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| We're thrilled to welcome Oteil Burbridge to the Fodera family. Oteil has been creating unbelievable bass performance for many years and is a longtime friend.
According to Oteil, his parents hoped playing instruments and listening to music would keep them him off the streets. After receiving a '79 Jazz Bass for his 17th birthday, Oteil found himself playing everywhere from jazz clubs with much older musicians to heavy metal halls with schoolmates. "I had pretty much decided to become a musician," he notes, "but I was too afraid to tell my folks, because they had already been through that with (my brother, flutist) Kofi at an early age. At 18 Oteil joined a Virginia Beach Top-40 cover band and moved away from home. Although the band's music was typically '80s, Oteil used the experince wisely, honing his style, experimenting with different styles of basses, and playing with other local musicians, including Victor Wooten, Keith Horne, and James Genus of the Virginia Bass Pack. Three years later Oteil moved on to Atlanta, with both his spirit and funds about to run out. It was then Colonel Bruce Hampton "rescued" him and the foundation of the jazzy, jammin', zambi Aquarium Rescue Unit was formed. With ARU Oteil found his groove and soon toured and played relentlessly with the band and deeply immersed himself in many side projects, guest appearances and session work as well. One of those side projects was Frogwings with Allman Brothers Band founder and drummer, Butch Trucks. When the ABB needed a bassist in 1997 Butch recommended Oteil for the slot. Oteil debuted with them at Great Woods Amphitheater in Boston, MA on June 20, 1997, immediately earning the love of fans with his heart thumping, barefooted, scatting style -- and 6-string bass version of "Little Martha". Oteil continues to tour with the Allman Brothers Band, play whenever possible with the ever-evolving Oteil and the Peacemakers and has recently hopped on board Gov't Mule. While that schedule might leave anyone else breathless, it leaves Oteil energized for spontaneous sittings-in with other assorted funk and jambands and participating in a brand-new project with Paige McConnell and Russell Batiste. |
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