the Velvet Jimis

The Velvet Jimis, an Oak Park band, was born at the Friendly Tap in Berwyn, Illinois. Randy Hess (vox and bass), Loren Middleton (vox and lead guitar), Rick Renner (vox and rhythm guitar), Jason Edwards (vox and drums), Christopher Styles (vox and percussion) and Jimmy Darley (vox, harmonica) produce colorful and diverse original tunes. They have been at it for 6 years and are planning a release of their second CD soon. If you haven’t seen these hometown boys, you’ll be in for a treat.

Jason Scales of the Illinois Entertainer writes about their first CD:

The Velvet Jimis are a party jam band capable of navigating the intersection of soul, funk, blues, rock, and a sidecar of hip-hop. On the 12-track The Distance Between Us, they can be slow-burn bluesy, as on “Sweet Angeline,” with seductive, harmonizing vocals, or they can combine scat-singing and funk, as on “When I Get Home.” “Shoot Shoot Bang Bang” is gloves-off garage rock – these guys are up for anything and they generally deliver. (velvetjimis.com)