I have been a performing musician for 24yrs, and as a traveling musician for almost all of that time, I can truly say, I have led a very gifted life. My musical abilities have taking me to places I couldn't have ever imagined. Lets start back a little....
When arriving in Chicago 20 yrs ago I hit the ground running with a band called " The Buzz", A Soul/Blues rock Band. The band traveled all over the mid-west and the west coast, preforming 200 dates a year, and selling over 12,000 Cd's in a five year span. We opened up for many greats like Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Govt. Mule, Buddy Miles, Fabulous Thunderbirds, the late great Jeff Healey, strat man Chris Duarte, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Everclear, Johnny Winter, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's to name a few. In late '98 Bass player Chris Berhardt, and Drummer Mike Rodbard and I started the jazz group The BMR, starting as only the three of us, we soon added friend and Chicago Jazz great Neal Alger on guitar (from the Patrica Barber Group).
In late 1999 while in The Buzz and BMR4, I was asked to play with the Legendary Blues, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and 6 time Grammy award winner, Buddy Guy. That was the time of my life (1999-2006). We played every state in America and 20+ countries, in just the first two years. My passport had more stamps than a stamp collection. While playing with Mr. Guy, I also got a chance to be on national television a have dozen times (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 3 times, Craig Ferguson Show twice, Jimmie Kimmel Show and The Jools Holland Show in the UK with REM and Yoko Ono). I also got to play with some of my all time idols while with Mr.Guy......Carlos Santana, Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews, Robert Plant, B.B. King, Jimmie Vaughan, John Mayer, Johnny Lang, Zac Wylde, Jools Holland, Cheryl Crow, Robert Cray, Dr.John, Van Morrison, Little Milton, Kid Rock, Ike Turner, Actor Richard Gere , Lou Ann Barton, Kim Wilson, and many others you'll just have to ask me about. I'm also on many different boot-leg recordings (video & Audio) with Mr.guy, so let me know what YOU find out there.
Since late 2006 I have been working on alot of new projects. First, The BMR4- consisting of Leader Chris Bernhardt- Upright Bass, Mike Rodbard- Drums, Neal Elger- Guitar and myself on saxophone, have been going strong now for 15+ yrs and have recorded 3 cd's and many different live recordings that are still in the vault. We play all kinds of events (Club gigs, Corporate, Weddings, and your local back yard hang). We have put out two Cd's in the last 4 years and a new all original project is in the works as we speak. So check this band out!
Second, I am now playing many solo Piano/Sax and Guitar/Sax gigs in the Buffalo western New York area. I'm always playing neat new venue's.....and a wide variety tunes (Stevie Wonder, Carol King, Steely Dan, Elvis, Peter Frampton & some groovy originals) ....so please check my schedule for upcoming solo dates.
Third, I also have two new Blues/Rock groups in the last two and a half years, one called "The Chicago Blues Connection" which features three of Western New York's finest Musicians, Mr. Ray Barry (guitar& vocals) & Paul Yates (Bass Master) and Tim Webb (Drums) and our fifth Beatle, Shannon Street(Drums). That Group is playing once a month at The Famous Wagon Wheel in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and also various spots in the Niagara and Buffalo region, so look for up coming dates on my schedule page. The second one is "The Bucktown Allstars" founded by Drummer Mike Rodbard, Based in Chicago, IL. The Allstars consist of Mike Rodbard- Drums & vocals, Brian Burke- bass guitar, Andrew Diehl guitar & vocals and Myself on guitar/sax/vocals. We play Chicago House Of Blues on a regular basis and a couple of small clubs in the Chicago-land area to round it out
Fourth, I also play and record with many local upcoming artists in the Western New York and Chicago-land area's. In Western New York...Dave Miller & The Campbell Brothers, The Dave Thruman Project, The Connection (Michael Kirsch & Myself), Guitar hero's Jamie Holka, Bruce Wojick, Bass Master Jim Wynne (from Gamalon), Jack Thruman, Rob Thurman, Tom Masters. In the Chicago area I play with Andrew Diehl And The Nightmen, Matt Stedman Band, Patrick Moynihan (my Bro), Marty Sammon (Buddy Guy Band), Special 20's, Libido Funk Circus.....to name a few.
This year will bring a new jazz project to life, and many more new memories with all my friends, and musical partners. Thank You guys for making this a great ride. And stop back for new vid's, pic's and audio to come later this fall.
When arriving in Chicago 20 yrs ago I hit the ground running with a band called " The Buzz", A Soul/Blues rock Band. The band traveled all over the mid-west and the west coast, preforming 200 dates a year, and selling over 12,000 Cd's in a five year span. We opened up for many greats like Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Govt. Mule, Buddy Miles, Fabulous Thunderbirds, the late great Jeff Healey, strat man Chris Duarte, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Everclear, Johnny Winter, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's to name a few. In late '98 Bass player Chris Berhardt, and Drummer Mike Rodbard and I started the jazz group The BMR, starting as only the three of us, we soon added friend and Chicago Jazz great Neal Alger on guitar (from the Patrica Barber Group).
In late 1999 while in The Buzz and BMR4, I was asked to play with the Legendary Blues, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and 6 time Grammy award winner, Buddy Guy. That was the time of my life (1999-2006). We played every state in America and 20+ countries, in just the first two years. My passport had more stamps than a stamp collection. While playing with Mr. Guy, I also got a chance to be on national television a have dozen times (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 3 times, Craig Ferguson Show twice, Jimmie Kimmel Show and The Jools Holland Show in the UK with REM and Yoko Ono). I also got to play with some of my all time idols while with Mr.Guy......Carlos Santana, Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews, Robert Plant, B.B. King, Jimmie Vaughan, John Mayer, Johnny Lang, Zac Wylde, Jools Holland, Cheryl Crow, Robert Cray, Dr.John, Van Morrison, Little Milton, Kid Rock, Ike Turner, Actor Richard Gere , Lou Ann Barton, Kim Wilson, and many others you'll just have to ask me about. I'm also on many different boot-leg recordings (video & Audio) with Mr.guy, so let me know what YOU find out there.
Since late 2006 I have been working on alot of new projects. First, The BMR4- consisting of Leader Chris Bernhardt- Upright Bass, Mike Rodbard- Drums, Neal Elger- Guitar and myself on saxophone, have been going strong now for 15+ yrs and have recorded 3 cd's and many different live recordings that are still in the vault. We play all kinds of events (Club gigs, Corporate, Weddings, and your local back yard hang). We have put out two Cd's in the last 4 years and a new all original project is in the works as we speak. So check this band out!
Second, I am now playing many solo Piano/Sax and Guitar/Sax gigs in the Buffalo western New York area. I'm always playing neat new venue's.....and a wide variety tunes (Stevie Wonder, Carol King, Steely Dan, Elvis, Peter Frampton & some groovy originals) ....so please check my schedule for upcoming solo dates.
Third, I also have two new Blues/Rock groups in the last two and a half years, one called "The Chicago Blues Connection" which features three of Western New York's finest Musicians, Mr. Ray Barry (guitar& vocals) & Paul Yates (Bass Master) and Tim Webb (Drums) and our fifth Beatle, Shannon Street(Drums). That Group is playing once a month at The Famous Wagon Wheel in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and also various spots in the Niagara and Buffalo region, so look for up coming dates on my schedule page. The second one is "The Bucktown Allstars" founded by Drummer Mike Rodbard, Based in Chicago, IL. The Allstars consist of Mike Rodbard- Drums & vocals, Brian Burke- bass guitar, Andrew Diehl guitar & vocals and Myself on guitar/sax/vocals. We play Chicago House Of Blues on a regular basis and a couple of small clubs in the Chicago-land area to round it out
Fourth, I also play and record with many local upcoming artists in the Western New York and Chicago-land area's. In Western New York...Dave Miller & The Campbell Brothers, The Dave Thruman Project, The Connection (Michael Kirsch & Myself), Guitar hero's Jamie Holka, Bruce Wojick, Bass Master Jim Wynne (from Gamalon), Jack Thruman, Rob Thurman, Tom Masters. In the Chicago area I play with Andrew Diehl And The Nightmen, Matt Stedman Band, Patrick Moynihan (my Bro), Marty Sammon (Buddy Guy Band), Special 20's, Libido Funk Circus.....to name a few.
This year will bring a new jazz project to life, and many more new memories with all my friends, and musical partners. Thank You guys for making this a great ride. And stop back for new vid's, pic's and audio to come later this fall.
