Chris Chitouras has been playing guitar for 25 years, incorporating rock, funk, blues, folk, reggae, world and West African styles. He played with Babatunde Olatunji & the Drums of Passion for 12 years, performing at the New Orleans Jazz Fest and headlining a benefit concert with Bonnie Raitt & Jackson Brown, Joan Baez and Loggins & Messina. Chris has studied and performed with many world renowned African artists, mostly from Mali and Nigeria - Salif Kieta, Toumani Diabate, Habib Koite, Oumou Sangare, Djelimade Tournkara as well as some of Ali Farke Toure and King Sunny Ade's musicians. He also studied with Zani Diabate, one of Mali's master guitarists, from 1997 until his passing in 2010 and has traveled to Mali on many occasions; often donating musical equipment to musicians he met. Chris has also enjoyed a 20 year musical collaboration with one of Fela Kuti's favorite guitarists.
Keith Kirkpatrick started playing his brother's ukulele when he was five years old. Over the years, he's moved on to guitar, electric bass, and upright bass. The instruments have been getting lower, louder, and much bigger, a trend that really can't continue. Keith has played rock, jazz, pop, folk and world music with Boston area bands since 1984. He has been a bandleader, a vocalist, a composer and arranger. He is also currently a bassist with Bill Champitto and Max Klau. He recently played electric bass with Matimba y Rufemelo, a group of Boston area South Africans.
Conor O’Brien began singing and playing piano at age 5, and performed with choirs for over 16 years. He currently teaches voice and guitar privately in his studio in Somerville MA. He has fronted numerous rock, funk and roots groups and studied music privately with Mark Baxter, Sam Davis, Randy Armstrong and at the University of NH. Conor is a prolific songwriter and has written more than 150 songs and has performed over 1000 live shows including concerts in the US, Canada, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. Conor has logged more than 2500 hours in the recording studio over the past decade. His most recent recording "No Ordinary Day" was released in 2010. He is currently working on a new studio project which includes the members of big blue world and this project is planned for release in 2013. For more information on Conor go to www.conormusic.com
Frank Laurino is simply a drummer beyond explanation!
