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Rhythm::: is a Metro Phoenix based band which has been playing together since August of '99, quickly making a good name in the Arizona live music scene. The group has performed with Chuck Hall, Big Pete Pearson, The Whitehead Brothers, Scotty Spenner and many others, developing many strong friendships along the way. The group consists of four experienced musicians, all veterans of the live music scene. Rhythm::: features one of the best guitarists anywhere, in Jeff Morrow. Jeff's guitar work is nothing short of amazing, part Buddy Guy, part Jimi Hendrix and part Stevie Ray Vaughn, and the styles blend seamlessly into a single resonance that defies easy description, and brings new life to the music. Jeff is also the main singer for the group, lending his captivatingly rich and easy vocals (with an almost country flavor) to the groups performances. Sal 'the keys' Pizzo is the groups keyboardist/vocalist. Sal is one of the true veterans in the group, having played around the valley for more than 25 years. His credits (too many to list all) include the Wallace & Ladmo Show, Power Trio groups Knobz, and Kens, and blues group Lynna McCarter. Backed up by the talented rhythm section consisting of the multi-talented percussionist Jake Deaver (Jake was until recently a mainstay of the Portland Oregon blues scene) and the solid understated styling and backup vocals of Bassist Paul Knowles (Basement Blues Band, Stress Relief), Rhythm::: intends to make a mark on the music scene here in the Southwest and nationally. The groups song style crosses many genres, but might be described as southern rock/blues with a unique guitar driven twist that never fails to fill the dance floor. With influences from the Allman Brothers to Atlanta Rhythm Section; from BB King and Stevie Ray Vaughan to Charlie Daniels, The common thread is that you must be able to dance to it. Really though, you'll have to experience the sound and decide for yourself. |
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On Monday November 8th 1999, Rhythm::: went to Chars' Has The Blues in Phoenix on Jam Night, and played four songs to a packed house. The crowd was incredible, and Bush (the undisputed boss at Chars') pretty much hired us on the spot. Things have been pretty exciting since then. |
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Blues Quartet Blossoming |
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Four guys jammin'. Since the fall, Rhythm::: has been building a solid foundation around the Valley. [This article is reprinted from the Rep (pg 43), published by the Arizona Republic Dec 30th, 1999] |
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By Kerry Lengel The Arizona Republic Just one jam session and the four musicians knew they had it going on. But singer Jeff Morrow preached patience. "After a month, these guys wanted to go play, and it's like, man, I don't want to do that," Morrow says. "I don't want to go someplace and sound mediocre. We need to sound good so people go, 'Hey, where have these guys been hiding?'" Still, it wasn't long before Rhythm::: -- a blues quartet powered by the dueling guitars of Morrow and J.R. Lomeli -- had its first gig, at the Truckin' Nationals in Phoenix in October. The hour-long set exhausted the group's small but growing repertoire. Then came shows at NY West and Char's Has the Blues, one of Phoenix's most venerable nightspots. After four months as a band, Rhythm""" has earned a name and a following in the Valley blues scene. "These guys" didn't come out of nowhere, however. Ranging in age from 39 to 47, all have plenty of band experience. Morrow has opened for B.B. King and Tanya Tucker with a group in Park City, Utah. "I've been playing in bars since |
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'hiding in a closet." Actually, he was busy building a marriage, a family and a business, the Pro Dyno shop in Tempe. "I'm at the right age now where I don't need to do it for the money," he says. It's just for the music this time." Playing a hard-edged style of blues that incorporates rock and R&B, Rhythm::: mixes cover tunes -- from B.B. King and Buddy Guy, To Stevie Ray Vaughan and Atlanta Rhythm Section -- with a few originals. The dual lead guitars give the music an aggressive heft, but one of the band's greatest assets is Morrow's voice. In a genre where vocal chops are often of secondary importance, he sings clean and true to give the sound a professional polish. Morrow and Knowles both say the band has high ambitions. Rhythm::: plans to continue writing music and hopes to start recording next year, but establishing a presence in Valley blues clubs is top priority. "All it takes is some big-shot guy to come in and go, 'I think I can sell these guys,'" Morrow says. "It can happen. Even at 43." ------------------------------ Kerry Lengel can be reached at (602) 444-4896 or via e-mail at Kerry.lengel@arizonarepublic.com |
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I was 14, and I'm 43, so it's been a long road," he says. Nonetheless, his is an unfamiliar face in Arizona music, because he's been out of circulation for a decade. Bassist Paul Knowles says Morrow was |
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Rhythm::: Sound: Electric blues with strong rock and R&B influences. Lineup: Jeff Morrow, guitar and vocals; J.R. Lomeli, guitar; Dave Babbitt, percussion; Paul Knowles, bass Next gig: Saturday night at NY West, 2155 E. University Drive, Tempe, (480) 350-9328. It's a "We Survived Y2K Party." About the name: The punctuation in Rhythm::: does not represent exotic tongue clicking. Rather, in the band's guitar-shaped logo, tho colons corm the six tuning knobs. Web site: Http://members.home.net/riever/. Contact: E-mail Paul at Riever@home.com or Jeff at Jeff@prodyno.com |
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caught in the act |
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Rhythm::: Jeff Pete Curt Paul Booking & Band Info |
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