Long Lost Friend
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Long Lost Friend

Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States | SELF

Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States | SELF
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"Music of the Island: Long Lost Friend in Concert. The pop and jazz sound of Long Lost Friend"

Rafters Sports Bar at The Wharf is probably the last place you'd expect to hear a great pop and jazz band, but that's exactly what people will find tonight, Aug. 13, when Long Lost Friend takes the stage. Combine sports with jazz and pop, and you've got an evening with Long Lost Friend. The band is comprised of singer Kristen Long, drummer and salt shaker Walt Brewer, guitarist and trombonist Timmi Gammon, and trumpet and guitarist Stephen Eshner.




Long and Brewer combined forces more than two years ago to form the core of the band. Brewer's rockabilly background can be found The Dead Valentines, a band that warmed up for The Mighty Mighty Bostones a few years back.
For her part, Long studied music at the distinguished Berklee College of Music. After her stint there, Long gigged all over the country honing her jazz skills. Several years ago, Long released her debut album "Shoebox Memories," which was cut and produced in Nashville. Tenn. Similar to any jazz performer, Long has paid her dues playing countless jazz clubs and piano joints throughout the nation. But few vocalists can say they've stood near home plate and belted out stirring versions of the National Anthem for the Marlins, Mets, Orioles and Twins. Then there's her fame at the legendary punk rock stage at CBGB's in New York City.
Timmi Gammon earned his musical stripes in the summer of 2009 while basking in the streets of the Providence, R.I., a jazz mecca. It was there in Providence and Boston that Gammon played in the streets along the East Side of Providence, near Brown University.
For his part, Eshner, a Massachusetts native, has been a musician since his father started him on guitar at the age of 7. A decade ago, Eshner added the trumpet to his talents.
Hey, Pleasure Island has its share of Southern muscle rock bands, country acts and folk song artists, but we're lacking when it comes to jazz, but thanks to Long Lost Friend, that genre is alive and well in Orange Beach. We just hope they stick around through the Frank Brown Songwriters Festival. Plus, where else can you catch an mixed martial arts fight, baseball and pre-season NFL games on multiple flat screens with cool jazz? You can at Rafters with Long Lost Friend.
- The Pelican


"LLF at Cohiba Dunes"

"Set Me Free" has a passion and has a picture it paints with a hot latin and calypso beat that begs you to stand on your feet..It is a hit that will spread wide and become Long Lost Friend's call sign."
- Meisha, The Bar Blog (Feb 24, 2010) - The Bar Blog


Discography

Shoebox Memories-2002
LLF Live-2011 found on www.reverbnation.com/kristenlong

Photos

Bio

“What's going on” That is the song that resonates most with LLF, as that is the daily question. War, greed, crime, love, compassion, and desire...all things we face in today's world.
What are we gonna do about it??

LLF does what they do best: Write about it, sing about it, and get the word out. It's not all gloom and doom though, the message is HOPE. Hope for the goodness of the human race to shine through, hope for change and most of all hope for love.

Led by Berklee College of Music graduate, Kristen Long, LLF combines folk, southern roots, jazz and pop music to create a unique sound of their own. Kristen's roots are in New England, being a trained opera singer since age 12, then stemming off into blues, rock, folk and jazz, she brings a theatrical yet raw feel to the songs and lyrics she writes, on keys and vocals. "Salty" Walt's ability to play rhythms and feels from around the world create an amazing drum/percussion experience, even breaking out the washboard at times!! James Cook on guitar/vocals brings the flavor of the South to the mix with his driving delta blues rhythms, aching slide guitar, and relevant lyrics.

Kristen Long is a Berklee College of Music graduate who has played all over the country, including NYC, Boston, Miami, Montana, Nashville, etc. Her album "Shoebox Memories" was produced in Nashville, TN and has had great reviews. Kristen has had an extensive music and acting career, thus far. Along with playing countless jazz clubs and piano bars, some of her most notable performances include, singing the National Anthem for several major league baseball games-Marlins, Mets, Orioles and Twins-,she has played and sung the for former President of Israel, Moshe Katsav, twice, she has played at the world famous CBGB's in NYC, and was part of the cast of Laffing Matterz in Fort Lauderdale, FL for 2 years. Her first show with Walt was the Songsters Concert in Miami Beach, FL, where they were joined by some of South Florida's most recognized songwriters

"Salty" Walt has been playing drums for over 20 years.... Most recently he played with The Dead Valentines-a swing/rockabilly band-whose credits include Sunfest '08, where they opened for The Mighty Mighty Bostones. They also enjoyed radio play on 93.1 The Buzz in South Florida. Other past bands include Shakey Deville, with whom he recorded an album in Nashville, TN. With Kristen he has performed all over the United States, including the Songsters Concert in Miami Beach, FL.