“Traveler will close the entertainment portion of the annual Ethnic Expo international festival from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday downtown.
The Columbus Area Arts Council's Tami Sharp saw the group at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, before about 10,000 people. And she knew members would be great here.
"They really stuck out," said Sharp. "They're just so high-energy and so much fun that we figured they would be a great way to end Expo, just before the fireworks."
Look at shots of Jeffers jumping around with his violin at various online sites and one might consider Traveler a bundle of fireworks all its own. The ensemble often boasts eight members, but five are scheduled for the performance here.” Brian Blair - The Republic Columbus, Indiana
“Traveler's outdoor concerts have established the band as the darlings of live performance, and they are something to see. The music ignited the crowd at last month's Sunday A'fair performance. Children and adults danced at the lip of the stage as Jeffers leaped from the riser and wound in and out of the crowd playing his violin. Scottsdale resident Joan Robbins sat on a folding chair and watched Jeffers work the crowd. "He's very charismatic," she said. "There's so much energy that it makes you want to bounce around."
Although the 41-year-old Jeffers is a member of the MTV generation and his musical roots are based in hard rock, Traveler's sound is an orchestral pastiche of world culture.
Jeffers, who is of Lebanese decent, said he was constantly exposed to ethnic music growing up. The music spawned his wanderlust.
Lebanon becomes the most musically fertile for Jeffers. He's fascinated by the country's endless ironies. Extreme poverty and extreme wealth exist side by side. The breathtaking landscape is a backdrop for the bullet-riddled buildings scarred from the civil war and the conflict with Israel.
Inspired, Jeffers wrote Lebanon, a musical allegory of Lebanon's geographical beauty and the inner turmoil of its people. The slow, cantabile-esque intro explodes into a whirl of aggressive percussion…… “ Michelle Hoffman -The Arizona Republic
“………violin virtuoso Scott Jeffers formed Traveler in 2000, playing a brand of world music he tagged "ethnic fusion." Those predisposed to shunning anything with accordion, bendir or darbukas should note that Traveler has a full rock band propelling its flights of exotica, and if you need a classic rock touchstone, Jeffers' furious bowing picks up where the gypsy fiddle on "Baba O'Riley" leaves off. If ever there was a band that could compel an audience to play air oud, it's this one.” Serene Dominic - Phoenix New Times
BAND BIO
Scott Jeffers has assembled a group of truly talented and diverse musicians that make this band quite possibly the first of its kind, fusing traditional old world elements with a full blown hard rock ensemble. Traveler is a favorite at local and regional festivals; they are quickly developing a following of world and rock music fans drawn to their unique style and powerful performances.
Traveler has performed at the Austin Texas St. Patrick's Day festival for the past 6 years , headlining the event for the last 3 years. They have also headlined the International Day festival in Rock Springs, Wyoming 2 years in a row, and have performed at the McDowell Mountain Music Festival, 2006, as a supporting act for the Black Crowes and Los Lobos.
Composer and founder of the band, Scott Jeffer's vision is to fuse elements of ancient ethnic music with rock. He has traveled extensively through foreign lands to gather inspiration for the Traveler project. Not only is he influenced by the exotic music but he composes the majority of the band's songs during his journeys, bringing a true authenticity to the fusion. Known for his fiery and passionate violin and vocal performances, Scott's commanding presence onstage adds to the trademark power of the live Traveler shows. He also brings traditional instruments from his journeys to the stage; Bouzouki,a traditional greek stringed instrument and an Arabic Oud, an ancient predecessor to the guitar.
RECENT FESTIVALS_HEADLINED
Scottsdale Artfest,
Scottsdale, AZ
3/9/2008
Fados's St. Patrick's Day Street Festival,
Austin, TX
3/17/2008
Scottsdale Center for the Arts Sunday Affair
Scottsdale, AZ
3/30/2008
Millenium Harvest House Concert Series,
Boulder, CO
6/06/2008
Pharos Live,
Tempe, AZ
7/14/2008
Utah Arts Festival,
Salt Lake City, UT,
6/28/2008
Robson Valley Music Festival,
B.C., Canada
8/22/2008,
8/24/2008
Yellowstone Music Festival,
Gardner,MT
8/31/2008
Scottsdale Center for the Arts Sunday Affair
Scottsdale, AZ
2/25/2007
Scottsdale Artfest,
Scottsdale, AZ
3/11/2007
Fado’s St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival,
Austin, TX
3/16/2007
3/17/2007 for the past 6 years
Flagstaff’s Arboretum Concert Summer Series 7/7/2007
Hello, how are you doing? I am doing good. I just wanted to say welcome to my page!! I hope to hear from you once and a while!! Have a good rest of the week!!!
I'm having two huge birthday parties. Hope you can come celebrate with me The Main Official Phoenix Celebration (Also my man RMC's Birthday) with Very Special NYC Guest DJ Master Kev is @ Incognito
Check www.socialphx.com for all details, DJ bios, etc.
And my Hump Day Scottsdale Celebration with my fellow Switch Residents is Wednesday @ Cream Stereo Lounge
Hey you, come shake things proper and be a part of our dance floor! We'd love to have you & your friends. This is Phoenix's premier after hours party (9p-4am). Big up and be well!
JAY TRIPWIRE - FRI MAY 29 @ INCOGNITO check www.socialphx.com for all the details.
Thanks for your support of the last NLO concert the photos are now viewable on our myspace site. We are currently mixing the last 6 songs on our 17 track project. Look for it in stores in December 2009
I have not seen you guys perform is forever! And that makes me really sad. I'm going to have to set aside time and make sure I get my butt to one of your shows! I mean, it's been years!
And, I must add that I love the fact that you used the word "tantalizing" in your header. Favorite word in all of English literature. Fantastic!
hi! iam wolfgang the guitarist of dreamscape. we are part of your myspace family.
"You've got to follow your passion. You've got to figure out what it is you love. who you really are. And have the courage to do that. I believe that the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your own dreams." O.W.
we follow our passion! we love to make music with dreamscape! what's about your dreams?
kind regards and a happy new year! DREAMSCAPE (progressive metal from germany) (new cd spring 2009!)
