Jeff Magidson - guitar & vocals
Jeff’s musical roots go back to his beginnings. He was born into a musical family, and has been playing one instrument or another most of his life. When he found the guitar, he was heavily influenced by Lowell George, Ry Cooder and Johnny Winter, echoes of which come through in his playing. But there is no imitation here. Jeff’s voice and guitar are strictly his own, a fact that shines through on every track of this album. It’s a rare combination of raw feeling, technical mastery, and imagination. You won’t hear another guitar player do what Jeff is doing.
Isabelle Magidson - bass & vocals
Isabelle is renowned for her disarming vocals and impeccable sense of rhythm. She was born and raised in the French countryside and began her musical career singing and playing the snare drum in a 50’s Rock vocal group. Later, she picked up the guitar, and the Washboard. After 20 years of performing in the old country she, and her husband Jeff, made the move to California. She is the most recent and gentlest mule in the stall.
Kelvin Dixon - drum & vocals
Kelvin has sung and played with John Lee Hooker, Charles Brown, Bo Diddley, Otis Rush, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, and Irma Thomas, and toured and recorded with Sylvester, Two Tons of Fun (Weathergirls), Tom Mazzolini’s Blues Cavalcade, Otis Rush, Lady Bianca, and Joe Louis Walker, among others. Kelvin’s Texas-Louisiana roots come through loud and clear with his soulful singing and heavy swamp groove that makes you want to get up and dance. Kelvin received his formal music training under scholarship at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Lee Bloom - piano & organ
Lee has worked in many musical genres with a variety of creative artists including Madeleine Peyroux, Hal Stein, Pete Escovido, Denise Perrier, Chris O’Connell, and Dan Hicks. As a pianist, Lee contributed to the tribute recording to bluegrass icon Hazel Dickens, accompanying Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash, and Madeleine Peyroux. As a session player, he has participated in a wide range of recording projects—from straight-ahead jazz to blues, singer/songwriter, R&B, funk, heavy metal, and country & western. He writes, not just music but also words, and has had his writings on jazz published in the All Music Guide to Jazz, 3rd edition.
Mike Waters - sax
Mike adds a touch of jazz and bebop into the mix, having honed his skills with tenor great Hal Stein. Known for his warm and melodic sound, Mike has performed with such Bay Area favorites as MJ’s Brass Boppers and the Jeff Magidson Blues Band.
