Soulive

Soulive takes a broad range of influences, from Duke Ellington and Earth Wind & Fire to the Roots and Stevie Wonder, and blends them into a sound that is so thunderously intense live, it's hard to believe there are only three players in the band. Keyboardist Neil Evans handles the low end on a Hammond B-3 with his left hand while juggling harmonic and solo duties with his right; seeing his stunning ambidexterity is worth the price of admission alone. Evans's playing style mingles old-school R&B, funk and traditional jazz for a deeply melodic sound that translates well to hip-hop and jazz crowds alike. Brother Alan's hip-hop stylized grooves anchor the trio, and together the Evans brothers make up one of the tightest rhythm sections on the funk/soul/jazz circuit. Eric Kranso rounds out the lineup on guitar. A true virtuoso, Kranso has the chops of Joe Pass, the brilliant warmth of John Scofield and the single-note linearity of Grant Green. No wonder Dave Matthews refers to Soulive as "the greatest band in the world."