Jeff Golub

Versatile guitarist Jeff Golub, well known for his work with Rod Stewart and other rock luminaries, set out on a new musical path in 1994 with the formation of his own contemporary jazz group and their first release of their self-titled Bluemoon album, Avenue Blue. The album met with great success, where extensive airplay locked Avenue Blue into the number two slot on both
R & R and Gavin charts.

Jeff's interest in guitar was sparked at age 8 by a Grand Ole Opry concert in his Ohio hometown. Jeff hardly noticed the headliners that evening because it was the guitar player who caught his eye. Though the guitar player never took center stage, Jeff thought "he had dignity...I thought he was cool." Jeff took up guitar.

After high school, he moved eastward to Boston to attend the Berklee School of Music, where he "became totally absorbed" in the progressive jazz scene. He soon gambled on a move to New York. "I'd always heard the musicians in Boston grumbling about how the studio scene in New York was all wrapped up and impossible to break into. I realized I had two choices- - stay there and become bitter like those guys, or go for the challenge and give it my best shot."

Shortly after Jeff's arrival in NYC in 1980, Billy Squier's drummer heard him playing in a small club and recommended him for a spot in Squier's band. Three world tours and several records with the rock guitarist followed. Jeff also hit the studios for recording work with former J. Geils Band member Peter Wolf, John Waite, Tina Turner and others. Six years later, in 1988, he landed the gig as guitarist for Rod Stewart (where he first hooked up with co-producer Rick Braun) for whom he has since recorded three top selling albums (including Vagabond Heart and Unplugged) and co-written a number of songs. In May of 1995, Jeff left Rod Stewart's band to pursue his first love...jazz and blues.

Jeff is still one of New York's top session musicians. He has performed on several albums for friends in the jazz realm, including sax man Bill Evans (Alternative Man and Push), five with trumpeter/flugelhornist Rick Braun. In May, 1995 Jeff was hired by jazz pianist Bob James for a week's engagement at the BlueNote Jazz Club in New York. That gig resulted in being asked to tour and perform on a colloberation album by James and saxman Kirk Whalum, "Joined at the Hip", which received a Grammy Nomination that year.

Playing the style of music that's always been his passion is a welcome change for the Jeff....who once remarked that he'd love to play "like Al Green sings."
"I've enjoyed having the chance to do some wailing on rock albums and tours but when you're a sideman you rarely get to make the musical choices...or to even play the melody! I've become so caught up in leading this band and having the opportunity to play music the way I hear it. It's the most fun I've had playing guitar since I was a kid."