The Blue Vipers Of Brooklyn

�The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn provided fantastic entertainment.� Willie Nelson, June 11th 2007

The band met 4 years ago whilst busking on the streets of New York City and quickly became a favorite of native New Yorkers and tourists from the world over.

The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn recently won the �Subway Idol� contest on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet! The show was broadcast live on FOX, attracting thousands of new fans from all over the USA.

Billy (guitar/lead vocals)was born in Howells, Nebraska in 1977. At the age of eighteen he joined up with a traveling carnival �Culpepper Concessions,� which eventually dropped him off in New Orleans. He spent 4 years performing on the streets in that historic city and traveling with the carnival �Circus Ridikkulous.� In October 2001 Billy moved to NYC and brought with him a vast repertoire and an ability to draw and hold large crowds wherever he performs.

David (washboard) was born in Paris, France, where he took up the drum set at 15. At 21 he invented his signature washboard instrument and refined his technique. In 2004 he arrived in NYC where he has played with Dorado Schmitt, Paquito de Rivera, Angelo Debarre, Brian Torff, Scott Robinson, Gil Goldstein, Andrew Sherman, Orrin Star, Stephane Wrembel, and John Jorgensen.

Chris (bass) was born in Brooklyn, grew up in Middletown, CT, and then moved himself back to Brooklyn. He graduated from New School of Jazz, and he continues to studying privately with John Schaeffer, retired Principal Bassist of the New York Philharmonic. Chris has had the good fortune to perform with Grammy Award winners Norah Jones, Steve Miller, and Tom Jones, as well as Jane Monheit, Barry Harris, Junior Mance, Anthony Braxton, Bobby Sanabria, Grant Green, Jr., and Billy Harper.

Sam (trumpet) was born in Sharon, Ct., and grew up in Millbrook, NY. He started playing traditional jazz with his father, and went on to complete his musical education at Wesleyan University. Sam has had the pleasure of performing and/or recording with such notables as Anthony Braxton, Roswell Rudd, Skah Shah, and Jorge Ben Jor, among others.

Thom (saxophone) was raised in a family of musicians in Orem, Utah. He has studied with Tony Malaby, Dave Glasser, Ray Smith, Tim Price, and at the New School University Jazz Program in New York City. Abbott also plays and studies a variety of musical instruments, including baritone, alto, and tenor saxophones, clarinet, mandolin, banjo, bass clarinet, flute, bassoon, and piano.

Notable Performances

September 2008 - Long Beach Jazz Festival, Long Beach NY; Bayshore Harbor Festival, Bayshore NY; Brooklyn Public Library Concert Series, Brooklyn NY; Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition Art show, Brooklyn NY
August 2008 - Pierson Park Jazz Concerts, Tarrytown NY; Fort Green Market Concerts, Brooklyn NY; Garrison Art Center Fair, Garrison NY

July 2008 - Ukiah Sundays in the Park Festival, Ukiah CA; Summer Nights! Live Concert Series, Windsor CA; Roots Americana Festival, San Jose CA; Babylon Village Arts Festival, Babylon NY; Summer Hummer Concert Series, Wynnewood PA

June 2008 - The Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester, NY

June 2008 - featured on WAMC Northeast Public Radio show "Performance Place" wamc.org

May 2008 - Tropical Heatwave Festival, Tampa, Florida

December 2007- �Soundcheck� with John Schaefer on WNYC radio

December 2007- �Hey Mr. Jesse� featured on Yehoodi.com radio

September 2007-�September Concert� commemorating 911

June 2007- �Keep America Growing� sponsored by Farm Aid, NYC. The Vipers played for Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Farm Aid board of directors.

August 2007, June 2006 - The 2nd and 3rd Annual �People Building Peace Concert� sponsored by Peace Boat at the United Nations in NYC

Aug 2006- �Lincoln Center Out Of Doors Roots of American Music Festival,� Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC

What people are saying:

"The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn turned the whole damn (Big Tent at The Rochester Jazz Festival) into a swingin' Tin Pan Alley. The Blue Vipers' drummer apparently never graduated from the kitchen, as his whole set up was a lapfull of odds and ends that he binged, banged, whacked, and attacked with thimbled digits like a Dixieland folley stage."
By Frank De Blase on Jun. 15th, 2008, Rochester City Newspaper

"The Blue Vipers play old-timey jazz, swing and blues. Their songs are witty, bouncy and full of fun - visions of flappers and men in straw-boater hats. They are one of the most popular bands that busk in the New York subways."
CREATIVE LOAFING, TAMPA FL, MAY 2008

Best live-music brunch: The Blue Vipers at Superfine
"Throngs of children and their minders head to this loft like Dumbo eatery on Sundays ready to rock out, and not to kiddie tunes from some lame band." TIME OUT NEW YORK KIDS Oct. 1st, 2007

"The Blue Vipers of Brookl