Jeremy Steinkoler, drums
Jim Peterson, saxophone
Scott Foster, guitar
Devin Hoff, bass


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to listen:

The 8-ball is Neutral
Chill
Home
Fi'deen
Seamus'  Lament
Soul  Mates
With  You

The J. Steinkoler Quartet was nominated for 2006 Best Instrumental Jazz Song at the Just Plain Folks Music Awards for the original composition "Seamus' Lament." 

Jazz musician hitting stride as two groups play Yoshi's

"Maintaining one distinctive band is an impressive feat for a jazz musician. Developing two simultaneous projects that boast signature sounds and repertoires is the mark of a player hitting his or her stride as a creative force. Which is why I'm going to catch East Bay drummer Jeremy Steinkoler when he sprints into Yoshi's on Aug. 25, leading two of the most exciting small acoustic combos on the scene.

The concert opens with the J. Steinkoler Quartet, featuring Jim Peterson on alto sax, guitarist Andre Bush and bassist Sam Bevan. With a mix of Steinkoler originals and well-chosen covers, including pieces by film composer Ennio Morricone, guitarist Pat Metheny, Shawn Colvin and Neil Young ("Only Love Can Break Your Heart"), the group's book covers a vast emotional terrain, from moody ballads to ebullient funk. For the second set, Steinkoler presents his powerhouse trio Mo'Fone, with Peterson on saxophones and bass clarinet and Larry De La Cruz on saxophones, clarinet, flute and percussion.

On its debut album "Surf's Up," released earlier this summer on Evander Music, the trio found ingenious ways to create a dense, multitextured, hard-swinging sound while exploring a spectacular array of material, all driven by Steinkoler's expansive rhythmic palette. "Mo'Fone's more in your face," Steinkoler said, comparing his two bands. "There's something that's consistent about all the Mo'Fone material. The quartet does some moodier pieces, and all your musical ingredients are covered -- harmony, bass and rhythm. We have the more standard instrumentation, and the question is, where are we going to explore from there? In Mo'Fone, everything we do is going to be unique because of how we end up filling space. The process is the product."

- Contra Costa Times

"A superb new CD. Leader Jeremy Steinkoler is a master trap drummer who applies the art of coordinated independence with aplomb to bop and postbop styles, as well as to New Orleans second-line parade beats... A very swinging drummer who's mastered the art of coordinated independence."

"According to the opening track of the new J. Steinkoler Quartet CD, The Road Home (Evander Music), "the 8-ball is neutral." Jeremy Steinkoler's drumming is anything but. The young percussionist doesn't draw attention to himself with overbearing flash. Yet time and again you find your ears drawn to the crisp rhythmic drive he imparts to every groove, from funk and New Orleans R & B to straight-ahead jazz, and to the deft accents he tics out on cymbals and skins."

- San Francisco Bay Guardian

"Mixing improvisations, rhythmic variations and good musical fun, Jeremy Steinkoler's quartet provides a solid listening experience with their new CD, "The Road Home." The disc is a great showcase for the compositional talents of drummer Steinkoler, who penned over half of the 11 tracks on the date. Some of the tunes feel as wide as the open road depicted on the cover, and others are either on the funky side or feature the straight-ahead blowing of Jim Peterson on alto sax. Many of the tunes are also driven by the dense playing of guitarist Scott Foster. This is a live studio date, and with the band trading fours and using their own sense of dynamics to keep ones interest, the quartet maintains a mature and well-seasoned sound throughout."

- Jazzwest.com

One of the hottest bands to surface in a long while

Jeremy Steinkoler has been an active participant on the Bay Area jazz scene for more than a decade, collaborating with a wide array of players, including guitarists Adam Levy and AndrÈ Bush. He started making a name for himself as a leader with his hard-swinging quartet. But he's definitely reached a new level with Mo'Fone. Judging by his new album, "Surf's Up" (Evander Music), this extraordinary trio is one of the hottest bands to surface in a long while. Featuring saxophonists Larry De La Cruz and Jim Peterson, who alternate on alto and baritone, the group has developed a stomping repertoire, from Weather Report's classic "Black Market" and John Scofield's "Kool" to Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog" and Jimi Hendrix's "Manic Depression." The group came together about two years when Steinkoler' had a monthly gig at Cato's Ale House in Piedmont. The chemistry was so strong that they kept at it, developing material that fit the instrumentation. The concept works because Steinkoler's drumming is so orchestral, filling up just enough space so that the band's sound is always crunchy and satisfying. "

- Jazzwest.com

" Some great albums reach greatness through a uniformity of sound, like a sculpture chiseled from one block of marble; Kind of Blue leaps to mind. Other albums achieve their heights through eclectic variety, and while a number of attempts might be suggested, I'd like to propose Jeremy Steinkoler's The Road Home.

Steinkoler displays a taste for the unusual and diverse on this eleven-track album. He's a technician on the traps, delivering savory licks for all occasions. The album launches with "The 8-Ball is Neutral," opening with a prominent bass line from Devin Hoff and splashes of color from Scott Foster on guitar. Jim Patterson lights up his alto sax and from there the group continues through a straight-ahead jazz piece with colorful solos served up by all involved. The next track, "Chill," comes across more like the ensemble bands of the 1970s and 1980s, a little cooler and more introspective than the opener. "Sunny Came Home" - yes, Shawn Colvin's folk-pop hit - is brilliantly covered without losing the essence of the original. Equally moving but less obvious covers are Abdullah Ibrahim's "Water from an Ancient Well" and Karla Bonoff's "Home," further proof of the far-flung influences drawn upon by this band.

Every track brings a surprise and remains fresh after repeated listens. "Something for everyone" is a promise rarely kept and usually suggests mediocrity. Not so with The Road Home."

- Allaboutjazz.com