Chiaband has been spreading its musical seed mix across the St. Louis music scene since 1996, playing unique arrangements of songs ranging from traditional to classic rock in a variety of musical styles (from Latin to Swing to Klezmer and beyond). The group's influences include Brave Combo, the Iguanas, Perez Prado (King of Mambo), Tom Jones (and many other Las Vegas entertainers), and the New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars.

The band's roots go back to the jazz department at SIUE, where some recent grads thought it would be fun to put together a band of friends to play music that was an antithesis to the traditionally blues-dominated scene. Chiaband charter members Tom Gann, Don Cole, Bill Walters, George Geschwend, Brian Keck, and Charlie Rastofer played their first gig at the Stagger Inn in 1996. Soon after, Chiaband started playing at the Venice Cafe (thanks to the late Paul Cuba, who let us play!!!) and the Famous Bar (Mark and Kent, thanx!!!), and the band has been an eclectic regular in the downtown dance circuit.

Chiaband hopes to continue building fans and possibly roadies (our equipment is very heavy!!!!) and to write and record its groovy music. The group's "to-do" list for the next year is long, and when we complete these tasks we want to be the biggest dance band in the known universe.

Take care,
Chiaband