Chef Dave Band

DJ Logic, Seth Davis and Friends Play with Particle



During its formative years, Particle earned a reputation for its unique collaborations and frequent sit-ins. While the group's string of special guests has slowed since finalizing its new lineup in February, over the weekend Particle invited a number of additional players onto the stage. On Thursday, at Oxford, MS' The Library, Seth Davis, who opened the show with the Chef Davis Band, played slide guitar on "E-Pro." A night later, at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse, the Bridge's Kenny Liner beat boxed on a "Whenever You Can." Finally, Saturday, DJ Logic performed with Particle on "W" during its first set at New Orleans' The Republic at the city's weeklong JazzFest celebration. New Particle guitarist Scott Metzger has also made the Doors' "LA Woman" his own since Robby Krieger joined the quintet onstage last February. Particle performs next on May 19 at Los Angeles' Knitting Factory.

- Jambands.com

Chef Dave
Happy Accident
Medusa Records

By Dave Terpeny

A happy accident is, by definition, an event (or series of events) that result in an unexpected positive outcome or outcomes. The Chef Dave band was named by a happy accident I suppose, when a booking agent misunderstood the pronunciation of the Seth Davis Band. Seth, by the way, is the founder, composer, producer and fusion guitarist behind Chef Dave.

The sound of Chef Dave may also be a happy accident. I don’t know. But however it came about it is full of southern soul. By that I mean the satin smooth soul of Otis Redding, the gritty soul of Solomon Burke and the preaching soul of Clarence Carter. And I also mean the high lonesome sound of Appalachian Bluegrass, which has a keening southern soul all its own. And don’t forget the down and dirty soul of Stax and the down-home soul of Muscle Shoals. It’s all here in a non-stop 73 minutes of instrumental genius.

I also don’t know if they were going for the ‘head sound’ that Otis and his contemporaries were famous for but they got that too. This album is loose and flowing. Every line and every hole seems to effortlessly fall in every place it’s needed. The beat itself seems to know just what to do on its own and what makes this all the more remarkable is the complexity of the arrangements.

With only one song containing vocals, “Feelin’ Something” sung by Johnny Neel, the horns are forced to carry the weight of nonexistent backing vocals, Neel’s organ and Jimmy Wallace’s keys have to scream and spit out intermittent bouts of white hot heat in place of vocals and the rhythm section of Victor Wooten (“Bolognius Funk”) James Cook, Derek Mixon, Matt Dolan, Cameron Roberts and others dance around the flames with an impressive agility, creating pretzel-like ripples that Davis’ guitar, along with Carlos Pennell, surfs with a reckless abandon. To keep track of every sound and instrument would require the focus and specific acuity of Rainman himself. Hell, I haven’t even mentioned the banjo of Richard Bailey.

And they make it sound easy. Listening to Happy Accident you feel as though you’ve stumbled upon an informal jam session in a Memphis dive. That’s the real ‘head sound.’

And in that dive there are a group of musicians, who have no idea how good they are, sitting together in a corner. They’re following the lead of a goateed guitarist as he, with a very laissez faire attitude, walks them through 40 years of funk, soul, R&B, bluegrass, jazz, and blues trips in the course of just over an hour. And while they seem surprised at the thunderous applause they receive when they’re done, you find yourself going back to that dive every night, hoping to hear it all again. But it was just a happy accident that you heard them in the first place.





- kyndmusic.com

Chef Dave Slides in Allman
Mon, 2006-02-27 18:44
The Chef Dave Band has earned a buzz throughout the southeast thanks in part for its work with Johnny Neel. In March, Chef Dave slide guitarist Seth Davis will clock in time with another Allman Brothers Band family member. Davis will appear with Devon Allman and Honeytribe on March 17 at Decatur, GAs Jake's Roadhouse. It looks to be a busy weekend for the slide guitarist: On March 16, The Chef Dave Band will appear at Chattanooga, TNs Midtown Music Hall and on March 18 the group will perform at Auburn, Als Bodega.
Categories: Music News
- Relix news

Seth Davis Slides Into A Great Southern “Southbound”



Dickey Betts & Great Southern is in the midst of a tour that routes it up and down the eastern half of the U.S. The current incarnation of Great Southern also features Andy Aledort (guitar), Mike Kach (keys), Pedro Arevalo (bass), Frankie Lombardi (drums) and Twinkle (vocals). In addition, Dickey’s son Duane will join in for a few shows as well. On Friday night the band welcomed an additional guest at its Knoxville gig as Seth Davis from Chef Dave stepped in to add a bit of slide guitar on “Southbound.” Tomorrow, Great Southern is at the Avalon Theatre in Easton, MD
- Jambands.com

Seth Davis was the normal rebellious teen. But instead or sneaking out of his parents house or defying their other wishes, he slipped into his bedroom, locked his door and played guitar.
"My father's a guitar player and a music major," said Davis. "I think they got me a guitar when I was ten or eleven and a little amp, and I would say 'Don't you guys understand, I don't want to do music like you guys,' just being a rebellious kid. But I would go in my room and plug my headphones into my amp so they couldn't hear me practice."

Davis eventually played for his parents, to their surprise, and began a musical path that has taken him to various cities, "trying to find a place that would be good to me." Nashville, Tennessee was that place, and while living there, Davis fell in with an esteemed group of friends including engineer Robert Battaglia and The Flecktones, the seminal bluegrass fusion outfit led by banjo player Bela Fleck. He remained in Nashville for three years, taking the stage as often as possible, honing his bourbon-soaked slide playing, and connecting himself in the music industry. Davis formed Chef Dave and went into the studio to record a demo which turned into the band's full length debut, Happy Accident, featuring legendary bassist Victor Wooten of The Flecktones holding down the bottom end. The release also featured Allman Brothers Band alumnus Johnny Neel on keyboards and some vocals.







Seth Davis has built a reputation as a down and dirty slide player, making a name for himself in Nashville, Tennessee and beyond, and earning him an endorsement from Modulus guitars. The name Chef Dave came to the band by accident. Seth wasn't enthused about naming his band after himself, but didn't have an alternative when he booked the first gig. While on the phone with the booking agent for Nashville's Exit/In, he reluctantly said they were called the Seth Davis Band. Instead of Seth Davis, the agent heard "Chef Dave," and the moniker stuck.

Johnny Neel:
Johnny Neel's resume includes some of the bigger names in rock & roll, and his soulful, imaginative organ playing has formed the backdrop for the Allman Brothers Band, Blue Floyd, and X-2 among others. Neel was recommended to Seth Davis and Chef Dave as a keyboardist, and he accepted the offer to play with the burgeoning band, adding organ and vocals to Happy Accident. He also hits the road with the band when his schedule permits.

By Jamie Lee

JamBase | Charleston, SC
Go See Live Music!


[Published on 1/18/2006]
- jambase.com

Gory at the Quarry



ekoostik hookah spent the weekend at its home away from home, Nelson Ledges Quarry Park, celebrating Halloween with a number of its closest friends. Dubbed "Gory at the Quarry," the multi-band event also featured the Overtakers, Snake Oil Medicine Show, and The Chef Dave Band, among others. During its performance Saturday, Chef Dave’s Seth Davis and former Allman Brothers Band keyboardist Johnny Neel both emerged for “Bluebird, Music” and “Cure For The Blues” during the group’s set. ekoostik hookah will perform in Norcross, GA on November 17.

- jambands.com

"a sweet treasure of jamming beauty." B.W. (An Honest Tune) - B.W.

Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin Tribute Acts to Appear at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park this Weekend 2006-09-03 21:37:14
Continuing with the weekend’s Nelson Ledges Quarry Park news, on Saturday and Sunday Dark Star Orchestra will headline a special Labor Day event at the famed Garrettsville, OH venue. In addition, the holiday weekend event will feature appearances by Boombox, Zeppelin tribute Kashmir, The Chef Dave Band featuring Johnny Neel, Mojo Risin, Roots A Risin, and Sanduleak, along others. The Dark Star Orchestra is featured in the September/October issue of Relix, along with a handful of other tribute acts including the Fab Faux, Project/Object and Lez Zeppelin, along others.
Chef Dave’s Nelson Ledges Quarry Park performance will close out a three-night run with Neel, a onetime Allman Brothers Band member. The keyboardist will also appear with Chef Dave September 1 at Louisville, KY’s Hideaway Saloon and September 2 at Maumee, OH’s The Village Idiot.


- Sept 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Hookah on Halloween



ekoostik hookah is the latest act to confirm its Halloween plans. The group’s tenth annual Gory at the Cory will take place at Garrettsville OH’s Nelson Ledges Quarry Park on October 27 and 28 featuring costumes, contests, prizes, foods, soups and a chili cook-off. A number of bands will support ekoostik hookah throughout the weekend including Chef Dave featuring Johnny Neel, who will support on October 28. ekoostik hookah performs next at Lansing MI’s Temple Club on September 15.

- jambands.com

Les Hall Returns with Particle



In 2005 Particle spent some time on the road with Trey Anastasio and his band of the moment, 70 Volt Parade. While on tour the group also got to know Les Hall, who augmented Anastasio on both guitar and keyboards. Though Anastasio seems to have retconned 70 Volt Parade out of existence (and replaced most members of that project) Particle kept in touch with Hall and brought the multi-instrumentalist onstage Monday at Chattanooga, TN’s Rhythm & Brews. Hall played keyboards on “other Desert Cities” and “Key Loop,” as well as other assorted jams, deep into the group’s extended set. On Sunday Particle also invited out guitarist Seth Dave, who opened for the group on a number of occasions this fall, for “Below Radar” at Nashville’s Exit In.

- jambands.com