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Roomful of Blues

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Roomful of Blues

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Artist Bio

“Brawny shuffles, swinging horns, searing guitar, passionate vocals and balls-to-the-wall enthusiasm” –Living Blues

“High-voltage swingin’ jump blues and R&B” –USA Today

“Jubilant, jazzy R&B...boisterous, horn-propelled magnificence...infectiously joyous spirit” –Blues Music Magazine

Roomful of Blues, the world-renowned, horn-powered, houserocking blues band, has been delighting audiences for over 55 years. Blues Music Magazine calls them “the best little big band in the blues.” On record and on stage, Roomful of Blues—led by master guitarist Chris Vachon for the past 25 years—continues to deliver its bone-shaking mix of original songs and carefully chosen covers ranging from jump, swing and proto rock ‘n’ roll to funky, contemporary blues. Their impeccable musicianship and larger-than-life vocals have earned Roomful of Blues five GRAMMY Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including seven Blues Music Awards. Twice, the prestigious DownBeat International Critics’ Poll has selected them as Best Blues Band. And now, even after 18 previous releases and thousands of live shows, Roomful of Blues continues to evolve.

Roomful of Blues, according to DownBeat magazine, “are in a class by themselves.” With their masterful combination of jumping, horn-heavy, hard-edged blues and R&B, it’s no wonder why the great Count Basie called them “the hottest blues band I’ve ever heard.” With a non-stop performance schedule for over 55 years, Roomful of Blues has earned critical, popular and radio success and a legion of fans around the globe. 

Roomful of Blues guitarist and bandleader Chris Vachon first joined in 1990 and has been leading the band since 1998. Guitar Player says Vachon’s guitar playing “burns with explosive solos and a delightfully greasy sense of rhythm.” The band has maintained its signature sound through great musicianship and a stellar horn section—featuring tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille, who first joined the band in 1970. Lataille’s masterful playing can evoke either the fat-toned, honking sax of the glory days of early rock or the cool elegance of big band swing jazz.

Along with Vachon and Lataille, Roomful of Blues now includes new lead vocalist D.D. Bastos, new keyboardist Jeff Ceasrine, baritone and tenor saxophonist Craig Thomas, trumpeter Christopher Pratt, bassist John Turner and drummer Mike Coffey. The band has never sounded fresher or stronger, with Bastos bringing her sweet and soulful vocals and adding another bright new dimension to Roomful of Blues’ jazzy, jump-blues musical roots. Their winning combination of jump, swing, blues, R&B and soul remains their calling card, as does their ability to fill the dance floor.

The long and winding road which leads to the Roomful of Blues of today can be followed all the way back to 1967 when a group of southern Rhode Island teenagers with a shared passion for the blues formed a straight-ahead Chicago-style electric blues band to explore the music of their heroes. They added a horn section (including Rich Lataille) in 1970 and released their self-titled debut album in 1977 on Island Records (reissued on Hyena Records), which brought them to the attention of fans and critics from coast to coast.

Recording for Rounder Records’ Bullseye Blues and Varrick labels between 1980 and 2001, the band cut nine albums that won them international fame and major rock radio airplay. They’ve gigged with stars ranging from bluesmen B.B. King, Otis Rush and Stevie Ray Vaughan to rockers Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana. The band has performed in cities from coast to coast, and traveled abroad to 22 countries including Lebanon, Poland, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and Russia.

Since Roomful joined the Alligator Records family in 2003, their popularity has continued to increase. Their first Alligator CD was the Grammy-nominated That’s Right! in 2003, followed by Standing Room Only in 2005, Raisin’ A Ruckus in 2008, Hook, Line & Sinker in 2010, 45 Live in 2013 and In A Roomful Of Bluesin 2020. All five albums received massive amounts of critical and popular praise and kept old and new fans lining up to see them perform. The New Yorker says the band brings “thunderous performances that get feet stomping and hands clapping.”

“We always keep things fresh and we keep the excitement level high,” says Vachon. “Playing this music is an immense amount of fun for us. And it’s just as much fun for our audience.”

 

BAND BIOGRAPHIES

D.D. Bastos – Vocals:

D.D. is no stranger to the stage, and music has always been her passion. She began singing in church at the age of 5. She earned second chair in the All-Eastern Honors Ensemble representing Massachusetts which garnered her a college scholarship. After college, D.D. began performing with local groups throughout New England, which led to the inception of her band, D.D. & The Road Kings. Her work brought her into the fraternity that included Roomful of Blues, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, The Broadcasters and the dozens of splinter groups who have branched off -- shaping many other New England blues bands. D.D. is also a Choral Director in the New Bedford, MA public school system, with over 20 years as a private music teacher. Her love of singing is what fuels her soulful and powerful performances.

Chris Vachon – Guitar:

Chris is a true multi-talent. His prowess as a guitar slinger is well documented, and his strengths as a producer and songwriter grow from album to album. He produced Roomful Of Blues’ nine most recent albums, after co-producing all of Roomful’s other releases recorded in the 1990s. Chris’s songs— such as Turn It On! Turn It Up!, Running Out of Time She’ll Be So Fine, Blue, Blue World, Dynamite and Keep on Rockin’ have become firm favorites in AAA and blues radio formats, bringing many new fans into the Roomful fold.

John Turner - Upright and Electric Bass:

A veteran of the New England jazz scene, bassist John Turner has performed and recorded with artists including the Either/Orchestra, Charlie Kohlhase, Scott Hamilton, Roswell Rudd, Lee Konitz, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, members of Ornette Coleman’s band, and Magic Dick-Jay Geils and Blues Time, among others. John’s rock-solid bottom is the essential element of the swing groove for which Roomful is beloved worldwide.

Jeff Ceasrine – Piano/Organ:

Originally from New York, Jeff is a multi-instrumentalist who has performed throughout the New England area on keyboards, rhythm guitar, percussion, and background vocals for over 25 years. He has worked with several long-standing blues, jazz and swing acts in Rhode Island and has played many gigs with various bands throughout the region. A frequent guest and on-call keyboard player with Roomful of Blues since 2008 (appearing on their recent In a Roomful of Blues album), Jeff is a master of many different blues stylings. His influences include Pinetop Perkins, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Lonnie Smith, Otis Spann and Jimmy Smith.

 

Mike Coffey – Drums:

From Newport, Rhode Island, Mike Coffey has spent 20 years performing with the US Navy band. Upon retirement, he played with local blues artist Chris Stoval Brown and other well-known musicians in the Boston area. As part of a weekly jazz series, he has performed with Mike Renzi and Grey Sargent -- both members of Tony Bennett’s band 

-- as well as other renowned jazz artists, and has studied with famed drum instructors Alan Dawson and Gary Chaffee. He also performs with the 1950s doo-wop group, The Diamonds, when they play in New England. Known for his versatility and ability to enhance any group he performs with, Coffey has become a welcome new member of Roomful of Blues.

Rich Lataille - Tenor and Alto Sax:

Rich joined Roomful in 1970 and was there at the beginning of what has become the most legendary horn section in contemporary blues. It was Rich’s interest in the swinging bands of the ’30s and ’40s that led Roomful to forge the distinctive sound that has become the band’s trademark. A man who can play both sides of the fence -- lyrically tender or blisteringly hot - Rich has a big, warm tone that is always jam-packed with feeling. His melodic inventiveness reflects the depth and breadth of his wide-ranging influences. Rich worked with various local and high-school bands before beginning his long-term relationship with Roomful.

 Craig Thomas – Baritone and Tenor Sax:

Craig was born in Washington, DC and grew up in Maryland. At a young age Craig heard an early rock ‘n’ roll instrumental, Wild Weekend, by the Rockin’ Rebels. This inspired him to take up the saxophone. He moved to LA in his early 20s and played with the likes of Jim Messina of Loggins & Messina, Les McCann, Aretha Franklin, the Stylistics, Freda Payne, Jermaine Jackson, and the R&B Bombers, among many others. “Craig’s rich musical background is a welcome asset to the Roomful of Blues horn section,” notes Vachon.

Christopher Pratt – Trumpet:

Chris is a native of Rhode Island and has performed throughout the New England area with various local and national acts for over forty years. Chris recently retired as a music teacher of 37 years from Warwick, Rhode Island and continues to actively teach music at Roger Williams University. Chris's pure melodic style, infectious energy, and love of the blues can be heard every time Roomful of Blues takes the stage.

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