Odessah

Odessah was founded in 2008 by Ricco Adame and Craig Katzakian, and later joined by Andrew McKenzie. After many name considerations, the band finally settled on “Odessah” – a family name of singer/guitarist Adame. The irish name has a slight spelling variation and means “wrathful, long voyage”.

Although the band is newly operating under this name, some of its music is recognized from Adame and Katzakian's former group, Fuze. The group has written new material for its set list of seven songs. Some of the songs available on audio play are:

CHANGE THE TIDE
The world as a multiverse; how to fix mother Earth.

CHEATING DEATH
The thrill of cheating death in such extreme sports as skydiving, drag racing, and snowboarding.

VAGABOND
What it takes to pin a man’s free spirit down.

Odessah is made up of three musicians. They are:

RICCO ADAME
Lead Vocals, Lead and Rhythm Guitar

A native of Clovis, California, Ricco Adame has been playing music for over 27 years. His first amp was the Gorilla, giving him just enough power to do early shreds on electric guitar. His older brother, Johnny Navarro, provided an early musical inspiration, as well as his first college major in music composition. His influences run the gamut of traditional rock legends, but jokes they are Lawrence Welk, Tiny Tim, and anyone who played their music loud enough to piss off their parents.

Adame played lead guitar in Fuze for two years, prior to joining Moore’s Dark Halo in the same role. The band Moore was nominated for the Sacramento News & Review “Sammies” award in 2000, after an overwhelming fan write-in vote. He re-joined drummer Craig Katzakian in Faith of the Fallen for two years, before starting Odessah with him in 2008. Adame plays several instruments, including piano, keyboard, acoustic guitar, and bass guitar. He was selected to perform Collective Soul's “Shine” in a solo performance for a local talent show in 2006.

CRAIG KATZAKIAN
Drums

A native of Elk Grove, California, Craig Katzakian has been playing music for over 24 years. A family of musicians helped to inspire him from an early age and exposed him to various forms of music. His major influences include Keith Moon, Mitch Mitchell, and Neil Pert.

Katzakian learned the art of percussion in school, and has been perfecting his talent through active work with musicians such as Mike Johnson of Simon Says and in rock bands for over 15 years. He was a member of Fuze for two years, followed by Faith of the Fallen, prior to starting Odessah with Adame in 2008. He has played everything from classic rock, heavy metal, to hard rock.

ANDREW MCKENZIE
Bass Guitar, Vocals

A native of Phoenix, Arizona, and Cameron Park, California, Andrew McKenzie has been playing bass guitar actively in bands for over 15 years. McKenzie’s influences include Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins/Genesis, RUSH, and Shotgun Messiah.

Drone was the first group to enjoy his musical talents. He played in Drone for three years, followed by two year terms in Pawn, Greed, STC Trio, and Powerlounge. He played four years in the band Plex before joining Odessah as its first bass player in 2008. When he’s not singing, acting or jousting, he’s playing any of more than 30 instruments - including guitar, mandolin bazooka, and the douduk - a Turkish flute.