ANDY IRVINE BASS GUITAR/BAND LEADER

In the tradition of early traveling blues revues that feature several “stars” in one show, Andy formed the Andy Irvine Blues Collective in 2006, an indication not only of his love and understanding for the music, but also his commitment to bring it to the people. Born in upstate New York, he began attending blues jams and at a young age became a regular in the Rochester club scene, and at nineteen landed a gig with James Brown’s tenor sax man, Alfred (Pee Wee) Ellis. 1990 found Andy performing throughout the south with James Peterson, father of international blues star Lucky Peterson. Other notable Florida groups with whom he performed and recorded in the early ’90’s are Sarasota Slim, Blind Willy James, Diamond Teeth Mary, Lucky Peterson, and P.W. Fenton. In 1995 Andy formed the funk/fusion band Beanstalk and in the next four years recorded four independent full-length albums and did several national club and theatre tours. Since 2000 and a move to Colorado he has been active locally, statewide and nationally with the likes of Giant People, The Johhny O Band, was called in to play bass with blues sensation, Slick Ballenger, and most recently Diunna Greenleaf and Blue Mercy. In the last year Andy and Diunna have joined forces at the Telluride Blues And Brews Festival, The Greeley Blues Festival, and the Blues From The Top Festival in Granby, Colorado. Andy assembled the musicians to back Diunna and acted as band leader for the latter.

Said Diunna Greenleaf, “I have had the opportunity to work with Andy Irvine on at least three occasions when my regular bass player was unable to attend events. He rehearsed, came in and was very professional. Did an excellent job. If he hadn’t, I wouldn’t have called on him again. The fit was like a glove. I would not hesitate to call on him again!”

Andy is increasingly involved in his community in music education, recently raising and donating over six hundred dollars to begin an ensemble-coaching program with the Grand County Blues Society; and has brought his Wapiti Jazz Project to perform in Grand Lake, Colorado. “I’m always seeking opportunities to bring my music to more and more people. Music changes lives for the better,” said Andy.

BOBBY WALKER GUITAR/VOCALS

Bobby Walker’s manner with guitar and his trademark gravelly voice so effectively conveying his thoughts, sense and realness of the music he feels and lives was first recorded in 1982 - - a 45 single, Rocket in my Pocket and seven more releases to present including Mess O’Blues. Raised in Detroit in the ‘60’s, then high school and a B.A. in music performance in Colorado, Bobby began his career as a percussionist then took up guitar and created Bobby Walker and the Roadsters. Also plays some keyboard and harmonica. Bobby spent thirteen years in the Bay Area beginning in the ‘80’s playing Rhythm and Blues and has toured much of the Midwest - - casinos, Aspen, Grand Lake and has appeared in Europe and Japan. He has opened for Elvin Bishop and Merle Haggard, among others, and did a brief stint with the legendary Roy Buchanan. He continues to tour the Southwest and raise his sons, well on their way to being great musicians, too.

PAUL SCHNEIDER SAX/PERCUSSION

Make that Professor Emeritus of Music, Mesa State College, where he has been on staff since 1969. He has taught nearly every course in the curriculum, conducted the bands (marching AND jazz), modern choir and theatre productions, in addition to being the precursor of the Centennial Concert Band, the Junction Jazz Big Band, the Consortium Intercollegiate Concert Band, the Ars Nova Woodwind Trio and the Saxatax Sax Quartet. He adjudicates large group state music festivals, performs in a myriad of blues and jazz groups and performs with the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra and in his spare time has appeared with BOBBY WALKER AND THE ROADSTERS, RALPH DINOSAUR AND THE FABULOUS VOLCANOES, THE TELRAYS WITH JINX JONES and the JUNCTION ALL STARS. In the jazz and big band realm, credits include the Western Colorado Jazz Orchestra, Jazz City Combo, Bill Paris Productions, Gary Smith Quartet, Men of Music, Hot Tub Jazz and Quemando Salso Band. Paul’s soulful approach to the saxophone is legendary as are his vocal background fills.

JON PLEASANT ORGAN/VOCALS

Hailing from Nashville, his “musically impressionable” years spent as a Memphis pastor’s son, Jon’s style of organ playing is deeply brewed in the roots of Southern Gospel. He has toured with James Peterson (father and teacher of Lucky Peterson) on the Malaco Label, and has toured extensively with Jim Diamond and the Groove Syndicate, recording three albums with that group and sharing organ time on one album with Reese Wynans, the late Stevie Ray Vaughn’s organist. Some of his fondest memories are of his parents’ gospel group at his grandfather’s church. “I remember every funky lick my dad played on the guitar - - it stuck on me for sure!”

JIMMY YOZEL DRUMS

Jimmy grew up in Boston playing soul and rhythm and blues in clubs and schools, his early influences being Staks Rhythm Section, Al Jackson & Duck Dunn, Bill Cobham and Art Blakey. He got into fusion with Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Weather Report, among others and played with local Boston blues harp legend James Montgomery. He played for eight years in NYC with fusion band Changes. In Colorado, he has played the blues with local band Sundance, Sugarbear, The Homewreckers and Lionel Young. He then began the Johnny O Band with Johnny O, touring Colorado and Europe, and had a Brazilian/Latin fusion group called Banda Felicidade, and has done a few gigs with the Andy Irvine Blues Collective which he describes as “a band that grabs you in the heart and makes ya wanna move yo feets….”

KAY IRVINE VOCALS

An accomplished pianist who has also studied flute and bass guitar, Kay’s truest passion is singing, offering vocals that are powerful, warm and versatile. She has sung professionally for seven years, six of them as part of a duo before branching out to start her own band, Juicebox. Kay’s musical tastes are very diverse, but it has been influences such as Koko Taylor, Delbert McClinton and the music of Motown that were the inspirations for her current band. “I’m thrilled to be on board with the Andy Irvine Blues Collective,” said Kay, “and I’m excited to be singing with the ensemble and relish the chance to play with musicians who not only are extremely talented but who also are genuinely good people.”