Artist description An eight piece brotherhood that combines funk, jazz, rock andAfro-Cuban rhyhthms with raregroove samples and loops to createa unique blend of danceable sounds. The players' divers backgrounds,ages, races and musical influences bring an immeasurable richnessto their sound.

Music Style funky instrumental jazz with a taste of Latin soul

Musical Influences Meters, Fela Kuti, JB's, Joe Batan, Mongo Santamria, Grant Green, ect..

Artist History In 1997 Gary Tesch and Ian Yater got togeather playingaround with samples trying to make a dance band. Theylooked for a bassist and that came real quick asSteve Armstrong from the band 'Sol'(Ubiquity recorings)became the man. Wishing for some Latin percussionthey found Troy Howell (Savation Army) and Mike Vasquez(the Elite Drum Corps). Then the hunt for some hornstook bit longer but scored with Hank Ballard Jr (Lonie Smith,War, James Brown) and Jack Fulks (Afro Blues Quartet, Billy Higgins,Chico Hamilton, Roy Porter and Gabor Szabo. Then came the search forkeys, we searched for a few years going through a few keyboardistsand then came R.Scott(West Coast Hearum and National People's Gang).

Group Members Gary Tesch -loops and sounds.Hank Ballard Jr-trumpet.Ian Yater-guitar.Jack Fulks-flute & alto.Michael Vasquez-percussion & drums.R. Scott-keyboards.Steve Armstrong-bass.Troy Howell-percussion & drums.

Albums The Solid Sounds of the Eight Piece Brotherhood

Press Reviews by Lina Lecaro (First appeared in BAM magazine, 2/12/99) The smooth yet complex grooves of Long Beach sensations 00 Soul may be derivative of a jazzier, snazzier time (think Herb Albert/'70s-era Herbie Hancock), but their pulsating Latin rhythms laced through freaky funk melodies are more than just mere retro rehash. The multi-ethnic, multi-aged group effortlessly meld pimpy samples that recall chase scenes from TV cop shows like Starsky and Hutch and Barretta, with Afro-Cuban textures and hip hop-ish beats in an authentic yet experimental way; and no wonder, their founding member and DJ draws inspiration from artists like Mongo San Maria and the Bomb Squad, while the band's horn section has played with everyone from James Brown to War to Roy Porter. Concocted by DJ/club promoter Gary Tesch five years ago as a live musical "experiment" for one of his nights at Long Beach hot spot the Foothill, the diverse ensemble began as a way to showcase his sampling skills. "I wanted a band that was driven by percussion and loops," says Tesch who not only found a forum for his digital talents, but a full-fledged group of accomplished musicians to complement them. "When this group got together there was a vibe that just worked. Playing with samples isn't easy, but with time it became very natural." The bootie-moving combination of live rhythms and electronic snippets "work" largely due to the energy of guitarist Ian Yater and bassist Steve Armstrong, and the laid back ease of genuine old-school musicians Jack Fulks on sax and flute, and trumpet wiz Hank Ballard, Jr. (Hank "The Twist" Ballard's son). But this funky pie wouldn't be complete without it's rhythmic crust, competently supplied by the hypnotic percussion of Mike Vasquez and Troy Howell. And what '70s-inspired band would be any good without the cool harmonics of a strong keyboardist? The dexterous R. Scott fills the bill with rapturous melodies that glide perfectly next to Tesch's textural loops. With eight distinct personalities fueling their compositions, 00 Soul's mostly instrumental tunes are a collaborative effort, "Everyone writes their own parts. sometimes a song starts with things I generate and sometimes it starts with something someone else plays," explains Tesch, who, like his band mates, enjoys the idea of "twisting Latin music in new directions." On the percussive crew's new release, The Solid Sounds of the Eight Piece Brotherhood (Manteca Records), the band known mainly for their rousing live shows, offer a beat-packed, old-school/Latin jazz mix that's scorching. But, it's in a live setting where they truly ignite. "This band was put together to make people dance," says Tesch. "We always wanted to be more of a background element rather than a focus-just part of the party." 00 Soul's regular dance floor-packed gigs at the Foothill (first Saturday of every month) and at Atlas "Sessions" nights (usually the third Saturday of the month) prove that this group could never be "just part of the party"; their soulful sounds and dynamic presence usually make the party. © 1999 Lina Lecaro

Additional Info OO-Soul wins LAWMA (LA Music Award) for Best Dance Music Artist in 2000

Location Long Beach, California - USA

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