The band usually perform as a five-piece ensemble featuring vocal harmonies, acoustic guitar, electric violin, alto sax, upright bass, drums and live looping. Lately added piano, making them a six-piece band. Trio and quartet formats are also a thing. Adrian likes having trained Jazz musicians in his band; they've got chops, they know their music theory (better than Adrian), they listen to what each other is doing plus they're used to reading charts!
Adrian enjoys setting philosophical lyrics to joyful music. His subject matter may veer a tad dark at times but the music is always uplifting, affording the listener a richly nuanced experience. Whether he's telling a story about a skinny-dipping episode gone awry or grappling with some crisis facing humanity, his lyrics make people think, laugh, cry, or just nod in agreement. Some examples:
Born and raised in Montreal, Adrian is an exciting performer to watch: a charismatic vocalist, he moves effortlessly between guitar & violin, sometimes using live looping to sneak extra layers of sound into his arrangements.
The band ususally peppers its sets with rock and jazz covers by the likes of Paul Simon, Talking Heads, Roy Hargrove, Herbie Hancock, Norah Jones, Peter Gabriel, Alanis Morisette, Miles Davis, Dave Matthews, Kenny Garrett, Squeeze, Dolly Parton, Supertramp, Dave Brubeck, Tom Waits, The Pretenders, Chick Corea, Indigo Girls, Chuck Mangione, Billy Joel, Elton John, Elvis Costello & Noe Venable.
Adrian started playing violin at age four and in his teens studied classical violin at the McGill Conservatory of Music in Montreal. He later learned drums, guitar and developed his singing and songwriting technique.
He moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1995 where as a sideman violinist he began supporting local Bay Area bands, playing some of the area's better known venues including the Fillmore, Yoshi's SF, Slim’s, The Independent and The Sweetwater. In 2005 he formed the Adrian West Band which performs at venues and festivals all over the Bay Area. |
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