Jeff Golub
“It’s really important as an artist to keep evolving. Too many artists play it safe, especially after they’ve had some success. I never want to recreate what I’ve already done. I always want to take my music to a new place, with no limits as to where it can go.” –Jeff Golub
Contemporary jazz and multi-awarded guitarist, Jeff Golub was born on the 15th of April 1955 in Akron, Ohio.
Inspired by the blues of the ‘60s guitarists Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and the legendary Jimi Hendrix and after listening to a Wes Montgomery record in his early teens, Jeff found his passion in music and pursued that calling as he entered the Berklee Music College in Boston.
He moved to New York in 1980 and had his first exposure in collaboration with rock star Billy Squier. He appeared in 7 albums and 3 world tours with Billy. Henceforth, he became a highly sought for session player and a sideman for artists such as Ashford and Simpson, John Waite, Peter Wolf, Rod Stewart and Tina Turner.
In 1988 he released his first solo by Gaia Records, “Unspoken Words” which was regarded by the Guitar World as smooth, versatile, full of taste and soul. He joined the Rod Stewart band and played for 8 years. Soon he embraced his role as band leader and instrumentalist when he left the Stewart band in 1995 and formed the contemporary jazz group, which he dubbed “Avenue Blue” in 1994. Their self titled “Bluemoon” debut was an immediate success reaching the second spot on both R&R and The Gavin Report’s contemporary jazz charts. It was hailed by Jazz Times as “An elegant excursion into atmospheric, R&B-touched jazz”. Releasing hits like “Naked City”(1996) and “Night Life”(1997) for Mesa Bluemoon/Atlantic records, Jeff soon left the band and became a solo artist with his debut album “Out of the Blue” released in 1999.
“Out of the Blue” stepped out front with an original collection of the kinetic blend of blues and the soulful melodies of funky Latin jazz like the notable tracks “Lucky Strike” and the evocative “The Velvet Touch”, which established Golub’s musical maturity and acknowledged him as one of today’s most inventive and graceful guitarists.
In 2000, he joined the GRP roster with “Dangerous Curves” that had tracks spending 12 weeks in the top 20. This album hit the Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart with a number 1 and 2 new adult contemporary singles. His other album, “Do it Again” which was his remake of Average White band’s “Cut the Cake”, spent an impressive 6 weeks on the top spot on NAC radio and a number 8 spot at the Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart.
Participating in the Guitars & Saxes tour in 2003 with saxmen Richard Elliot and Steve Cole, and guitarist Peter White, Golub, having this improviser’s mentality, took his fame to a new level as he stressed that his albums had a strong soul-jazz component despite being compared with artists like David Sanborn, Joe Sample, The Crusaders, Ronnie Laws and the late Grover Washington Jr.
Golub’s kinetic blend of jazz, R&B and rock music has epitomized the powerful, evocative and earthbound side of smooth jazz and made him one of the contemporary jazz/blues hottest artists.
Edited: September 4th, 2011