Big Sauty

BIG SAUTY is a funky band with a unique twist featuring Erin Williams, drums, Brian Smith, bass, Keiko Ishibashi, violin, and Marc Gilley, baritone saxophone. We cross the streams and incorporate jazz, funk, a little bit of rock and a touch of bluegrass to bring you something new but with a familiar accent.

BIG SAUTY has been writing and rehearsing since April but the relationships in the band go back well beyond. Marc and Brian and have been collaborating across what seems like centuries first in summer stock performances at the Highlands Playhouse in North Carolina then with the Odd Trio, a new jazz trio, and one and off with One Ton Tomato, a Latin Jazz group. Marc and Erin met while playing with Orquesta Macuba, a long time salsa band in Atlanta that played at the old Loca Luna and now has weekly shows at Eclipse di Luna and in concerts and events across the southeast. Brian and Keiko perform as a duo playing in a gypsy jazz duo with guitar and violin, the Athens Middle East Orchestra, and many other projects around Athens, GA. Marc and Keiko first played together during a Thanksgiving event for the unhoused in Athens, GA a few years ago and have been looking for an excuse to play together since.

To get a sense of what you might hear from the group, check out Lettuce, the Budos Band, the JBs, Balthvs, Khruangbin, and imagine horns and violins.