Description

Blues/rock jam band. While their sound is deeply rooted in traditional Chicago Blues, the band thrives on its live performances, which cover a wide range of styles (originals, blues, rock, funk, and reggae.)

Biography

Planetary Blues takes its name from a Mahavishnu Orchestra song which proclaims, "We are planetary citizens of the human race, trying to make the world a better place." While their sound is deeply rooted in traditional Chicago Blues, the band thrives on its live performances, which cover a wide range of styles (originals, blues, rock, funk, and reggae.) The band is fronted by guitarist and vocalist, Martin Schaefer-Murray. Martin is influenced by the electric blues tradition of guitarists such as Buddy Guy, T-Bone Walker, and Son Seals. Martin is the primary songwriter, his lyrics contain much of the same viewpoint and content of his hero, Bob Marley. It has been said that youngest brother, Michael Schaefer-Murray, is on his way to becoming the guitar hero of the group. Michael's musical pursuits range from blues to gypsy jazz. He spends much of his time studying the playing of his heroes: Django Reinhardt, Albert King, and Jimi Hendrix. Middle brother, Bobby Schaefer-Murray, is the man on the bass. He enjoys cultivating his global mindset through the teachings of Hip-Hop. Bobby brings a solid, earthy groove to the band. Drummer, Nick Evans, lays down the foundation. Nick is the jazz head of the band. He has spent years honing his skills by studying the likes of Max Roach and Buddy Rich. Matt Collins is the newest member of the band. He is a keyboard player that brings a very long sought after sound to the band. He has got excellent musicianship and brings balance to the force! The band hopes to someday capture an international audience to increase global awareness through their music, picking up where Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix left off. They want to bring an underground Hip-Hop consciousness to the forefront. Martin reflects, "We'd like to share the message that we all can and do play a part in our communities, our society, and our world."