Album Notes

Sinister Dexter began in the Bay Area six years ago when seven horn players gathered a rhythm section to form a band. Together we had a single goal: to make people dance.

Since then, we've focused on becoming the ideal party band - if our audience was not having fun, then we were not doing our job. Our original music spans latin, funk, blues, swing, and soul. Our covers range from Tower of Power to Stevie Wonder to Maceo Parker to Ozomatli. Whatever music we play, we do it with a lot of energy and we make it fun. Onstage, anything is fair game whether it's Beck's Debra or South Park's (Isaac Hayes') Simultaneous Lovin'.

Sinister Dexter features a seven-piece horn section, composed of alto, tenor, and bari saxophones, tenor and bass trombones, and two trumpets. Our sound is reminiscent of the Bay Area's great funk horn band, Tower of Power, a sound that has been sorely missed in the current era of rap-rock and electronica. Add in an amazing rhythm section and we truly make magic. It also allows us to make your listening experience interesting - what other funk rock groups have 12 musicians? They just can't compete with our full sound.

All our work has culminated in the release of our full-length album "Dexterity" composed of 15 original songs written and arranged by Sinister Dexter.

Since you don't know the song titles and styles and we do, here's a handy cheat sheet. (We love all our songs, but if you want just one, we suggest that you try Morenita.)

Funk: Broadband Connection
Blues: Free Man (a tribute to women)
Latin: Morenita
Swing: Are You Ready to Dance
Latin: Chasing the Clouds Away
Ballad: Can't Take My Eyes Off You (not the classic you're thinking of)
Swing: Sinister Dexter
Funk: Show Us How To Get Down
Funk: Jack in the Box (where else would you eat?)
Funk: Him or Me
Funk/Soul: Swim on Over (to Me)
Latin: Better Left Unsaid
Blues: Another Drink
Swing: One-Eyed Jack
Blues: 2 Before 9 - an ode to Jack Daniels (old no. 7)


Ah, but will you like us?

If you've ever played a horn, Sinister Dexter is definitely the band for you (unless you play flute, then Jethro Tull might have us beat). But who are we to discriminate? If you like the sound of horns and bands that make you think, "Oooh, that was cool!" we're here for you!

Let's put it this way, Sinister Dexter is everything that the Backstreet Boys aren't: original and interesting music, 12 real-life musicians performing their own music, a band that puts a musical performance ahead of its "image," and a completely self-funded album. Then again, there's always a downside: no MTV videos, no fancy dance routines, and no teeny-boppers.

And if you're ever in San Francisco, come check us out live. We will make it worth your while.