The Buddhi

Artist Information

Biography

The Buddhi is constantly evolving.

Upgrading their repertoire, gear and ideas often, this gang of eight has been elusive to those who attempt to confine them to a genre or predict their next move. Dancing around the boundaries of reggae, afrobeat, dub, and funk, The Buddhi is known for keeping audiences moving by conjuring an appetite for groove and tone, then satiating that hunger with a saturation of unique sound. At the group's core is a rhythm section just as dirty and raw as it is tight and groovy, keeping you needing more, always. Horns, ranging from 3-4 pieces, mesmerize listeners with their addictive melodies and weaving improvisations. The tunes themselves orbit around discourses of humanity, stories, and messages that blur the lines of reality with the surreal, leaving it up the audience to draw its own meaning from the band's diverse collection of original music. The Buddhi dares to be different, looking steadfast into the future while paying homage and respect to the sounds and messages of yesterday. The Buddhi has been known to strip paint from walls, rouse dormant volcanoes, and interrupt the orbits of small planets with their funky, pulsating groove, leaving no danceable beats behind. The Buddhi is sure to make any show a special occasion, bringing a distinct sound with them everywhere they play.

Instrumentation

Bobby Spellman- Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Melodica, percussion
Remy Kunstler- Alto & Baritone Saxophones
Emily Pecoraro- Tenor Saxophone, Flute
Angelo Peters- Guitars & Effects, Lead Vocals, Hammond Organ, Hohner Clavinet
Rob Tate- Fender Rhodes, Hohner Clavinet, Hammond Organ, Effects
Pat Murphy- Electric & Acoustic Basses
Andrew Klein- drums and cymbals, percussion, backing vocals
Dan Barker- Rhythm & Lead Guitars and Effects

Discography

"What's Shakin'" - released June 2008
This album is The Buddhi's first full length release, recorded in the hills of Hector, NY at Blue Sky Studio. The Buddhi and Studio Owner/Engineer Rob Curatolo recorded the album and The Buddhi and Jim Peters Mixed and Mastered it. The Album is currently Sold Out and Discontinued

"II"-Release Date is scheduled for Spring 2010.
The Second Offer from the Boys and Girls of The Buddhi. More details TBA.

Links

• myspace
• reverbnation

Audio

• Even The Deaf
  Listen   Download
• Kick on the Sin
  Listen   Download
• Hot Heels
  Listen   Download
• About The Trip
  Listen   Download
• Vacancy Blues
  Listen   Download

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Strength in Numbers; The Buddhi, Big Mean Sound Machine Join Forces [+ Show ]
  

  Wednesday, March 17, 2010 Strength in numbers: The Buddhi, Big Mean Sound Machine join forces ...Wednesday, March 17, 2010
  
  Strength in numbers: The Buddhi, Big Mean Sound Machine join forces
  
  By Alexandra Mitton
  
  Wednesday, March 17, 2010
  
  
  The Buddhi, an Ithaca College band that overlaps with The Big Mean Sound Machine, another IC band. (photo provided)
  While many are basking in the Ithaca sunshine, lead members of two local bands: the Buddhi (pronounced "booty") and the Big Mean Sound Machine, Angelo Peters and Andrew Klein shield their eyes. As musicians, Peters and Klein are more inclined to the sheltered light of their basement studio or the artificial fluorescence of the stage. Splitting time between recording and performance, the two have been working hard to develop a pair of professional acts.
  
  The Buddhi has been on the scene for over two years while the Sound Machine is still young in its rookie year. Both groups are composed of Ithaca College students who are all seniors except one. (Buddhi: Angelo Peters, Andrew Klein, Pat Murphy, Rob Tate, Bobby Spellman, and Remy Kunstler. Sound Machine: Andrew Klein, Jeb Henry, Rob Tate, Angelo Peters, Bobby Spellman, Emily Pecararo, Dan Barker, Bryan Davis, Remy Kunstle, Adam Mendonca, Ernest Whiting and Hayden Eager.) While the large family of musicians may have some overlap, both groups keep their distance which allows them to run as parallel projects rather than partners.
  
  Donned in sleek suits, the Buddhi focuses their energy on structure and song-writing sensibility. Through many dub-influenced tracks, the band controls their reggae sense to a smart, thoughtful tone that blends the ease of Ithaca with a fresh, foreign sound. Always evolving, the Buddhi stays eclectic using the trumpet, saxophone and even analog effects to remain diverse.
  
  While the Buddhi takes on big brother status, the Sound Machine is starting to establish themselves on their own. After growing out of a studio experiment, the Sound Machine attempts to develop an organic mantra based heavily on improvisation with an afro-beat influence. They make a strong distinction known as "the party band" with a raw energy of complete instrumental harmony. Without vocals, the Sound Machine is just that. With its dozen members, the group presents various percussion elements, organs, trumpet, tenor, alto, and baritone sax, and trombone, just to name a few.
  
  As far opposite on the spectrum both groups may seem, in reality, the Buddhi and the Sound Machine have let the lines blur and operate under an intelligent, optimistic system. Both stay choosy with gigs and tour regionally just as much as play in hometown Ithaca.
  
  "We're very selective about what we put our time into so we can maintain some sense of balance," Klein said.
  
  The groups may fall under the same leadership but they like to consider themselves alter egos with a different spirit and sound. But, somehow, they find a way to connect at the end of the day.
  
  "Our strategy: stay open to trying different things and there are pros and cons to that," Peters said. "Some people say you have to focus on one thing but for us, it's hard to sit and play the same songs every night."
  
  Many of the group members as well as Klein and Peters play in both bands and multiple outside projects, which helps to retain some creativity. For the Buddhi and the Sound Machine members, the distance is freeing.
  
  "We wanted to have two different outlets," Peters said. "Once you get yourself into one specific group, there's certain things you can't do."
  
  Specifically, the Sound Machine and the Buddhi are equally proud of their recording efforts thus far. They have maintained 100-percent creative control by avoiding the harsh rule of labels and producers. Both the Buddhi and the Sound Machine have engineered all tracks, which have inspired their leaders in a new direction.
  
  Both Klein and Peters (with a few other possible partners) hope to set up their own record label to publish, copyright, and distribute their own works. The Buddhi and the Sound Machine would serve as the premiere clients giving them professional credentials in the limelight. Klein and Peters are hoping for additional bands to function under their company in hopes to make a strong statement on the industry.
  
  Until then, the Buddhi has been finishing up over a year's worth of recording for their latest, complete project. (The Buddhi with a nine track CD and the Sound Machine with a four track EP.) The groups are considering free digital downloads with the CD release.
  
  "That's the most important thing to us right now," Klein said. "The exposure to get our music there and accessible to everyone."
  
  The Buddhi kicked off their Spring Break tour last week, hitting Pittsburgh, Albany, New Haven, Conn., N.Y.C., Corning before returning home to perform at Castaways at 10 p.m. Saturday, March 20. As modest as their leaders may be, both the Sound Machine and the Buddhi have risen above the amateur college class with hard work behind them and promising potential to move forward.
  
  "We care about what we're doing and what we're putting out there," Peters said. "That doesn't mean everybody has to love it but for what we're doing, it's authentic and it's our life."
  
  For more information on the Buddhi and the Big Mean Sound Machine, check out www.myspace.com/thebuddhi and www.myspace.com/thebigmeansoundmachine.
  
  Link to Article: http://www.ithacatimes.com/print.asp?ArticleID=11297&SectionID=3&SubSectionID=67

• Ithaca Fest Review 2009
  

  The Buddhi tastefully dances around the boundaries of reggae and funk!

• Crowd Melts Under Influence of Jam Band [+ Show ]
  

  ...Fresh Tracks on the new album, "What's Shakin'" .... The Buddhi warms up the crown with six pers......Fresh Tracks on the new album, "What's Shakin'"
  .... The Buddhi warms up the crown with six person jams echoing endlessly through the venue...

Setlist

The Buddhi has been known to play sets as long as 2 hours, and as short as an hour. No Longer than 2 hours, no shorter than 1 hour. The sets consist of ALL ORIGINAL MUSIC!!!!! We rarely play a cover and when we do it is special. So if you are looking for a band that will play covers and classics then please look elsewhere. Thanks.

Basic Requirements

Calendar