Artist description Organ-funk that JAMS...tight arrangements and lots of drum breaks.

Music Style Vintage jazz-funk

Musical Influences The Meters, Booker T & The MG's, Medeski, Martin & Wood

Artist History November 5, 2000 onward...

Group Members Current Yards: Bradford Hoopes - organ, Michael Hamm - guitar, Brad Maestas - bass, Danny Rojas - drums; Former Yards: Kelly White - drums, Tom Johnson - bass, Eric Johnson - guitar, Brian Baggett - guitar, Brian Mitchell - guitar

Instruments organ, drums, guitar and bass

Albums The YARDS, The Yards - Live at the Fox, The Yards - Live at Abe & Jake's Landing, The Yards - Live at the Paradise Cafe

Press Reviews "When recording artists go into the studio to make records these days it can take months to reach a final product. Endless mixes, hundreds of overdubs and extensives experimentation can turn a forty minute album into 4000 hours of studio time. Of course, that's not the way it always was. And it's not the way it is now for the Lawrence, Kansas, based funk jazz quartet The Yards. On this band's self titled release, Hammond organ maniac and main man Bradford Hoopes led the gang in a single studio session that soon became this amazing record. The loose live feel and tight musical communication on these tunes is impressive, indeed. The CD claims to contain no overdubs, yet songs like the album's opener, 'Sweet Potato Soup', 'La Pelota', and 'You Are the Thing' kick the beats with hot jams and tight musical passages reminiscent of late 60's/early 70's New Orleans funk. On 'Wish I Knew' drummer Kelly White shuffles the groove around Hoopes' smoky keys, Tom Johnson's airtight basslines and Eric Johnson's crispy guitar work. It's a no-nonsense line-up and the outcome tingles and sweats with pumping rhythmic energy and semi freeform musical exploration. Although this disc does not include any vocals, the dazzling musicianship and exchange of these players keeps you engaged and moving through the music. While some tracks like 'Miss Misty' and 'Sunday Night' drop the tempo in favor of a more chilled musical experience, the switch gives the album just enough dynamics and diversity to keep things interesting. The Yards are currently download favorites on MP3.com. And it's no surprise. Stellar musicianship, plenty of slippery funk-bop, and mastermind chord progressions make this album a standout CD." -IndieMusicReview.com, January 2003

Additional Info www.theyards.net

Location Lawrence, Kansas - USA

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