A walk with the Walkin' Blues Band
Jason and Mark have been playing together since 2001, first in a classic rock band, The Thin Disguise, and then as an acoustic duo. In 2006 Ramsey joined as lead vocalist and The Walkin' Blues Band was born. The band plays a mix of true Chicago blues with some more recent rock, as well as revived blues/rock tunes. To round things out, Stefan and Jay joined on guitar and drums in 2008. The band continues to play to entertain crowds with their high-energy performances of the blues. Check out the band members:
Mark Todd - Harmonica, Vocals
Mark began playing music at the age of 13 as a classic rock drummer. There was always that $5 Hohner Pocket Pal harmonica lying around somewhere that occasionally saw daylight. It wasn't until 2001 when he joined The Thin Disguise that the harmonica began to take more of an important role. After the band broke up in 2004, Mark began to study the harp and old time Chicago blues in earnest. For Mark, the blues overtook what the meaning of music was truly about. Heavily influenced by the music and styles of Paul Butterfield, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Little Walter and others, Mark puts his own style and emotion into his playing.
Mark's myspace page
Jason Nelson - Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Jason is an established musician and songwriter with diverse roots in Rock, Jazz and Blues. His musical passion stems from his early high school days playing in rock and high school jazz bands. He played in the alternative rock band, Sonic Graffiti in the 90s then started his own band Vision both in Monterey California where he grew up. He took a break from music to finish college, work and then when his wife got pregnant with his first of two sons joined the HoneyMac Jazz Ensemble and has been in the doghouse ever since. His continuing desire to diversify, along with prompting from his friend Mark was the genesis of The Walkin' Blues Band. Jason brings his own unique style and rhythm insights into each Walkin' Blues show. More at Jason's myspace page.
Ramsey Kurdi - Vocals, Bass
Ramsey has been an active vocalist since 1983. From his first introduction to art song and folk music, he has been hooked. In high school, he was a 3 time member of the Mass. Music Educators' Association All-State Chorus. Through his undergraduate career, Ramsey did the usual "art song" thing, and took every opportunity to sing things that would not have met with his voice teacher's approval - from jazz to free improvisation to heavy metal.
At some point before he walked out of a 'Calculus 131' lecture in his Freshman year, Ramsey realized that he wanted to be a professional Music Educator. However, the performing bug never left. Since his time at UMass Amherst, Ramsey has performed professionally in many genres from Opera to the Blues. Ramsey received his Masters Degree in Music Education From the New England Conservatory of Music in 1997.
Stefan Iris - Lead Guitar
Stefan began playing guitar at the age of 9 after years of playing air guitar along with his father’s Rolling Stones records. While his love for playing classic rock never subsided, he focused his musical efforts on playing blues when he arrived in Boston in the late ‘80s. Throughout the ‘90s, he honed his blues chops playing with the Mean Red Spiders and others in the Boston area. Stefan’s influences include Jimmie Vaughan, Junior Watson, Rick Holmstrom, Kid Ramos, Hollywood Fats, and Freddie King among many, many others.
Jay Gillies - Drums
Jay’s music career began at Clark University in 1986. He joined psychedelic rockers Jiggle the Handle in 1989. JTH toured the East Coast club/college circuit, billed as a headlining act and as a supporting role to such performers as Little Feat, Spindoctors, Widespread Panic, Merle Saunders, and Rick Danko. He left JTH in 1993 to join Sony Records artist Betty Roll, an original blues/rock recording and touring project. He left Betty Roll in 1997 to pursue his own ideas.