Artist description When just friends get together and cook up some barbeque they usually come up with some "Spare Ribs". For Simpkins' latest CD, Cecil Brooks brought in fellow bandmates from Pittsburgh, guitarist Eric Johnson and organist Dave Braham. This date is recorded in the spirit of classic soul jazz albums by Jimmy Smith with Stanley Turrentine and Jack McDuff with Houston Person and Gene Ammons, updated with some 90's technology and contemporary song material. Except for one Vernon Duke standard, Simpkins wrote all the tunes. His originals fill the bill perfectly.

Music Style Straight-ahead jazz and soul-jazz

Musical Influences Texas tenors such as Houston Person, Eddie

Artist History In 1992 Nat Simpkins recorded his first CD as a leader, "Just Friends," which Houston Person produced for Muse Records. Simpkins brought in two of his mentors on sax to play with him on his debut: Buddy Tate and Houston with the rhythm section of Major Holley, Stan Hope, and Grady Tate. Simpkins more than held his own on this great album that presented three generations of "Texas Tenors". The follow-up CD, "Cookin With Some Barbeque," is a classic tenor and organ date featuring Nat with organist Gloria Coleman, guitarist Russell Malone, and drummer Cecil Brooks III.

Group Members Nat Simpkins (sax), Eric Johnson (guitar), Dave Braham (organ), Ralph Dorsey (congas), Cecil Brooks III (drums).

Instruments Saxophone, trumpet, Guitar, Organ, Congas, piano, bass, Drums

Albums Spare Ribs, Cape Ann Escape, Crescent City

Press Reviews Simpkins is one of the few modern-day practitioners of the ‘Texas tenor'' sound, a swaggering big-toned style that stirs r & b grit with down-home blow-it-all-out improvising."- Bob Young, Boston Herald________________________"Simpkins' sax allegiance is steeped in the Texas tenor tradition and it is obvious he's listened long and hard to ‘Fathead' Newman, Illinois Jaquet, Clifford Scott and others."- Larry Hollis, Cadence

Location Manchester, MA - USA

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