Jeff Davis & the Confusionists


Jeff Davis & the Confusionists started out as a project band... and primarily is still just that. The cd's line up of musicians is made up of 8 incredibly talented guys with 3 special guests including the cd's recording engineer.
	Jeff Davis - Guitar, Vocals Bud Hayman - Drums, Shaker Pat Drews - Bass Dr. Frank Kumor - Vibes Steve Morrone - Alto Sax, Keys David Kershner - Trumpet, Flugelhorn Barron Caromano - Trombone Chuck Simpson - Tenor Sax Guests: Bruce Siekmann - Marimba Bob Sica - Backing Vocal Doug Harris - Wawa

Here is a short bio to give you a little background on the development of this grouping of players. There will eventually be individual bios available also. So please check back with us.

Jeff Davis and the Confusionists started as a pick-up band by the name "Effervescent Johnny" started by guitarist Doug Harris a couple of years ago. The players would consist of whoever was available for a gig that evening. EJ played mostly in and around Kennett Square, PA where Doug was working at the time. With no real rehearsal time invested these gigs were always filled with surprises to say the least. Jeff Davis' original material was the core essence of the evenings set list.

Jeff remembers "...the material took on lives of its own at the hands of whoever the line-up was that evening. This was very cool, the material left a lot of space for improvisation in this forum. However, I had many melodies and parts and instrumentation in my head that I wanted to hear along with the improv. I enlisted the groups main drummer Bud Hayman, (from West Chester, PA) and 2nd call bassist Pat Drews (from Baltimore, MD) to get this project off the ground. With only 3 rehearsals we went into the studio and laid down rhythm tracks for a new group with the working title 'Confusionism.' "

The next piece of the musical puzzle came when Bud Hayman suggested Frank Kumor (from Wilkes Barre, PA), one of Bud's musical instructors from Kutztown University. Frank comes with a long list of accomplishments and his cool laid back style melded instantly with the mood that was created in the rhythm tracks for what would become "Happy Cat Make You Lucky".

The next major piece of the puzzle was adding the horn section of one of Philadelphia's best and long running bands "Big City". Steve Morrone, founder of Big City, had also played in the bands "Fair Weather Friends" and "No Flies oN Frank" (who was fronted by singer songwriter Bob Sica, also on the release, but we'll get to him), with Jeff and Bud prior to his building Big City.

The Big City horns consist of Steve Morrone, David Kershner, Barron Caromano, and Chuck Simpson. With Steve doubling on keys.

Bringing Doug Harris into the fold for a smooth wawa track, recording engineer Bruce Siekmann for a sweet marimba track, and finally Jeff's musical partner of many years, singer/songwriter Bob Sica in for some backing vocals... tieing up the loose ends nicely.

Now that the release is out, the big question is what will the performing band be like? "I would prefer the performing band be the 7 guys who labored with me in the studio to record the release. It may not be so feasible to work as an 8 piece band most gigs, so we are looking at performing this in as many different scenarios as possible, harkening back to the roots of this material without it losing the flavor of the release."