bet you didn't know Matt kicks ass on guitar and Alvin plays drums. Yep, the depths of talent in PhatnoiZ is beyond comprehension. Footage from the recent Sean Costello benefit at Beale on Broadway, shot by club owner Bud Jostes. Chuck Berry's Guitar Boogie:
PhatnoiZ has invaded Europe! Music Avenue has just released the compilation "How Long", comprised of material from our first two albums. It is available throughout Europe and in the US via Amazon.com.
WHO IS TALKING ABOUT PhatnoiZ?
"The Phat noiZ Blues Band hail from St. Louis, but their blues represents the crossroads of St. Louis more than strictly the St. Louis blues—although it begins in the Missouri-Mississippi basin. Track 1, “Boogie to the Blues,” with its St. Louis horn soul (and some touches of neo-swing) finds Jett’s voice taking you right in. It reminds me of a New Year’s Eve I spent at a blues club in St. Louis’ Soulard neighborhood, soaking in the grime, joy, and passion of the region’s blues style." -- Full review at www.musicspectrum.org by Benjamin C. Squires
"Alvin is the next generation of blues here. He's educated by people like Tommy Bankhead, and respectful of Bennie Smith, and taking it to a different place. Alvin Jett is an ideal continuation of the legacy of the St. Louis blues guitar tradition. " -- John May, President - St. Louis Blues Society
“….Next on my Blues itinerary was a band from St. Louis that is rapidly working on becoming a household name in the Blues community, Alvin Jett & The Phat noiZ Blues Band. Having recently placed high in the International Blues Challenge, the band is aggressively touring the country promoting the newest CD Milk & Cookies. Joining Alvin Jett on lead vocals and guitar are Frank Bauer on sax, Matt Davis on bass, and Jeremy West on drums. The band put on a strong performance of a real nice mix of Blues, Jazz, and Funk, with Jett and Bauer constantly switching leads. They literally blew away the crowd with a song that I felt should have been last year's Blues Song of the Year - "Angels Sing The Blues." This is a band you should all keep your eyes and ears out for…..” The entire article can be viewed at www.blueswax.com.-- Pete “Blewzzman” Lauro of Mary4Music.com reviewing our show at the Riverwalk Blues Festival in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
"...Wet My Beak is an impressive mix of modern Blues and R&B, with a healthy dose of funk mixed in." -- Graham Clarke of bluenight.com
" This album represents to me, the current state of Saint Louis blues. That is where Alvin and band reside and they seem to imbue this recording with a deep sense of place. Alvin's baritone voice, abstractly reminds me of Big Joe Turner and leans heavily on, Soul influenced Jazz with doses of Gospel." -- SierraBluesSociety.org
"If you ask me, this is a good representation of the blues aching for some more hip hop and phunk. I really like it and listen to it quite often. It represents East Saint Louis and the Saint Louis Blues scene very well." -- Dave "Mad Dog" Madlener of mnblues.com
"They possess a massive stage presence, their playing is tight and Alvin’s solo’s are in-your-face hot electric blues." -- Cornbread of STLblues.net
"Wow! -Ever walked onto a joint and got your a** kicked by some band you never heard of? Well, ever since these guys came down from St. Louis, MO and participated in the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge this band has made giant strides. Funk you up now! This is high energy stuff, with Alvin Jett kickin' great guitar licks and this band, including brass backers, kicking it up to the max. If you got to dance, what won't you do in the way of moves here? From the very first lick to the very last, the Phat noiz is just that-PHAT! Sometimes ya gotta bump & grind. Here is the music to do that thing to." -- Gary W. Miller of bluessource.com
"Milk And Cookies is a groovalicious brand of blues fueled by jazz, funk, and soul... Alvin’s guitar style has a deep-seated passionate vibe… Catch them live or do the next best thing and getcha a big plate of Milk And Cookies!" - Sheryl and Don Crow, Music City (Nashville) Blues Society Newsletter
"Alvin Jett & the Phat noiZ Blues Band are on the money… Delivering a set of amped up urban blues fresh from the Delta migration. Milk And Cookies is no exercise in nostalgia, but a heady mix that classic blues fans will love." - Chris Sector, Midwest Record Recap
hey- this is the guy that came down from wisconsin on business and jammed at the roadhouse with you guys... you've got to make it up here, or I've got to make it down there again sometime... best, most professional jam I've been to!!! your sound is tops!
Are you guys going to be at the South Florida Blues Festival @ Nova Southeastern University again this year? In November! :oP Let me know! -your favorite security guard...lol
sweet, i thought you all played the nite before at the fest. i will watch you guys cuz after the fest, mike plays bb's too, so i will get to catch Phat Noiz and Mike Burks, 2 of my FAVORITE blues bands. I just hope my boss approves my days off, otherwise my husband will get to have all the fun. Hope to see you guys and hang out a bit.
Greetings from the rock and roll hall of fame city: Cleveland OH
Thanks for the add,great stuff, btw! I am a blues/jazz/rock musician, currently #1 in Jazz and #2 in Blues for the state of OH, and looking to climb. Please check out my mp3s and comment/rate them if you like
