The Vamps

Imagine if Cannonball Adderley set out from his home in Florida on a cross-country trip and swung through Mississippi and Memphis on his way up to New York City where he encountered John Scofield at a Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting. The result would yield something resembling The Vamps. Earthy, yet sophisticated, The Vamps offer something simultaneously for both your brain and your rump. With instrumentation that can scale fluidly from a trio to an octet, and a lineup that consists of B.B. King and Stax alumni among others, the group are stalwarts of the Jackson, Mississippi club scene. They are purveyors of an encyclopedia of styles ranging from Latin, Deep Funk, New Orleans, Be-Bop, Reggae, Memphis Soul, Jazz Standards, and Blues. Core personnel includes Barry Leach Guitar and Vocals; Denny Burkes Drums; Kevin Lewis-Alto Saxophone and Vocals; Terry Miller Trumpet, Fluglehorn and Vocals; Todd Bobo-Tenor Saxophone; Adib Sabir-Percussion and Vocals; Bob Pieczyk-Bass and Vocals.