Jeff Babko-Broject (featuring Toss Panos)
i n f o
label........: Let's Music! Recordings
date ripped..: 12.04.2007
date released: 00.00.2004
url..........: n/a
release size.: 93,8 MB
encoder......: Lame 3.97 V2
bitrate......: avg. 188kbps
mode.........: Joint-Stereo
tracks.......: 10
source.......: CDDA
ripper.......: Associate
n o t e s
You may not even KNOW you're familiar with Jeff
Babko's playing-- but it's very likely you've heard
it. Last summer's 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN featured his
piano/keyboard work. He's also the blond guy in the
band on JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE, every weeknight on ABC TV
(with Cleto & the Cletones). Keyboard hero George Duke
personally tapped Jeff to be his 2nd keyboardist, as
well as 80's legends Toto having Jeff replace founding
member David Paich on their 2000 European tour.
He's also toured with James Taylor and Shelby Lynne,
and is just about to cut a live record with guitar
legends Larry Carlton and Robben Ford-- together for
the first time. And his cooperative band Shogun
Warrior has been captivating local listeners for 4
years now.
Babko's also responsible for the quirky, edgy keyboard
work on Larry Carlton's latest genre-bending CD, FIRE
WIRE.
BROJECT is Babko's OWN CD-- where he lets loose and
cranks it up with his friends.
These associates include David Fiuczynski, Mike
Landau, Simon Phillips, Toss Panos, Mike Elizondo (Dr.
Dre, Fiona Apple), and Albert Wing (Frank Zappa).
Some call it "fusion"-- some call it "electric jazz."
If you dig Miles "On The Corner" and "Live/Evil," or
Herbie Hancock, Jeff Beck-- or any other high energy
instrumental music, YOU'LL DIG "BROJECT!"
Here's Jeff's story:
He grew up in Southern California, about 30 minutes
away from the sprawling music scene of L.A. While
attending grade school, and until he graduated high
school, Jeff studied at Cal Arts (in his hometown of
Valencia, CA), and then at 18, he left for the
prestigious University of Miami School of Music in
Florida. There he also became an "in-demand" sideman
with visiting and local artists.
Upon his return to L.A., Babko formed the "Jeff Babko
Group," a jazz quartet that would record one album,
Misfits of Silence. This album featured his high
school pal Mike Elizondo on bass, who introduced Jeff
to hip hop producer Dr. Dre, with whom Babko played
piano (and trombone) throughout the following year.
Simultaneously, Babko began a touring relationship
with Latin crooner Julio Iglesias, which lasted
intermittently for three years, and took him around
the world.
Toward the end of his tenure with Iglesias, Jeff was
asked to tour Europe with super-drummer Simon Phillips
(the Who, Jeff Beck). This connection turned into a
full recording and touring career that continues to
this day, including Phillips' first two solo European
and Japanese tours, two of Phillips' solo albums
(Another Lifetime and the live recording Out of the
Blue), and one co-led collaborative "straight ahead"
jazz album (Simon Phillips/Jeff Babko, Vantage Point).
Phillips, a member of the legendary rock group Toto,
introduced Jeff to the members of the band. When
keyboardist David Paich was unavailable to tour in
2000 for the first time in the band's history, he
personally called Babko to replace him on that tour.
"I had been listening to Toto since I was a kid,"
Babko says. "They were the L.A. musicians that
everyone strived to be or be like. Touring with them,
and sitting in Dave's chair, was a huge honor!"
At the same time, Babko was more involved with the
world of television, appearing on episodes of "Beverly
Hills, 90210," "The Drew Carey Show," and most
notably, as a member of the house band of the "Martin
Short Show" (with Peter Michael Escovedo). That
program led to yet another connection, and Babko
became Martin Short's musical director, which
continues to this day. Babko would continue in the
world of television in the house bands of Wayne
Brady's network variety show and subsequent daily
syndicated talk show.
Bassist Jimmy Earl introduced Jeff to blues/jazz
guitar legend Robben Ford in 1999, and Jeff would tour
and record with Robben through the years. "Robben's
been a hero of mine since the days of the L.A.
Express, Miles Davis and the Yellowjackets," Jeff
explained. "Every night with him goes someplace
special." Babko can be heard on Robben's Concord
recording, "Keep On Runnin'."
In addition, Babko has toured and/or recorded with
everyone from country star Tim McGraw (Set This Circus
Down), Grammy award winning singer Shelby Lynne, top
selling smooth jazz artist Rick Braun, percussion
stars Sheila E. and Pete Escovedo, folk troubadour
Peter Himmelman, composer/trumpeter Mark Isham, Men at
Work's Colin Hay, and rocker John Waite, among others.
He keeps busy while in L.A., playing often at the
Baked Potato and other clubs with various L.A. jazz
artists. His co-operative band Shogun Warrior plays at
the Potato monthly and receives raves from local
audiences, performing songs from Radiohead to Isaac
Hayes and the Meters. He also has gon out playing 2nd
keyboards with one of his heroes: the great George
Duke.
Early in 2002, Toto's guitarist Steve Lukather
enlisted Babko to arrange and co-conceive his first
Christmas album. Santamental, which features Edgar
Winter, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, and Slash, (among
others), was released to critical and fan acclaim in
2003. In addition, a collaborative "supergroup" (with
Phillips, bassist Melvin Davis, and Lukather), The
Doves of Fire, toured and gigged sporadically.
(taken from http://cdbaby.com/cd/jeffbabko)
An important milestone in Jeff's life was having the
honor of touring with the legendary James Taylor on
his "October Road" tour, taking over for piano/B3
master Larry Goldings during their 2003 summer run.
Also, Babko is always very involved in arranging and
playing on many movie and television scores.
Presently, Jeff is very visible nightly on ABC's
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" show. The late night show with an
edge is a favorite of young viewers. Now in its third
season, the band has backed up artists like George
Benson, Joe Walsh, Maceo Parker, Leann Rimes, the
late, great Lou Rawls, Michael McDonald, Glenn
Tilbrook from Squeeze, George Thorogood, Hank
Williams, Jr., Charlie Musselwhite, Edgar Winter,
Chaka Khan, Hall & Oates, Isaac Hayes, Jeffrey
Osborne, Al Jarreau, the Tower of Power horns, The
O'Jays, The Fixx, Jim Belushi and others
d a t a
# t r a c k n a m e t i m e
01- Yeah, Randy! [10:06]
02- Frash Right [05:23]
03- 9-1-1 [06:26]
04- Yours [07:53]
05- Las Vegas [10:31]
06- Busted Video Game [02:42]
07- Kabuki Oogie Oogie [06:38]
08- Moopshack [08:03]
09- United Nations [07:43]
10- Jojo's Lullaby [01:29]
93,8 m e g s t o t a l [66:54]