Artist description Gleam Engine is the New Chicago Sound. Sleek, honest, pure and rhythm heavy. A hybrid of electronics and acoustic instruments, Gleam Engine is intent on melding the sound of John Lee Hooker, Massive Attack and Nina Simone into one collective groove.

Music Style Elctronic Pop

Musical Influences Massive Attack, Rolling Stones, PJ Harvey,Tom Waits, Nina Simone, Etta James

Similar Artists Tom Waits, Fiona Apple, Macy Gray, PJ Harvey, U.N.C.L.E.,Portishead

Artist History Gleam Engine is a result of the elusive search for something original. The story of two forces of movement and discovery finding partnership. Robert Coddington, songwriter and instrumentalist, received critical acclaim for his MCA project Celeda & the Heavy Hitters in 1996. The group hit the number one spot for Billboard's HOT DANCE BREAKOUT SINGLES with the single "Messin' with My Mind". After Robert finished his obligations to MCA's Twisted America label, he was exhausted from the steady and often uninspired 4/4 of house music. He began looking for a new project. An uncharted groove of house, country, and southern delta rock began to build in his head. He started with the search for a partner- a singer to help carve the sound of American blues and roots music with modern technology. He found Jodi Lee Smith in the musician want ads in Chicago's weekly paper The Reader.Jodi Lee, a recent graduating scholar of American Culture studies, was also scanning the plateaus for the same unlikely hybrid. She had been singing and writing lyrics for many years in the hopes of finding a project of and passion. The two soon met and it was on. They began working on music that was to become the Gleam Engine sound. Part Massive Attack, part Nina Simone and part John Lee Hooker, the elusive was found. Jodi Lee's vocals flowed perfectly over Robert's soundscapes and soon completed their first song, "Come On Home". Other tracks followed and the project crystalized.The band enlisted other musicians from the Chicago scene to enrich their work. Harmonica player Ellen Miller, a driving force in many Chi-town shows and Buckwheat Zydeco performances, leant her talents, as well as guitarist extraodinaire Ted Cho (Poi Dog Pondering), famed vocalist and songwriter Marydee Reynolds (Chainsuck), bassist and producer Brett Simons (Robbie Fulks, Organic, Shiny, John Fournier Quintet), virtuoso drummer Kevin O' Donnell (Kevin O'Donnell's Quality Six, Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire), drummer Jim Colao (Naked Raygun, DHS), guitarist Paul Urizar, and fiddle player Tom Murray (Harmless)This is just the beginning.

Group Members Robert Coddington - Keyboards, Guitar, ProgrammingJodi Lee Smith - Vocals Ellen Miller -Harmonica(a driving force in many Chi-town shows and Buckwheat Zydeco shoows) Ted Cho - Lead Guitar (formerly with Poi Dog Pondering)Brett Simons -Bassist (Robbie Fulks, Organic, Shiny, John Fournier Quintet)Paul Urizar- Guitarist

Instruments Electronics, guitars, drums, vocals, harmonica,fiddle,mandolins

Albums self titled debut

Location Chicago, IL - USA

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