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Band Biography
"Alice's band rocks with the power and subtlety of a
flowing river. Top-notch songwriting backed by a strong,
sensitive rhythm section creates a concert experience you
do not want to miss!"
— Drew Franklin, Festival Producer "Trinity Tribal
Stomp"
"Alice has stepped out of the folk world and entered the
groove juice with her new band and new songs. Solid, uplifting,
danceable rock and roll!"
— John Fricker, Producer "Ashland Music Project"
"Alice Di Micele's powerful songs and delivery are fully realized by a top-rate
band that drives them home and even deeper into our conciousness and culture.
Individually the band's members are outstanding. Together with groove-oriented
songs and messages, the band is dynamite."
— Mike Meyer, Lovelight Productions and KRVM radio, Eugene, OR"
Alice Di Micele has been touring since 1988 as a solo artist. In February of 2007 she released her
10th Album, by ebb & by flow on her indie label Alice Otter Music. For many years she marveled
at the way people would come to a "folk" concert and dance! She would often joke
with the crowd about the "band in her head" and laugh when they would yell out
that they could hear it too. Her music has an infectious groove and since 1997
she has been working on getting the Alice Di Micele Band together. There
have been some personnel changes over the years and finally the members have
jelled into a roadworthy formation. Bassist Rob Kohler holds down the
bottom, funks up the groove, and plays monster solos; Drummer Brian West is
the heartbeat of the trio. With this strong foundation under her soulful five-octave
voice and groove-oriented acoustic guitar, Alice Di Micele's songs take
flight. The sparks fly between the players and this rock-solid band liquefies
on stage like bubbling molten lava. Hardcore Alice fans are eating up
the new sound and the new album with this band is sure to win an even bigger audience with their
musical stew of rock, folk, jazz, funk, blues, soul, world-beat and a healthy
dose of jamming thrown in for good measure. Every member of the band solos--improvisation
is a big part of the shows. Audience participation is encouraged and high, as
always with "Alice shows."
The band has shared the stage with such diverse acts as the Bonnie Raitt and Joan Baez, David Grisman
Quintet, the Zen Tricksters, and Michael Franti of Spearhead,
among others. Flexible and creative, Alice Di Micele Band can rock in
any setting be it a Concert Hall, Festival, or Club.
 Bassist Rob Kohler adds rich color and texture to Alice's music.
A well seasoned jazz player, Rob has a distinctive solo voice and brings
inventive, melodic bass lines and supportive playing. Rob has played
on many stages including the Montreaux Festival in Stockholm, Seattle's
Jazz Alley and Bumbershoot Arts Festival, Jazz Montana jazz festival,
and at Just Jazz in St. Louis. His performance experience ranges from
orchestral to improvisational. In addition to his monstrous talent as a player, Rob is the education director for the prestigious Stanford Jazz Workshop in Palo Alto, CA.
"Rob Kohler is the Pat Metheny of the bass!" - Bassist Brian Bromberg
"...very melodic and soaring..." - Ron Garant, Bassics Magazine
"...knows how to play it funky, abstract or conventionally pretty and come up
with fascinating results." - Cadence Magazine
Drummer Brian West is a graduate of the respected percussion department
in the School of Music at the University of Oregon. He has performed and toured
with many of the Northwest’s top acts including the Cherry Poppin' Daddies,
who's platinum album, "Zoot Suit Riot" has sold over 2 million copies. Brian's
other band, "The Sugarbeets" have been voted "best band" in Eugene for 7 years
running in the Eugene, (Oregon) Weekly. Their long awaited new album "Secret
to Happiness" is enjoying the bands best reviews to date. Brian is known for
his subtle and melodic playing style with Laura Kemp, with whom he recorded on
her fan favorites, "Corduroy" and "May" albums. Brian also performs and records
with The Deb Cleveland Band, Colobo, Olem Alves, Don Latarski, and others. When
not playing drum set on tour or in the studio, Brian's hand drumming experience
is in high demand. He has been an accompanist for the University of Oregon Dance
Department during the past 13 years for Modern and African dance classes. Brian
teaches the popular African Drumming classes in the UO dance department. Brian
combines teaching and accompaniment with live drumming accompaniment as he instructs
several of his students during African dance classes. Brian is the Musical Director
of UO touring Dance and drum troupe "Dance Africa" which performs for local schools
to educate and bring African culture to young people. In addition, Dance Africa
performs various concerts, benefits, and workshops in Oregon. Brian teaches group
lessons and workshops in Eugene at Jill Sager's Hands On Rhythm and Drum School,
the Lesson Factory, Lane County Parks, as well as for the Oregon Festival of
American Music and other organizations. Brian also teaches private music lessons
at his home studio.
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