Jeff Chimenti
| Jeff Chimenti | |
|---|---|
 Jeff Chimenti performing with Phil Lesh & Friends at Terrapin Crossroads, Dec. 6th 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jeffrey Chimenti |
| Born |
October 21, 1968 San Francisco, California |
| Genres | Jazz, rock, Psychedelic rock |
| Occupation(s) | musician |
| Instruments | keyboards |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Labels | Columbia Records |
| Associated acts |
RatDog Les Claypool's Frog Brigade The Other Ones The Dead Furthur Golden Gate Wingmen Dead & Company |
| Website | http://www.rat-dog.com/band/jeff-chimenti.php |
Jeff Chimenti (born October 21, 1968) is an American keyboardist, best known for his ongoing work with Bob Weir & RatDog. He is also known for his membership in the post-Grateful Dead bands The Dead, Furthur and Dead & Company.[1][2]
Early Life and Music Career
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Chimenti began playing piano when he was four and he studied formally from the age of seven to around the time he finished high school. Once he graduated from high school, he began playing in bands around the Bay area. He played in local jazz bands as well as Les Claypool's Frog Brigade; he's also played back-up for pop acts such as En Vogue.
He was playing in Dave Ellis's jazz quartet when Ellis was hired to play saxophone in Bob Weir & RatDog. Ellis informed him that RatDog was also looking for a new keyboardist. Chimenti was hired and played his first show 28 May 1997. Chimenti has been a member of RatDog ever since and has occasionally performed with Phil Lesh and Friends. While performing, he commonly uses Brent Mydland's Hammond B3 organ.[3]
He performed with The Other Ones during the band's final tour with that name in 2002. This was the first time that Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart all performed together since the disbandment of the Grateful Dead in 1995. He continued to perform with every version of the Dead that toured in 2003, 2004 and 2009. Following The Dead's final tour in 2009 he joined Bob Weir and Phil Lesh in their project Furthur. Furthur toured consistently between 2009 and 2014.
During early 2015 Chimenti joined musicians John Kadlecik, Reed Mathis and Jay Lane in the band the Golden Gate Wingmen.
Chimenti performed at the 50th anniversary performance of the Grateful Dead in Chicago on July 3rd, 4th and 5th, 2015. He also performed with the band during the additional shows in Santa Clara, at Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, on June 27th and 28th, 2015.
Chimenti continues to tour with the band Dead & Company following the success of the Fare Thee Well shows. Dead and Co. feature former Grateful Dead members, Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann, and Mickey Hart, joined by John Mayer, former Allman Brother's bassist Oteil Burbridge, as well as himself.
Outside of Music
Chimenti and a roadie developed a product used to prevent facial abrasions from the use of CPAP machines.[4]
References
- ↑ Jeff Chimenti at AllMusic
- ↑ Schwenke, Matt (March 30, 2005). "Jeff Chimenti talks about the Dead and Ratdog". concertlivewire.com. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grateful-dead/6770050/dead-company-jeff-chimenti-interview
- ↑ "Post-Grateful Dead player scores medical hit". Reuters. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
External links
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