Sean Rigs - Lead Guitar, Vocals, Songs
Dave Jamison - Drums
Ryan Meals - Rhythm Guitar
Howie Alexander - Keys
Rick Matt - Baritone Sax
Reggie Watkins - Trombone/Arranger
Anthony Pecora - Bass
Margot B. - Vocals
Gene Stovall - Vocals
also in the Hustler community:
Shaun Bell - The Trumpet
Vince Wylie - Vocals/Songwriter
Greg Barbone - Keys/Production
Jeremy McDonald - Bass
Kevin Barefoot - Bass
Matt Harkness - Vocals
Tony Campbell - Alto Sax
Management/Booking:
Stephen Pusateri
Jazz Go Down Management
boogiehustlers@hotmail.com
jazzgodown@gmail.com
412 916 2203
National Booking:
Gabe Johnson
In The Pocket Artists
gabe@inthepocketartists.com
617 996 9060
Licensing:
Jazz Go Down Mgmt.
jazzgodown@gmail.com
..
Influences
The Meters, Bill Withers, Soulive, Tower of Power, John Scofield, MMW, Jimi Hendrix, Neville Bros., De la Soul, Marcus Miller, Erykah Badu, Spearhead, many more.
Positive examples of humanity.
Sounds Like
.... you can find out ....
OkayPlayer.com
The Boogie Hustlers
True Colors
n/a; 2007
To be funky, to be soulful, to be jazzy: The Boogie Hustlers want to be all of these things and more, and have proven themselves many times on the live circuit in the last few years. Anytime there is a discussion about "genuine bands" playing "real" music, The Boogie Hustlers are often mentioned, but do they quality? Are they exceptional, and for the most part, do they know how to burn a groove? It depends on what you feel the exception is, but as they show on True Colors, they definitely come shining through.
The musicians in The Boogie Hustlers are not only tight as a band, but have performed with the likes of Erykah Badu, The Temptations, David “Fuse” Fiuczynski, Roy Ayers, Chaka Khan, and many others. What you hear on this album are musicians who can read each other, know how to fill the gaps when needed and know when to entice with space within the music. Fluidity is key. Those who enjoy Anthony Hamilton’s style of southern soul will enjoy “Don’t Stop Believin’”, although for something along the lines of mid-70’s Ramsey Lewis or Stanley Clarke, there are tracks like “Why?” and “Confusion” that keeps the love light shining at all hours of the day. Within the soothing funk they will have someone drop a rhyme or two, going into that type of acid jazz that made bands like Groove Collective mandatory listening, but it’s not just funk for funk’s sake. These are well constructed songs that are not only perfect for late night grooving, but also for radio airplay. Oh yeah I forgot, radio isn’t cool anymore, but if there was a way to make it cool again, The Boogie Hustlers would be the ones to put into rotation on a regular basis. Not sure if modern radio is ready for actual musicianship, but there’s always hope.
One could easily compare them with artists such as Bullfrog, Brad, Maktub, Dwele, and Honeycut, and that’s fine. But what The Boogie Hustlers have to offer is their own stew, their own recipe with their own spices and special ingredients. All of these artists share a love for creating great music and catering to the inner muse that makes them tingle in order for each other to musically mingue. They are called The Boogie Hustlers for a reason: to provide sounds that may push people to boogie (in the truest sense), and to make the kind of good music that can be as addicting as a good buzz. There are a few songs where I wished they would have gone to the point of no return, but I have a funny feeling they have secret seasonings reserved for the live experience. Bring a bowl, hot sauce, and perhaps a scoop of rice, the Boogie is steaming hot and ready for aural consumption.
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"[this] horn-powered, funk-fortified outfit mixes a little hip-hop influence into its groove-oriented, dance-heavy sound...Even if you can't shake your hips worth a nickel you may leap onto the dance floor when Boogie Hustlers start rolling" --Dave Richards --Erie Times-News
More from the Tribune-Review: Funk-soul: Turning over new leaf
Call 2007 a year of transition for the Boogie Hustlers.
They changed vocalists, adding the versatile Margot B. to the lineup. They released a second album, "True Colors," that is one of the better funk/soul albums by a local band in recent years. And they've become a steady presence at local clubs and events.
The Boogie Hustlers close out the year with a 8:30 p.m. show Saturdayat Club Cafe, South Side. Also on the bill are CK9 and the Old E Allstars, and Jasper Lewis.
Regis Behe from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review wrote a little piece on the new album. Here it is: CD reviews:
Boogie Hustlers' show vibrant 'Colors'
Sunday, November 18, 2007
'True Colors'
Boogie Hustlers
Three stars
"True Colors" is the work of a band ascendant; musicians schooled in funk, hip hop and R&B, but good enough to put their own mark on the music. The Pittsburgh-based outfit has an inherent playfulness that comes through in "adidas" and "Don't Stop Believin'," but they are best when they stretch out, allowing the music taking unexpected turns and twists.
"The Promise" kicks in with a horn chart worthy of Tower of Power, then settles into an intoxicating, dreamy flow that sounds like a funkified Steely Dan. A layer of synthesizers introduces "Freedom," then gives way to a Snoop Dogg/Dr. Dre sound. "Whenever Wherever Pt. 1" sounds like a cut from a John Legend session, and "Warm Breeze" despite a silly vocal intro, finds the Hustlers traipsing between Parliament/Funkadelic and Miles Davis.
The Boogie Hustlers perform Wednesday at the Thunderbird Cafe in Lawrenceville and Saturday at the Warehouse Cafe in Bethel Park. --Regis Behe
Aaron Jentzen of the Pittsburgh City Paper calls the new record "smooth and soulful"
"Pittsburgh's premier soul/funk band" - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Rooted in the heavy pocket grooves of funky soul and jazz artists of past and present, the Boogie Hustlers collective began piecing itself together in 2003. Creating original music in the vein of their funk-forefathers the band started a forward-thinking musical evolution. Drawing from numerous styles including Soul, R&B, Hip-Hop, Funk, Jazz, Fusion, and time-tested Pop music, The Boogie Hustlers are four years deep into a journey of expanding musical horizons. Their mission: to bring positivity and spirituality back into the live music scene and onto the radio.
On stage and on record what comes across is the honesty and passion of the players involved. The vision of bandleader and founding member Sean Rig is evident in every carefully orchestrated note and lyric on the album "122 Ellsworth," the group's debut release. Released in January 2006 the album quickly garnered critical acclaim beyond just the Pittsburgh music scene. Making it into high rotation airplay at WYEP-FM brought the Hustlers a new fanbase. Making it onto the reputable radio station's year-end top 50 Albums list gave the band an added boost and made their selection by Leeway's Homegrown Music Network as the Best New Band of 2006 that much sweeter. The Boogie Hustlers' realm of touring options began to open up.
The Hustlers' live shows are where they really shine. Connecting to the audience with tight horns, crushing drums, super-funky guitars, badass bass, and two engaging vocalists of differing styles, the positivity they've made their mission comes out in full-on uplifting r&b/soul swing. The Boogie Hustlers are equally adept at soaring funky instrumentals, and have played venues on the soul, jam, jazz, and funk scenes all over the eastern half of the country. Vermont to Georgia, North Carolina to Illinois, New York City to Pittsburgh and everywhere in between fans that have been touched by the band's positive dance music, in turn, make it worthwhile for this rotating cast of musicians to spread the love in greater swaths of the country.
On vocals, lyrics, and guitars Sean Rig represents the lower register of the Boogie Hustlers voice. Vince Wylie, also on vocals and lyrics, is the group's natural frontman, cruising the stage and singing soul-style. David Chapman Jamison rocks the drums, holding down the beat so strong it compels people to their feet. The other half of the super-funky guitars mentioned earlier, Ryan Meals, keeps the music steady and soulful day in, day out. Howie Alexander, by day a musical mentor to Pittsburgh's next generation of superb musicians at the African American Music Institute, at night lays down gospel-jazz keys. On the trumpet, killin' it every night with perfect tone and perfect pitch, Shaun Bell (that's "SB" to you). The rest of The Boogie Hustlers collective is a rotating cast of Pittsburgh's finest. On loan from The Poogie Bell Band, this group is happy to have the bass guitar muscle of Kevin Barefoot. At other times, on loan from Berklee College of Music and from David Fiuczynski, Jeremy McDonald plays tasteful Fender Jazz Bass. And at other times, the Pino Palladino of Pittsburgh, on loan from The Mandrake Project, the tight groove of Anthony Pecora's bass. Reggie Watkins (former bandleader and arranger for Maynard Ferguson) amplifies the band's jazz integrity with his arrangements and trombone. And Rick Matt on the baritone sax proves to be one of the most tasteful and soulful practitioners of the instrument. Other key members of The Boogie Hustlers community include: Darnell Anderson, longtime tenor saxophone player and band fixture from 2004 to 2007; Greg Barbone, longtime songwriting partner and keyboard player in the group from 2004 to 2007; and Tony Campbell on alto sax, also on loan from the Poogie Bell Band.
The Boogie Hustlers are now happy to include three of Pittsburgh's most talented vocalists to share singing duties with Rigs. Margot B., Matt Harkness, and Gene Stovall add their unique flavors and vocal abilities to the group's loving and positive sound, rounding it out with some true soul fire.
Past performances with Soulive, Gov't Mule, Brazilian Girls, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Vince Welnick, Jerry Garcia Band, Oteil Burbridge, Tea Leaf Green, Lotus, DJ Williams Projekt, Poogie Bell Band, the legendary guitarist Melvin Sparks, The 10th Annual All Good Festival, The 8th Annual GratefulFest, Zen Tricksters, The Bridge, The Jarflys (Jimmie's Chicken Shack), ekoostik hookah, Donnie Iris and many more have showcased the band's talent. Now, let them perform for you.
2006 New Band of the Year Award Recipients: The Boogie Hustlers
"The band's focus on the many aspects of soul music helps them make their compositions as infectious and memorable as any classic. This is one of the best funk and groove albums we've heard this year!" -Leeway's Homegrown Music Network. 2006 New Band of the Year Award Recipients: The Boogie Hustlers
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hi guys, just wanted to say sorry about jambaloosa... il be @ the show in state college this weekend w/ bane and bethany and all them girls seeya then!!!!
i miss the days when i come to see you guys play all the time.those were some great times. im living in germany now but ill make sure to catch a show when i come home. the new stuff sounds great!
