The Push is a five piece funk machine -- SF residents who care about nothing more than playing in the pocket jazz. Featuring a slamming rhythm section which never fails to get the crowd moving, coupled with solid musicianship, well steeped in the traditions of funky soul and jazz fusion, relentlessly turning the most jaded audiences into hardcore groupies... this is a group with talent, musical diversity, and ass-shaking grooves -- the perfect blend for a night of incredible music. Following underground success with funk/soul group Funklogic, guitarist Derek Brooker and drummer Negmeddin Shaheen decided it was time to raise the stakes, showcasing their command of styles from hard rock to roots reggae, from fusion to bebop, from New Orleans roots music to live drum & bass. Veteran bay area keyboardist Ben "Jacobs" and bassist Russell "Rusty" Simon were ready to sign on, continuing a musical connection they had forged on the road in world groove act Wig Salad. Completing the picture is harmonica sensation Joe Conte, formerly of the band THIC. Joe Conte is a Bay Area resident for the past ten years and has established himself as a solid player constantly sitting in with many bands from New Orleans to Seattle. Still in its first season, the Push has quickly found itself an enthusiastic and devoted following, building on the members' individual reputations. The band is generating plenty of buzz from selected shows around its San Francisco home base, playing private parties and college campus events, not to mention headlining storied venues such as the Boom Boom Room, Bruno's Jazz Club, 12 Galaxies, and the Connecticut Yankee. Each member boasts a Who's Who of west coast musicians as collaborators from prior efforts, having performed at major events from High Sierra Music Festival to San Francisco's infamous Exotic Erotic Ball, venues from the Fillmore to the Concord Pavilion, and backing up distinguished greats from Ike Willis (Frank Zappa) to Psychefunkapus. Imagine five friends on a stage, happy to be making music together, huge grins on their faces as the crowd exhorts them to play on til dawn. Count on great things from these five, as their collective infusion of ideals and musical influences propels a rapid climb to the top of the heap in California and beyond. Funky ingenuity, relentless grooves, and raw talent ensure that The Push will achieve recognition and respect from fans of jazz, funk, and rock alike. Are you ready? Partial gig list (performing as The Push): Bar of America, Truckee Beat Lounge, San Fran (headlining) Boom Boom Room, San Francisco (headlining + opener for NTA) Bruno's Jazz Club, San Francisco (headlining) Connecticut Yankee (headlining) Crystal Bay Club, Tahoe Diamond Dave on KPOO (live broadcast / interview) Karin Conn's Funk Twist (headlining) The Depot at SF State University (headlining) The Independent (Opener for NTA) 12 Galaxies, San Fran (headlining + opener for NTA) * NTA - National Touring Acts Past festival appearances: North Beach Jazz Festival Caledonia Street Fair Exotic Erotic Halloween Ball Gathering of the Vibes High Sierra Music Festival Malcolm X JazzArts Festival NoisePop Festival Oregon Country Fair ProgFest San Francisco Funk Festival San Francisco World Music Festival SF Asian American Jazz Festival Sausalito Chili Cookoff Volcanoe World Music Festival Special Guests & Friends of The Push: Cecil "P-Nut" Daniels EEnor Chris Haugen Alan Hertz Rob Wasserman Past musical collaborations (individual members): Ike Willis (Frank Zappa) Mark Karan / John Molo (Ratdog, Phil & Friends) Linda Perry (Four Non Blondes, Pink, Christina Aguilera) Alan Hertz (KVHW, Garaj Mahal) / Liam Hanrahan (Zero, No Parking) Shana Morrison Vinyl Psychefunkapus