GateHouse Music Presents Jazz at Lyric Hall: The Kevin Saint James Band
Friday, Jun 28 | 7:30 PM
The Kevin Saint James Band is an ongoing side project, a well-kept secret, and a continuous science experiment, conducted and perpetuated by the involvement and respective availability of its members. It’s the resulting hybrid stemming from the original pairing of Jazz pianist, Joe McWilliams and Rhythm & Blues singer, Kevin Saint James. Encouraged by then-owner, Mike Reichbart, the two, along with local songbird Kriss Santala, started doing a sort of piano-lounge show from time to time at Cafe Nine in the mid 1990’s. Having reconnected with each other just a few years ago, they resumed working at Cafe Nine, this time with the full band as it is today. Over the past few years, The Kevin Saint James Band, in one form or another, has played numerous shows in downtown New Haven at Cafe Nine, The Owl Shop, Anna Liffey’s, Cave a Vin, Kelly’s, and Olde School Saloon. On many occasions, the band was again joined by Kriss Santala and more recently by Katherine Christopher, the talented chanteuse from The Convertibles. They have also played several private functions most notably among them being at The Aspetuck Valley Country Club in Weston, CT. Longtime friend and original bassist Esdras Lubin, who recently had to take time off was replaced last year by the renowned upright master, Mike Asetta, whose credits are far too long to list here. Veteran Saxophonist Herb Wilson, who had worked countless times with both Joe and Kevin in the past, was more than willing to join in on the project and brings a rare level of expertise and sophistication to the whole experience. Phenomenal drummer JB Sutherland was called on to keep the beat and soundly completes the band.