Album Notes

Blacksnake is a collective of six unique individuals, whose love and respect for each other run parallel with their rare ability to perform, write and produce an organic blend of music forged of soul, funk and roots with an edge. Ask any New England area club owner or booking agent which band keeps the crowds on the dance floor all night, and you will usually hear the name Blacksnake thrown back at you. These Boston-based Soul Ambassadors have traveled for years all over the New England, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC, and as far as Colorado as "Michigan Blacksnake", bringing their feel-good sound to tens of thousands. Over the years, Blacksnake has built a loyal following, an unparalleled reputation of being the heart and pulse of the party, and the band area musicians love to jam with.

Blacksnake solidified its current lineup in 2001 and immediately set back out on the road to promote their debut, self-titled album, "Michigan Blacksnake". In the process, they sold thousands of CDs to a very diverse and faithful fan-base. After selling out countless clubs, festivals and benefits, and a considerable amount of introspection and growth, the band returned to the recording studio. The result is "Mind Over Matter", an independently produced CD that pays homage to their collective traditions, while simultaneously representing a sound that is uniquely Blacksnake. Legendary for their electrifying performances, Blacksnake has again defined themselves as a band capable of producing a world-class recording and crafting catchy, intricate songs.

Blacksnake guitarist and lead vocalist Greg Luttrell has become a verifiable "Soul Institution" in Boston, entertaining crowds with his unbelievable vocal range and fiery, blues-inspired guitar. Lowfrequency, polyrhythmic and deeply-hypnotic grooves (not unlike the swaying of a snake) are provided by bassist, Mikael Mersha. Percussionist and one-man-show, Yahuba Garcia brings a distinct Caribbean flavor to Blacksnake that lights up the dancefloor through lightning-hands and his intuitive knowledge of traditional afro-cuban rhythms. On keyboards is the legendary "Professor of Funk", Big Ben Hillman, whose keyboard style perfectly compliments the band and continually propels the snake into new directions. With a tone that can easily shift from a brilliant ray of sunlight to a knife cutting through butter, Daniel Abreu's inspired command of saxophone and flute invokes the spirit of jazz and the passion of soul, raising Blacksnake to a level all their own. Laying the rhythmic foundation is the architect of groove, drummer & vocalist Tony Hall, well regarded for his driving pulse, musical playing and uplifting vocals.