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The Black Belt Jones Band is a nine-piece funk project with horns, keys, guitar, and plenty of fun that is sure to get you on the dance floor with familiar covers from the likes of Earth, Wind and Fire, Sly and James Brown, along with newer tunes by artists such as Erykah Badu, The Brand New Heavies, Reel People, and Jamiroquai. - Client
Discography
Each member has a collective 18+ albums, however since BBJ is mostly a cover band we have not yet done a recording that is for sale. We sincerely thank the artists that we did try to mimic in our demo album.
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Bio
Black Belt Jones Band
331 Diamante Way 760-518-8099
Oceanside, CA 92056 bbj@blackbeltjonesband.com
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Innovative, and results-driven Entertainment Partnership with well over 100 years collective broad-based experience with diverse organizations, including Collegiate Education, Professional, Government and even Entrepreneurial experience. Track record of building, implementing and leading partnership situations, Live as well as studio projects focusing on technique and targeted fan base. Well versed in writing and performance. Possess proficient skills in music composition and performance for private and public events.
• Exceptional ability to entertain.
• Respected team collaboration.
• Professional Collegiate Training with several degreed professionals.
• Inventive composition, with a “make it happen” attitude; perform well under pressure and always delivers on commitments.
• Understand what it takes to make things happen on time and on budget.
• Quick learning
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Composition: Focus on many different genres including jazz, funk, latin, calypso, classical, rock, electronic, funk, R&B and blue grass. Diverse and extensive music theory knowledge.
Entertainment: Years of professional on stage experience. Professional equipment. Dressed for success. Understand the importance of entertaining the patrons of the establishment’s clientel.
Recording: Live recording, tracked recording, session recording, click track, no click track, various mediums digital and analog, visual and audio.
Education: Scholastically and Collegiate trained, personal training, applied (“real life”) training. In addition to receiving traing, provide mentorship, teaching curriculum, and materials for individual to college classroom education.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Alesa Ramseier - Female Vocals
Professional singer with over 20 years of experience with additional talent in Trumpet and Electric Bass, and songwriting. While in Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, Canada, covered various genres including gospel, jazz, and alternative rock. Lead Singer of house band, "FreeStyle" in Okinawa, Japan for 3 1/2 years before returning to the United States in 2004.
MEMBERS
James Bridges – Male Vocals
20 years vocal experience rooted in gospel choir and harmonization. 13+ years experience drums and percussion. 7 years experience electric bass guitar. Wide range of knowledge and capabilites in Funk, R&B, and Soul genres.
Joe Bigham – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Joe Bigham is a musician, educator, and theorist with 22 years of performance experience. Joe has played guitar and sitar in a number of genres including Rock, Funk, Classical, Jazz, Celtic, and Klezmer. He has played across the country at notable venues the Sheldon Concert Hall, Blueberry Hill, The Pageant in St. Louis, and the First Night New Years celebration in St. Louis. He has shared the stage with renowned artists including the Rippingtons, Tony Levin (bassist for Peter Gabriel), and Acoustic Alchemy. Joe is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in music at UCSD, where he studies with acclaimed musicians Mark Dresser, Anthony Davis, David Borgo, and sitar maestro Kartik Seshadri.
Adam Tierney – Keyboards
Also going for his PhD, if he is as good at his cognitive neuroscience studies at UCSD, I think his teachings will be forever known. This is a true legend, just undiscovered.
Marcus Spitz – Trumpet
Marcus does not need a bio, he defines a new trumpet sound inspired by old and new styles, always kicking it up a notch.
Nathaniel Blood – Sax, Flute
Raised in Montana. Four years @ Univ. of Wash. school of Music in Seattle. Studied with jazz saxophone luminaries Hadley Caliman & Don Lamphere.
Worked as a musician on cruise ships backing up headliners (4 ships, 1 year afloat total).
Personal experienced includes many years playing in jazz big bands, jazz combo, salsa band, jump swing & rock bands.
Joined the U.S. Navy Band as saxophonist with flute minor in 2002 to present. Stationed in Japan with the 7th Fleet Band for (4 1/2 years) & currently with Navy Band SouthWest (1 1/2 years so far). Travelled throughout Asia representing the United States at countless public performances & for dignitaries.
Brent Gutzwiller – Percussion, Digiridoo, and banjo. Brent has a deep understanding of his Keltic musical roots.
Chris Kellaris – Bass
I would tell you about me, but then I’d hafta kill ya.
Ray Bujarski – Drums, Samples, Backing Vocals
16+ years experience mixed among marching snare, trap, steel double
seconds, marimba, quads, timpani and various percussion namely focusing on drumset, steel, and marimba. Bishop Carroll Drumline and personal studies led by Michael Aukofer, Wichita State's steel drum band "Pandora's Box" and personal studies led by J. C. Combs, and Phil Hawkings. Kennesaw State Percussion Ensemble led by David Watkins. Personal studies with Gregg Gerso
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