Sly Geralds Band

Sly Geralds is a premier NYC bassist, singer and songwriter who has traveled the world and back with some of the most influential musical artists of our time. He has spent the last several years recording and sharing the stage with musical giants such as:

Maceo Parker, Al Green, Levon Helm, Richie Havens and Bob Dylan to name a few.
He has now put his many years of experience to use as the leader and front man of the Sly Geralds Band.

Sly has gathered a group of seasoned professionals to help bring his original music to life. Their style seamlessly blends elements of blues, funk, soul and rock.
Sly’s music gives a nod to the masters of roots music while still maintaining a contemporary feel.

His time spent in New Orleans has influenced his writing, as has living in New York City for most of his life.
The experience of seeing a live performance of the Sly Geralds Band borders somewhere between a rock show, dance party, Mardi Gras parade and tent revival.

The rhythm section throws down an infectious groove driven by Sly’s thunderous bass, while the guitar and horns soar high above.

Sly’s banter with the audience is equally impressive. He cajoles the audience into leaving their workday worries behind and joining him on the dance floor to “shake what their mama gave them!”
The band is also up to the task when it comes to entertaining the crowd by playing “the hits.”
You never know when they’ll break into a smoldering version of a “classic” song by Al Green, James Brown, The Rolling Stones or any number of blues, funk, rock or soul standards.

The Sly Geralds band makes regular appearances in the hottest clubs in the New York metropolitan area as well as festivals around the U.S. and abroad.

For more info and booking contact:
slygeraldsband@yahoo.com. Or Call 212-810-9064

Just in: Reviews Of Sly's CD "New York's My Home"

Dr. Blues' Local CD review for the Long Island Blues Society-9/21/07

"New York’s My Home" Sly Geralds Band 2007

Sly and his band lay down hometown pride. With a big city cosmopolitan R&B funkiness, hot horns blaze with authority, tight as a trumpet player’s embouchure. The rhythms are driving like an uptown express, echoing through the concrete canyons and soaring over the spires of Gotham ’s skyline. Sly roars like the NY Public Library’s stone lions come to life and a whole orchestra of fine session players fires this platter up. Saxman Yaz Takagi blows it down with syncopated sizzle, joined by the brass of Matt Stewart. Guitars include Hiro Suzuki, Rhett Tyler and Dave Gross among others and Mme. Dona Oxford regales on the ivory. Lots of style pours out, from the reggae jam of “Shark With No Teeth”, Memphis soul of “Let Me Talk To You”, big city funkin’ groove of “Just Like Superman” , the bittersweet blues of “Lose My Mind” and the overflowing hometown pride of “ New York ’s My Home.” “Hit the Ground Running” is powerful and strong, fighting racism and recounting a very personal struggle, all with a Latin beat. Closing with a heart throbbing love song, “Wishes” flows with a Rolling Stones “Wild Horses” organicity. Sly’s put it all together on a disk that cooks with power, energy and authentic drive. He’s pure NYC with all the heat, heart and emotion that the Big Apple can muster.

Jazz Improv Review
By Larry A. Detwiler 6/12/07

Sly Geralds
NEW YORK’S NY HOME — Slytunes. www.slygeralds.com.
Let Me Talk To You; Just Like Superman;
Shark With No Teeth; Lose My Mind; New
York’s My Home; Hit The Ground Runnin’; Dirty
Little Secret; 4-Letter Word; Troubled Man; She’s Got
A Mojo Workin’; Wishes.
PERSONNEL: Sly Geralds, bass, lead vocals; Michael
Fumento, drums; Niame, drums; Brett Rothenhaus,
drums, backing vocals; Papa John, drums; J.J.
Clark, drums; Steve Pollelanti, drums; Mark Conklyn,
guitar; Rhett Tyler, guitar; Geoff Hartwell, guitar,
backing vocals; George Fletcher, acoustic guitar;
Hiro Suzuki, electric guitar; Pat O’Shea, electric guitar;
“Brother” Dave Liktiger, guitar; Dona Oxford,
keyboards; Yaz Takagi, tenor sax; Matt Stewart, trumpet;
Alison Leblanc, washboard, percussion; Latasha
S. Jordan, background vocals; Tamira Sanders, background
vocals; Kenton Rogers, background vocals.

New York’s My Home is the latest release of bassist,
singer, and songwriter Sly Geralds and his band.
After having spent many years as a sideman and recording
with such notable names as Maceo Parker, Al
Green, and Bob Dylan, Geralds now spends his time
playing and recording with the Sly Geralds Band.
This collection of eleven originals by Geralds is a
pure joy as they explore the R&B, funk, soul, rock,
and even New Orleans’ street beat styles of music. A
quote taken from the Sly Geralds website proclaims
that “the experience of seeing a live performance of
the Sly Geralds Band borders somewhere between a
rock show, dance party, Mardi Gras parade and tent
revival.” I would confidently include listening to this
CD into that same category.
Geralds is a gifted songwriter. Regardless of the
style, he seems very comfortable and all of the selections
on this recording are creative, well written, and
enjoyable. Geralds also does a great job as a vocalist.
He has a simple and clear quality to his voice that
blends perfectly with these compositions. Listening
to Geralds, and the whole band for that matter, is
like spending time listening to your friends at a local
hangout. There is a comforting, unpretentious quality
to his voice and style. Geralds sounds like he is enjoying
every moment of this. His pitch is very good, and
he tastefully employs inflections to ensure the musical
appeal of each selection.
It sounds like Geralds is most comfortable with the blues — the style in which
I think he performs best.
Even though he is quite an accomplished writer
and singer, Geralds’ foremost strength is as an outstanding
bassist. Geralds lays down a solid foundation
for all of the tracks. He is always right in the pocket
with his rhythms and bass lines and keeps the band
grooving throughout. It is on the funky “Four Letter
Word” that Geralds gets the chance to shine as a bassist.
His solo is incredible as he picks and slaps his way
over the strings, notes flying by at a mind-numbing
speed. I find it interesting and admirable that even
though Geralds is obviously a talented bassist and the
bandleader, this is the only point that he takes over
the spotlight. He is quite comfortable sharing the focus
with all of the other talented musicians recording
with him, and another of the reasons that this CD is
the success that it is.
Of all the other musicians on this recording,
two that especially caught my attention were trumpeter
Matt Stewart, and saxophonist Yaz Takagi.
They played infrequently on the recording, but when
they did they were very impressive. Stewart showed
good range, Takagi had a cutting, edgy sound, and
both improvised well when given the opportunity.
“Let Me Talk To You” is R&B at its finest, and
this is where Geralds is at his best. His vocal quality
and inflections are ideally suited to playing the blues.
Stewart, Takagi, and background vocals by Jordan,
Sanders, and Rogers contribute to the full sound on
this track. “She’s Got A Mojo Workin’” has a New
Orleans’ street beat working for it, something Geralds
obviously picked up during his time in that city
(despite having spent most of his lifetime in New
York). The band performs it with gusto. This enjoyable
album brightens the spirit.

Welcome to the official Sly Geralds website. Call The SGB Hotline @ 212-810-9064 or Email us @ slygeraldsband@yahoo.com

	Sly Geralds is a premier NYC bassist, singer and songwriter who has traveled the world and back with some of the most influential musical artists of our time. He has spent the last several years recording and sharing the stage with musical giants such as: Maceo Parker, Al Green, Levon Helm, Richie Havens and Bob Dylan to name a few. He has now put his many years of experience to use as the leader and front man of the Sly Geralds Band. Sly has gathered a group of seasoned professionals to help bring his original music to life. Their style seamlessly blends elements of blues, funk, soul and rock. Sly’s music gives a nod to the masters of roots music while still maintaining a contemporary feel. His time spent in New Orleans has influenced his writing, as has living in New York City for most of his life. The experience of seeing a live performance of the Sly Geralds Band borders somewhere between a rock show, dance party, Mardi Gras parade and tent revival. The rhythm section throws down an infectious groove driven by Sly’s thunderous bass, while the guitar and horns soar high above. Sly’s banter with the audience is equally impressive. He cajoles the audience into leaving their workday worries behind and joining him on the dance floor to “shake what their mama gave them!” The band is also up to the task when it comes to entertaining the crowd by playing “the hits.” You never know when they’ll break into a smoldering version of a “classic” song by Al Green, James Brown, The Rolling Stones or any number of blues, funk, rock or soul standards. The Sly Geralds band makes regular appearances in the hottest clubs in the New York metropolitan area as well as festivals around the U.S. and abroad. For more info and booking contact: slygeraldsband@yahoo.com. Or Call 212-810-9064 Just in: Reviews Of Sly's CD "New York's My Home" Dr. Blues' Local CD review for the Long Island Blues Society-9/21/07 "New York’s My Home" Sly Geralds Band 2007 Sly and his band lay down hometown pride. With a big city cosmopolitan R&B funkiness, hot horns blaze with authority, tight as a trumpet player’s embouchure. The rhythms are driving like an uptown express, echoing through the concrete canyons and soaring over the spires of Gotham ’s skyline. Sly roars like the NY Public Library’s stone lions come to life and a whole orchestra of fine session players fires this platter up. Saxman Yaz Takagi blows it down with syncopated sizzle, joined by the brass of Matt Stewart. Guitars include Hiro Suzuki, Rhett Tyler and Dave Gross among others and Mme. Dona Oxford regales on the ivory. Lots of style pours out, from the reggae jam of “Shark With No Teeth”, Memphis soul of “Let Me Talk To You”, big city funkin’ groove of “Just Like Superman” , the bittersweet blues of “Lose My Mind” and the overflowing hometown pride of “ New York ’s My Home.” “Hit the Ground Running” is powerful and strong, fighting racism and recounting a very personal struggle, all with a Latin beat. Closing with a heart throbbing love song, “Wishes” flows with a Rolling Stones “Wild Horses” organicity. Sly’s put it all together on a disk that cooks with power, energy and authentic drive. He’s pure NYC with all the heat, heart and emotion that the Big Apple can muster. Jazz Improv Review By Larry A. Detwiler 6/12/07 Sly Geralds NEW YORK’S NY HOME — Slytunes. www.slygeralds.com. Let Me Talk To You; Just Like Superman; Shark With No Teeth; Lose My Mind; New York’s My Home; Hit The Ground Runnin’; Dirty Little Secret; 4-Letter Word; Troubled Man; She’s Got A Mojo Workin’; Wishes. PERSONNEL: Sly Geralds, bass, lead vocals; Michael Fumento, drums; Niame, drums; Brett Rothenhaus, drums, backing vocals; Papa John, drums; J.J. Clark, drums; Steve Pollelanti, drums; Mark Conklyn, guitar; Rhett Tyler, guitar; Geoff Hartwell, guitar, backing vocals; George Fletcher, acoustic guitar; Hiro Suzuki, electric guitar; Pat O’Shea, electric guitar; “Brother” Dave Liktiger, guitar; Dona Oxford, keyboards; Yaz Takagi, tenor sax; Matt Stewart, trumpet; Alison Leblanc, washboard, percussion; Latasha S. Jordan, background vocals; Tamira Sanders, background vocals; Kenton Rogers, background vocals. New York’s My Home is the latest release of bassist, singer, and songwriter Sly Geralds and his band. After having spent many years as a sideman and recording with such notable names as Maceo Parker, Al Green, and Bob Dylan, Geralds now spends his time playing and recording with the Sly Geralds Band. This collection of eleven originals by Geralds is a pure joy as they explore the R&B, funk, soul, rock, and even New Orleans’ street beat styles of music. A quote taken from the Sly Geralds website proclaims that “the experience of seeing a live performance of the Sly Geralds Band borders somewhere between a rock show, dance party, Mardi Gras parade and tent revival.” I would confidently include listening to this CD into that same category. Geralds is a gifted songwriter. Regardless of the style, he seems very comfortable and all of the selections on this recording are creative, well written, and enjoyable. Geralds also does a great job as a vocalist. He has a simple and clear quality to his voice that blends perfectly with these compositions. Listening to Geralds, and the whole band for that matter, is like spending time listening to your friends at a local hangout. There is a comforting, unpretentious quality to his voice and style. Geralds sounds like he is enjoying every moment of this. His pitch is very good, and he tastefully employs inflections to ensure the musical appeal of each selection. It sounds like Geralds is most comfortable with the blues — the style in which I think he performs best. Even though he is quite an accomplished writer and singer, Geralds’ foremost strength is as an outstanding bassist. Geralds lays down a solid foundation for all of the tracks. He is always right in the pocket with his rhythms and bass lines and keeps the band grooving throughout. It is on the funky “Four Letter Word” that Geralds gets the chance to shine as a bassist. His solo is incredible as he picks and slaps his way over the strings, notes flying by at a mind-numbing speed. I find it interesting and admirable that even though Geralds is obviously a talented bassist and the bandleader, this is the only point that he takes over the spotlight. He is quite comfortable sharing the focus with all of the other talented musicians recording with him, and another of the reasons that this CD is the success that it is. Of all the other musicians on this recording, two that especially caught my attention were trumpeter Matt Stewart, and saxophonist Yaz Takagi. They played infrequently on the recording, but when they did they were very impressive. Stewart showed good range, Takagi had a cutting, edgy sound, and both improvised well when given the opportunity. “Let Me Talk To You” is R&B at its finest, and this is where Geralds is at his best. His vocal quality and inflections are ideally suited to playing the blues. Stewart, Takagi, and background vocals by Jordan, Sanders, and Rogers contribute to the full sound on this track. “She’s Got A Mojo Workin’” has a New Orleans’ street beat working for it, something Geralds obviously picked up during his time in that city (despite having spent most of his lifetime in New York). The band performs it with gusto. This enjoyable album brightens the spirit.