Another Day by Chris Bergson Band

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- Mick Rainsford, Blues in Britain

"Versatile, inspired playing, with vocals to match."

- Sean McDevitt, Guitar One

Drawing on the rich legacy of American Roots music, the Chris Bergson Band's new CD Another Day (2 Shirts Records) stretches Delta blues and Memphis soul and into new forms. The Chris Bergson Band keeps the space and big beat of the Delta blues at its core while encompassing a variety of musical styles.

The Chris Bergson Band features Jay Collins on tenor sax and backing vocals, Matt Wilson on drums, Chris Berger on acoustic bass, and Chris Bergson on guitar and lead vocals; it is their "highly personalized blend of blues, jazz and soul that makes Another Day such an outstanding set," (Blues in Britain). The band was able to shape and develop the music on Another Day over the course of their longstanding residency at New York City's Jazz Standard in 2004. In October, 2005 the Chris Bergson Band returned to Jazz Standard to celebrate the release of Another Day.

This recording has all the soulful exuberance of the Chris Bergson Band's live shows - the heartbreakingly soulful and harmonically masterful tenor sax of Jay Collins, the dynamic and powerful drumming of Matt Wilson, and the warmth and big beat of Chris Berger's bass. In the center of the bandstand stands Chris Bergson, soaked in sweat, eyes closed, singing for all it's worth, his vocals punctuated by his wailing guitar. The immediacy and emotional power that the Chris Bergson Band brings to every live show is captured on Another Day, which was recorded entirely live, with no overdubs, at a home studio in Brooklyn.

CHRIS BERGSON BAND BIOS AND CREDITS

Chris Bergson was born in New York City in 1976 and grew up in Somerville, MA. In 1995, at the age of 18, Chris moved back to New York City, frequenting late night jam sessions at Augies' Jazz Bar and the recently opened Small's Jazz Club. By May 1999, Chris had recorded with jazz vocal legend Annie Ross, recorded his first CD as a leader - Blues For Some Friends of Mine featuring the top rhythm section of Dwayne Burno and Greg Bandy - and earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Guitar Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. In 2002, Chris was appointed a Jazz Ambassador of the United States of America by the Kennedy Center and the U.S. State Department. In October 2002, Chris and his trio toured eight countries in West Africa, giving concerts and clinics about the Blues. Chris Bergson has accompanied top vocalists Annie Ross, Norah Jones, Dena DeRose, and Sasha Dobson. Bergson has performed and/or recorded with jazz greats Al Foster, Larry Grenadier, Jeff Ballard, Peter Bernstein, Dennis Irwin, Larry Goldings, Terell Stafford, Donny McCaslin, Sheryl Bailey, and Joel Frahm. Bergson has headlined at such top New York City venues as Joe's Pub, Jazz Standard, The Blue Note, Smoke, and the Fat Cat Jazz Club. He has performed at the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. From August through December 2004, Bergson was featured as an Artist In Residence at NYC's Jazz Standard. The Chris Bergson Band recently performed at the 2005 Cape May Jazz Festival in a tribute to Ray Charles.

Tenor saxophonist and vocalist Jay Collins tours regularly with Gregg Allman and was featured in the Allman Brothers' recent DVD Live at the Beacon Theatre. Collins has performed and/or recorded with Willie Nelson, Jacky Terrason, Andrew Hill, and Afro Cuban drumming master Bobby Sanabria. He also leads the very funky Jay Collins Band, who recently appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Drummer Matt Wilson was recently voted #1 rising star drummer for the second year in a row in Downbeat's critic's poll. Wilson has performed and/or recorded with many jazz legends including Charlie Haden, Dewey Redman, Bill Frisell, Buster Williams, and Lee Konitz. The most recent Palmetto CD from Matt Wilson's Arts and Crafts Band, WAKE UP! (to what's happening), was named as one of the top jazz records of 2004 by the Village Voice, iTunes, Jazziz, ejazznews, Slate, and All About Jazz.

With his warm sound and big beat, Chris Berger has long been one of NYC's most in demand bassists. His sideman credits include performances and/or recordings with such jazz masters as James Williams, Jimmy Cobb, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Junior Mance, Russell Malone, and Herb Ellis. Berger is a regular member of pianist Loston Harris' Trio. Berger is featured on Chris Bergson's critically acclaimed 2000 Jazz CD, Wait For Spring (Juniper Records).

Selected Praise for Chris Bergson Band and Another Day

"Five Stars!" - Roots Music Report review of Another Day

"Guitarists from Billy Butler to Kenny Burrell and George Benson have mixed healthy doses of the blues with their jazz, but Bergson has a deeper understanding of country blues than his predecessors ever indicated... he phrases like a horn player with strong rhythmic accents and wide interval leaps... a six-string wizard." - Dave Rubin, review of live show at Jazz Standard

"If you like the music of Coltrane, Muddy Waters and The Band, you will definitely like the Chris Bergson Band...Bergson's guitar work is magnificent and his voice is aged and full of soul." -Rootstime

Jazz Times enjoys Chris' "hip, well placed phrases" and "gorgeous, spacious playing."

"Chris Bergson is among the best of the young jazz guitarists... his skills are already amazing!" - Jim Hall

2 Shirts Records is an artist-run, independent record label based in Brooklyn. 2 Shirts is devoted to the best in original Jazz, Blues, and Roots music.

For more info, please visit: www.chrisbergson.com

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