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The AL HOSPERS BAND
funk.rock.blues.swing.jazz...fun

The Al Hospers Band hails from the White Mountains of New Hampshire near North Conway. We play a great blend of pop and funky music that gets people moving and keeps them entertained. We have many original songs that audiences have come to enjoy and play a mix of R&B, Rock and funky Jazz with a heavy emphasis on the groove. You will surely recognize a lot of the tunes we play, but we put our own stamp on them and there are always some entertaining jams. The core band features Al Hospers on bass and vocals, Mike Sakash on saxophones, Jarrod Taylor on guitar, Tom Robinson on piano and Hammond organ and Craig Bryan, Jr. on drums.

	Al Hospers - bass and vocal: Al started playing music while studying art at the University of Florida far too many years ago. He has toured as an opening act for Tower Of Power, Argent, Canned Heat, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elvin Bishop and more. While attending the University of Miami he performed with jazz greats such as Ira Sullivan, Louis Bellson, Stan Getz and had a rock/pop band with Bruce Hornsby. Moving to New York in the early 80's he joined a reunion group of Blood Sweat and Tears, touring the US and Europe, later joining the Buddy Rich band and touring with them as well. Moving to Boston in the mid-80's Al founded Dr.T's Music Software, a MIDI music software company that started the computer music software revolution. In 1995 he joined Harmonix Music Systems, the company that created and developed the hit games Rock Band and Guitar Hero, as Executive Producer and one of the first 6 employees. Al moved to the Mount Washington Valley with his wife in December 1997. He stays very busy playing with The Al Hospers Band, The Jim McLaughlin Group, Bruce Marshall & the Shuffle and still plays lots of jazz!
	Mike Sakash - sax: Jazz, blues, funk, rock, whatever...Mike plays it all. His horns add another dimension to the band's funky/jazzy palate and allows us to play pretty much whatever strikes our fancy. He is the Director of the highly acclaimed music department at Fryeburg Academy and was 2017 Maine Music Teacher Of The Year! Mike writes and performs with the Portland Jazz Orchestra and is a highly sought after performer and arranger.
	Tom Robinson - piano & Hammond Organ: Tom has played with all the great players in New England. Besides being a great jazz player, he is equally at home with rock and funk. A purist at heart, he brings a mid-70's Fender Rhodes piano to our gigs and even on occasion a classic Hammond Organ and Leslie! We are truly honored to have him in the band.
	Jarrod Taylor - guitar: Jarrod Taylor is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music. He performs and records as a session guitarist in a variety of musical settings, from country, blues/rock, to jazz, classical and latin. He's been part of numerous musical theater productions and is a private guitar instructor in the Lakes Region of NH. His ability to play in almost any style makes him an invaluable member of the band.
	Craig Bryan Jr - drums: Craig brings a jazzy flavor and sensibility into this very funky environment and is the perfect foil to Al's bass. His energy and taste makes him an invaluable member of Sounds Clever. He has been a student of John Ramsey, Jack Maniaci, Joel DiBartolo and Dom Moio and he is a fine percussionist. He is also a music educator, running the music department in a Fryeburg Maine middle school.