Alphabet Soup is the Bay Area's own underground supergroup. Formed in 1991 by saxophonist Kenny Brooks, pianist Dred Scott, rapper Chris Burger and drummer Jay Lane, Alphabet Soup immediately became one of San Francisco's most popular bands.Alphabet Soup is the Bay Area's own underground supergroup. Formed in 1991 by saxophonist Kenny Brooks, pianist Dred Scott, rapper Chris Burger and drummer Jay Lane, Alphabet Soup immediately became one of San Francisco's most popular bands.
Because of their unique hip-hop/jazz crossover appeal, Soup has gained a tight local following witnessed during their famous runs in major S.F. clubs like the Up & Down Club, Elbo Room, Café du Nord, Justice League and Bruno's. Soup have toured the West Coast with The Roots, and appeared on bills alongside De la Soul, Digable Planets and KRS One to name a few.
In addition to the core band which now includes Lexxx Luthor, Sammy B, Troy Lampkins, and Jeff Chimenti, Alphabet Soup has a deep bench of local musicians, emcees and DJs. Soup is also known to play host to the visitations of many modern jazz greats like bassists Les Claypool, Kai Eckhardt; horn players like Joshua Roseman and Larry Schneider; drummers like Brain, Eddie Marshall, Steve Smith and David Garibaldi. Soup's own drummer, Jay Lane won "Drummer of the Year" at the 2002 California Music Awards.
Les Claypool was so impressed upon hearing Alphabet Soup that he set up Soup's first live recording "Layin Low in the Cut" on his Prawn Song label. In 1996 Soup won the Bammie for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
Each of the band's talented members have also forged impressive careers apart from Alphabet Soup. Kenny Brooks left briefly to play for the Charlie Hunter Quartet and record the Natty Dread album on Blue Note. Jay Lane, keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and Kenny Brooks are also current members in Bob Weir's band Ratdog. Wilbur Krebs played with Willie Nelson.
After literally hundreds of gigs over a 15 year span, Alphabet Soup members are excited to have some time in 2006 to actively play out in the place they love best, The Bay Area. You may hear them with three emcees or three bass players. At any given moment R&B singer JSoul could lend some smooth vocals over a Soup classic. This is why the audience loves Alphabet Soup. They are the ultimate jam band with an urban hip-hop dynamic.
Listen!