Roomful of Blues
Roomful of Blues - Vine and Vibes Summer Series
Small Batch Cellars
37 Nettleton Ave
North Haven, CT 06473
Jun 23, 2024
5:00 PM EDT
I Was There
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About this concert
Doors at 4 PM
The Band
Even though Roomful of Blues’ lineup has changed over the years, the band has always been
one of the tightest, most joyful blues ensembles in the world. Currently an eight-piece unit led by
guitarist Chris Vachon, the band has never sounded fresher or stronger. Singer Phil Pemberton
brings his sweet and soulful vocals and adds another bright new dimension to the jazzy, jump-
blues musical roots. Their winning combination of jump, swing, blues, R&B and soul remains
their calling card, as does their ability to fill the dance floor. Along with bassist John Turner,
trumpeter Carl Gerhard, drummer Mike Coffey, keyboardist Rusty Scott, baritone and tenor
saxophonist Alek Razdan, tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille, Roomful keeps on rockin’
into 2024.
Phil Pemberton - Vocals
As leader of his own bands for the last 20 years, this Massachusetts native has found himself
playing to intimate clubs all the way to large festivals, throughout the US, England, France and
Canada. In addition, The Philip Pemberton Band was also the 1st Western band to play in the
former capital of China, Xi’an on a 2 week tour broadcast to 1⁄2 a billion people throughout Asia.
“His voice can ache with tenderness, or rattle the rafters with it’s power...”- Patricia Smith
(Pulitzer nominated Journalist) Boston Globe
“This man could sing his way outta Jail...” -Bill Smith
Chris Vachon - Guitar
Chris is a true multi-talent. His prowess as a guitar slinger is well documented, and his strengths
as a producer and songwriter grow from album to album. He produced the band’s nine most
recent albums—There Goes the Neighborhood (1998), Watch You When You Go (2001), Live
at Wolf Trap (2002) the Grammy nominated That’s Right! (2003), and Standing Room Only
(2004), “Raisin’ A Ruckus” (2008), Hook, Line & Sinker (2011), 45 Live (2013) and In A Roomful
of Blues (2020) after co-producing all of Roomful’s other albums recorded in the ’90s. Chris’
songs— such as “Turn It On! Turn It Up!,” “Running Out of Time,” “She’ll Be So Fine,” “Blue,
Blue World,” “Dynamite” and “Keep on Rockin'"—have become firm favorites in AAA and blues
radio formats, bringing many new fans into the Roomful fold.
John Turner - Upright and Electric Bass
A veteran of the New England jazz scene, bassist John Turner has performed and recorded
with just about everybody–specifically the Either/Orchestra,Charlie Kohlhase, Scott Hamilton,
Roswell Rudd, Lee Konitz, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, members of Ornette Coleman’s
band, and Magic Dick-Jay Geils and Blues Time to name a few. John’s rock solid bottom is the
essential element of the swing groove which Roomful is renowned for.
Rusty Scott - Piano and B3
Rusty Scott has been a fixture on the Boston jazz and blues scene for a number of years now.
He began playing piano at the age of eight. His jazz studies began with Burlington jazz
musician, Bruce Sklar, while attending the University of Vermont. In 1989 he attended Berklee
College of Music. Rusty also plays Hammond B3 organ and in addition to being a member of
Roomful of Blues he currently heads up the Rusty Scott Organ Group, playing major venues
throughout Boston and New England. Rusty’s solid rhythm, driving piano solos, and howlin’
organ riffs are a first-class addition to the “Roomful Tradition.”
Mike Coffey - Drums
From Newport Rhode Island Mike Coffey spent 20 years performing with the US Navy band.
Upon retirement he performed with local blues artist Chris Stoval Brown and other well-known
blues artist in the Boston area. As part of a weekly Jazz series he has performed with Mike
Renzi and Grey Sargent both members of Tony Bennett’s band and other renown jazz artist. He
also performs with 50s doo wop group”The Diamonds” when they perform in New England. He
studied with renown drum instructors Alan Dawson and Gary Chaffee. Known for his versatility
and ability to enhance any group he performs with he been a welcome new member of Roomful
of Blues.
Rich Lataille - Tenor and Alto Sax
Rich joined Roomful in 1970 and was there at the beginning of what has become the most
legendary horn section in contemporary blues. It was Rich’s interest in the swinging bands of
the ’30s and ’40s that led Roomful to forge the distinctive sound that has become the band’s
trademark. A man who can play both sides of the fence, lyrically tender or blisteringly hot, Rich
has a big, warm tone that is always jam-packed with feeling. His melodic inventiveness reflects
the depth and breadth of his wide-ranging influences. Rich worked with various local and high-
school bands before beginning his long-term relationship with Roomful.
Alek Razdan - Baritone and Tenor Sax
Hailing from Rockport, MA, Alek Razdan is truly a lifelong fan of Roomful of Blues, exposed to
the band’s LPs from his parents’ record collection since before he could walk. Idolizing the tone,
energy, and conviction of saxophone greats such as Illinois Jacquet, Big Jay McNeely, Arnett
Cobb, Red Prysock, and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Alek is a perfect fit as the newest member of
Roomful’s legendary horn section. Since he began performing at the age of 8, Alek has shared
the stage with and/or benefited from the mentorship of Mark Earley, Sax “Gordon” Beadle,
Bobby Hebb, Barrence Whitfield, Whoopi Goldberg, Willie “Loco” Alexander, and many others.
When not performing with Roomful, Alek can also be found playing in the air-tight horn section
of The American Symphony of Soul, a 9-piece Boston-based funk band, and The A-Train
Orchestra, his own blues and jazz group based out of Boston’s North Shore.
Carl Gerhard - Trumpet
Carl “Geerz” Gerhard is a Basking Ridge, New Jersey native. He recently finished a 30-yr
career in the U.S. Navy Band, first as a performer, and ultimately, as Director and Conductor.
He has led Navy Bands in the United States, Europe and the Far East, performed in over 20
countries, and has also conducted both the Tokyo Symphony and Boston Pops orchestras
multiple times. As a trumpeter, he has toured and recorded extensively with the iconic rock band
Phish as an original member of The Giant Country Horns. Laying down his roots now in New
England, Carl’s pure melodic style, infectious energy, and love of the blues can be heard every
time Roomful of Blues takes the stage!
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What fans are saying
Marcel
July 12th 2024
The show was great as usual
Just surprised to see a new singer on the band
She did a great job sang wonderfully
And the band was on fire
I’ve seen Them about a dozen times
Conway, NH@Cranmore Mountain Resort
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Roomful of Blues Biography
Roomful of Blues, the world-renowned, horn-powered, houserocking blues band, has been delighting audiences for over 50 years. Blues Music Magazine calls them “the best little big band in the blues.” On record and on stage, Roomful of Blues—led by master guitarist Chris Vachon for the past 22 years—continues to deliver its bone-shaking mix of original songs and carefully chosen covers ranging from jump, swing and proto rock ‘n’ roll to funky, contemporary blues. Their impeccable musicianship and larger-than-life vocals have earned Roomful of Blues five Grammy Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including seven Blues Music Awards. Twice, the prestigious DownBeat International Critics’ Poll has selected them as Best Blues Band. And now, even after 18 previous releases and thousands of live shows, Roomful of Blues continues to evolve, as they return with In A Roomful Of Blues, their first new studio album since 2011.
In A Roomful Of Blues, the band’s sixth release on Alligator Records, was produced by Vachon and features 13 wide-ranging songs, including nine band-composed originals—more than on any previous Roomful album. Eight songs were written or co-written by Vachon (including one authored with vocalist Phil Pemberton) plus one each by sax player Alek Razdan and keyboardist Rusty Scott. From the rocking We’d Have A Love Sublime to the funkified You Move Me to the closing-time lament She Quit Me Again to the up-to-the-minute Phone Zombies, In A Roomful Of Blues is filled with soaring blues, zydeco twists, late-night ballads, Latin-tinged funk and a touch of vintage, fifth-gear rock ‘n’ roll.
Roomful of Blues guitarist Chris Vachon first joined Roomful in 1990, and has been leading the band since 1998. Guitar Player says Vachon’s guitar playing “burns with explosive solos and a delightfully greasy sense of rhythm.” The band has maintained its signature sound through great musicianship and a stellar horn section—featuring tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille, who first joined the band in 1970. Lataille’s masterful playing can evoke either the fat-toned, honking sax of the glory days of early rock or the cool elegance of big band swing jazz.
While Roomful of Blues has always been one of the tightest, most joyful blues ensembles in the world, they have never sounded fresher or stronger than with the current line-up. Along with Vachon and Lataille, the band includes vocalist Phil Pemberton, baritone and tenor saxophonist Alek Razdan, trumpeter Carl “Geerz” Gerhard, bassist John Turner, drummer Mike Coffey and keyboardist Rusty Scott.
The long and winding road which leads to the Roomful of Blues of today can be followed all the way back to 1967 when a group of southern Rhode Island teenagers with a shared passion for the blues formed a straight-ahead Chicago-style electric blues band to explore the music of their heroes. They added a horn section (including Rich Lataille) in 1970 and released their self-titled debut album in 1977 on Island Records (reissued on Hyena Records), which brought them to the attention of fans and critics from coast to coast.
Recording for Rounder Records’ Bullseye Blues and Varrick labels between 1980 and 2001, the band cut nine albums that won them international fame and major rock radio airplay. They’ve gigged with stars ranging from bluesmen B.B. King, Otis Rush and Stevie Ray Vaughan to rockers Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana. The band has performed in cities from coast to coast, and traveled abroad to 22 countries including Lebanon, Poland, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and Russia.
Since Roomful joined the Alligator Records family in 2003, their popularity has continued to increase. Their first Alligator CD was the Grammy-nominated That’s Right! in 2003, followed by Standing Room Only in 2005, Raisin’ A Ruckus in 2008, Hook, Line & Sinker in 2010 and 45 Live in 2013. All five albums received massive amounts of critical and popular praise and kept old and new fans lining up to see them perform. The New Yorker says the band brings “thunderous performances that get feet stomping and hands clapping.”
With In A Roomful Of Blues, the band has once again captured all of their frenetic energy and musical power in the studio. Roomful of Blues will be hitting the road and bringing the new material to their fans around the world, proving without doubt that this is a band built to stand the test of time. While keenly aware of the group’s half century of history, Vachon is quick to note, however, that they are constantly looking forward. “We always keep things fresh and we keep the excitement level high. Playing this music is an immense amount of fun for us,” he says. “And it’s just as much fun for our audience.”
Read MoreIn A Roomful Of Blues, the band’s sixth release on Alligator Records, was produced by Vachon and features 13 wide-ranging songs, including nine band-composed originals—more than on any previous Roomful album. Eight songs were written or co-written by Vachon (including one authored with vocalist Phil Pemberton) plus one each by sax player Alek Razdan and keyboardist Rusty Scott. From the rocking We’d Have A Love Sublime to the funkified You Move Me to the closing-time lament She Quit Me Again to the up-to-the-minute Phone Zombies, In A Roomful Of Blues is filled with soaring blues, zydeco twists, late-night ballads, Latin-tinged funk and a touch of vintage, fifth-gear rock ‘n’ roll.
Roomful of Blues guitarist Chris Vachon first joined Roomful in 1990, and has been leading the band since 1998. Guitar Player says Vachon’s guitar playing “burns with explosive solos and a delightfully greasy sense of rhythm.” The band has maintained its signature sound through great musicianship and a stellar horn section—featuring tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille, who first joined the band in 1970. Lataille’s masterful playing can evoke either the fat-toned, honking sax of the glory days of early rock or the cool elegance of big band swing jazz.
While Roomful of Blues has always been one of the tightest, most joyful blues ensembles in the world, they have never sounded fresher or stronger than with the current line-up. Along with Vachon and Lataille, the band includes vocalist Phil Pemberton, baritone and tenor saxophonist Alek Razdan, trumpeter Carl “Geerz” Gerhard, bassist John Turner, drummer Mike Coffey and keyboardist Rusty Scott.
The long and winding road which leads to the Roomful of Blues of today can be followed all the way back to 1967 when a group of southern Rhode Island teenagers with a shared passion for the blues formed a straight-ahead Chicago-style electric blues band to explore the music of their heroes. They added a horn section (including Rich Lataille) in 1970 and released their self-titled debut album in 1977 on Island Records (reissued on Hyena Records), which brought them to the attention of fans and critics from coast to coast.
Recording for Rounder Records’ Bullseye Blues and Varrick labels between 1980 and 2001, the band cut nine albums that won them international fame and major rock radio airplay. They’ve gigged with stars ranging from bluesmen B.B. King, Otis Rush and Stevie Ray Vaughan to rockers Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana. The band has performed in cities from coast to coast, and traveled abroad to 22 countries including Lebanon, Poland, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and Russia.
Since Roomful joined the Alligator Records family in 2003, their popularity has continued to increase. Their first Alligator CD was the Grammy-nominated That’s Right! in 2003, followed by Standing Room Only in 2005, Raisin’ A Ruckus in 2008, Hook, Line & Sinker in 2010 and 45 Live in 2013. All five albums received massive amounts of critical and popular praise and kept old and new fans lining up to see them perform. The New Yorker says the band brings “thunderous performances that get feet stomping and hands clapping.”
With In A Roomful Of Blues, the band has once again captured all of their frenetic energy and musical power in the studio. Roomful of Blues will be hitting the road and bringing the new material to their fans around the world, proving without doubt that this is a band built to stand the test of time. While keenly aware of the group’s half century of history, Vachon is quick to note, however, that they are constantly looking forward. “We always keep things fresh and we keep the excitement level high. Playing this music is an immense amount of fun for us,” he says. “And it’s just as much fun for our audience.”
Jump Blues
Swing
Blues
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