Artist description 7 piece band playing mixture of FUNK, jazz, Brazilian, afrobeat, reggae, soca, etc. specializing in improvisation, drumming, and tearing the roof off!

Music Style Funk, Jazz, Brazilian Samba, Rock, Psychedlic, Improvisational

Musical Influences Parliament-Funkadelic, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Coltrane, Zappa, Thelonius Monk, Grateful Dead

Similar Artists Funkadelic, Frank Zappa, Fela, 70's Miles Davis band, Pink Floyd, Galactic, Ozomatli, Groove Collective, Phish, etc.

Artist History Four years old, out of Long Beach, Ca. The band started out as a ten piece project doing jazz and funk covers. The band eventually decided to do without the lead singers and took over the vocals, opening a whole new direction in exploratory improvisation.

Group Members Heath Bennett,percussion/Bobby Easton,guitar, vocals, percussion/John Harrington,trumpet/Rob Covacevich,sax/Darren O'Brian,drums/Brian Fox,bass

Instruments Sax, Trumpet, Guitars, Bass, Congas, Drum kit, samples, and a potpourri of percussion played by all members.

Albums Fiya Bahlin', Signal Hill, Luna Meets the Forest, plus many live bootlegs

Press Reviews Friday July 20, 2001 Delta Nove’s Social Club By CLAUDIA FIGUEROA Special to The Register With their Fela Kuti-meets-Miles Davis crossbreed of jazz and funk barreling out of local clubs, Delta Nove has reason to be optimistic: Its brand of music is a rare commodity in punk-drunk O.C. Already, Delta Nove has had an overwhelming response from audiences in Los Angeles County, where it has honed its eclectic mix of world-music styles. The band hopes to spread its following south with a string of summer gigs lined up in O.C. The band, whose name is pronounced “delta novay,” plays what it calls “universal music,” a melting pot that blends multicultural styles with modern classical influences, testing the boundaries of several world music genres. Brazilian samba and bossa nova, calypso, jazz, funk and Afro beat are all part of the Anaheim group’s eclectic repertoire. “It’s kind of like a secret-language for music fans who aren’t familiar with those sounds,” guitarist and vocalist Bobby Easton explained. Delta Nove’s approach to music is also unique for a band that holds such high standards for jts musical structure. “We exist under a musical democracy,” percussionist Heath Bennett said. “We were all in bands with a front man before we started playing together, and we decided not to have the spotlight on any one member because we all have our strengths.” The seven-piece outfit formed in early 1996 and began playing funk covers and funky jazz standards to hip L.A. crowds in smoky bars. At the time, its members -Bennett, Easton, drummer Darren O’Brien, bassist Brian Fox, guitarist Jon Browning, sax player Rob Covacevich, and trumpeter John Harrington said audiences were still craving retro lounge music, popularized by bossa nova, samba, and othe Brazilian musical styles. The group’s well-received debut, a self-produced album called “Luna Meets the Forest,” got the group to think seriously about recording its first studio album. “After we recorded our live album, we felt people were really liking what they heard,” Bennett said. Increasing its momentum, the septet dived headlong into traditional Brazilian styles, extending the length of each song with atmospheric interludes. At a recent gig at Costa Mesa’s Tiki Bar, the band played a single 30-minute song as its entire set. When the band plays a set, it’s easy to see why audiences might mistake the group for a genuine Brazilian ensemble; Burnett says most musicians who hear the album and then see the band are impressed with the group’s timing and ability to improvise. Other musicians have noticed, too. The group has been invited to play shows with well-known artists and groups such as Poncho Sanchez, Cassandra Wilson, Burning Spear, and Ozomatli. “It’s great to just reach out to international musicians and explore different sounds and musical concepts,” said Easton, who spent three months in Brazil studying the country’s music. Delta Nove’s forthcoming summer release features a funk-inspired tune called “Hot Grits,” exemplifying a sound and style reminiscent of Herbie Hancock or James Brown, with all of the intricacies: funky guitar rhythms, upbeat horn solos and booty-shaking backbeats. A huge fan of l960s-and ‘70s-era Funkadelic grooves, Easton says the album will feature plenty of Eddie Hazel-influenced guitar solos. Another standout tune on the coming album is “Joshin’” a slow Calypso piece that takes a detour into Indian territory. Bennett says tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussein and master sitarist Ravi Shankar inspired the group. The album’s intense yet controlled blend of sitar, clay-drum percussion and horns reveals a striking similarity to Miles Davis’ “On the Corner.” Bennett, who studied Middle Eastern percussion privately for two years, said, “Recording the song was very challenging for us because of its complex rhythmic structure.” For now, Bennett says the group plans to finish recording its album and then sell it through MP3.com, where a catalog of its previously releases has received attention from world-music lovers. Bennett said the group has received e-mails from fans in Europe and Brazil. “Usually they say they really like it and want to know when we’re going to play in their country,” Bennett explained. “And usually our response is ‘Sooner than you think.’”

Additional Info The new album is out and rocking! 95 radio stations have been spinning across the country! Hit it hard and hold it!

Location Long Beach, CA - USA

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