Many tributaries flow into the vast ocean of sound that is The CodeTalkers, who encompass the shake of New Orleans soul, the hard electric edge of real blues, fleet fingered acoustic picking, and huge scale epic rock. Founded in 1999 after a Halloween encounter between singer-multi-instrumentalist Bobby Lee Rodgers and southern alternative music legend Col. Bruce Hampton, the group makes glorious pop music infused with the spirit & technical grace of jazz. The result is joyous, engaged music by some of the best players around.
The CodeTalkers build on the blues strain of Col. Bruce’s earlier outfits like the Hampton Grease Band, The Fiji Mariners and jam pioneers Aquarium Rescue Unit, but with a more song oriented approach that recalls eclectic ‘70s radio, where popular music crossed many genre lines. The CodeTalkers are a space boogie band, instantly accessible but fluid & tweaked enough to reward every spin.
But the Codetalker's vision really originates with Bobby Lee Rodgers. “I’ve really never been a fan of pop music until I started playing with Bobby,†says Col. Bruce. “His chord structures are just amazing & timeless. I think they’re going to last forever.†Audiences often mistake Rodgers’ originals for lost gems from the ‘50s or ‘60s. “The word is nuance. He has that Bach, Ellington thing but in pop music,†enthuses Col. Bruce.
Bobby Lee moved from Boston to Atlanta in 1999 where he met Hampton. He left Boston after five years as an instructor at the prestigious Berklee School of Music to follow the music in his head. From the time he was only 7 years old, he learned as much as he could of tunes in both the bluegrass (think Bill Monroe) and rock worlds (think James Brown and AC/DC), eventually focusing on playing jazz, learning standards and listening to Jimmy Smith-Wes Montgomery records. His potent, instantly recognizable guitar style grew out of these colors, the Hammond organ & the electric guitar, to create a new hue that pulls in best of both instruments.
The CodeTalkers went through a number of line-up changes over the past seven years before settling into a magical combo two years ago when bassist Ted Pecchio joined drummer Tyler Greenwell to round out the Bobby Lee-Hampton string assault, which goes beyond guitars to include alien slide pedal steel and furiously plucked banjo. The general high level of musicianship has attracted a number of contemporary luminaries like guitarist Jimmy Herring (Phil Lesh, The Dead) and Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf), who have toured with them. Other guests include Allman Brothers Derek Trucks & Warren Haynes, Phish’s Mike Gordon, Susan Tedeschi, jazz pianist Art Lande, Joe Craven (Psychograss/David Grisman Quintet) and violin giant Vassar Clements, who played one of his last shows with Rodgers, Pecchio & Greenwell backing him.
What the world will hear is a group totally enthralled by music, producing something that bursts with positive energy, flowing vibrantly & freely.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.thecodetalkers.com
Track List:
1. Body in the lake
2. Grandma
3. Did my time
4. Saturn
5. Lima
6. I'm so glad
7. UFO
8. Rice Clients
9. Isles of Langerhan
10. Something Wrong
11. Beggin'
12. Apple Pie
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
The CodeTalkers build on the blues strain of Col. Bruce’s earlier outfits like the Hampton Grease Band, The Fiji Mariners and jam pioneers Aquarium Rescue Unit, but with a more song oriented approach that recalls eclectic ‘70s radio, where popular music crossed many genre lines. The CodeTalkers are a space boogie band, instantly accessible but fluid & tweaked enough to reward every spin.
But the Codetalker's vision really originates with Bobby Lee Rodgers. “I’ve really never been a fan of pop music until I started playing with Bobby,†says Col. Bruce. “His chord structures are just amazing & timeless. I think they’re going to last forever.†Audiences often mistake Rodgers’ originals for lost gems from the ‘50s or ‘60s. “The word is nuance. He has that Bach, Ellington thing but in pop music,†enthuses Col. Bruce.
Bobby Lee moved from Boston to Atlanta in 1999 where he met Hampton. He left Boston after five years as an instructor at the prestigious Berklee School of Music to follow the music in his head. From the time he was only 7 years old, he learned as much as he could of tunes in both the bluegrass (think Bill Monroe) and rock worlds (think James Brown and AC/DC), eventually focusing on playing jazz, learning standards and listening to Jimmy Smith-Wes Montgomery records. His potent, instantly recognizable guitar style grew out of these colors, the Hammond organ & the electric guitar, to create a new hue that pulls in best of both instruments.
The CodeTalkers went through a number of line-up changes over the past seven years before settling into a magical combo two years ago when bassist Ted Pecchio joined drummer Tyler Greenwell to round out the Bobby Lee-Hampton string assault, which goes beyond guitars to include alien slide pedal steel and furiously plucked banjo. The general high level of musicianship has attracted a number of contemporary luminaries like guitarist Jimmy Herring (Phil Lesh, The Dead) and Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf), who have toured with them. Other guests include Allman Brothers Derek Trucks & Warren Haynes, Phish’s Mike Gordon, Susan Tedeschi, jazz pianist Art Lande, Joe Craven (Psychograss/David Grisman Quintet) and violin giant Vassar Clements, who played one of his last shows with Rodgers, Pecchio & Greenwell backing him.
What the world will hear is a group totally enthralled by music, producing something that bursts with positive energy, flowing vibrantly & freely.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.thecodetalkers.com
Track List:
1. Body in the lake
2. Grandma
3. Did my time
4. Saturn
5. Lima
6. I'm so glad
7. UFO
8. Rice Clients
9. Isles of Langerhan
10. Something Wrong
11. Beggin'
12. Apple Pie
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- ROCK: Roots Rock
- ROCK: Jam-band
- FEATURING GUITAR