Jammin' on the Keys: The Jam Band Live Show Experience

There are many things to like about the jam band live show experience. The parking lot can even be its own fun, with handmade clothing, vegetarian foods, bongos and booze. In the venue, the guitarist, the lyrics, and the dancing are all great, but the experience is even better if you can see an awesome keyboardist. The keys can bring an interesting twist or some added funk to the sound of a band, but it takes a lot of hard work, practice, and dedication. Most keyboardists practice from an early age, starting in classical music, then becoming more interested in different styles and improvisation techniques. These guys are some of the best in the jam scene, and you should not pass up the chance to see them when they are touring near you.

1. Bernie Worrell
Bernie started practicing the piano at the age of three and performed live at only four years old. He played with the Washington Symphony Orchestra at age ten continued studying through private lessons. He then joined the New England Conservatory, and later was the musical director for Maxine Brown. After directing, he partnered up with Parliament/Funkadelic, then teamed up with Talking Heads on several albums. Since then, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, created solo albums, and, most recently, released Stranger: Bernie Worrell on Earth in 2005.

2. Herve Salters
The French national, Herve, or RV, began playing the keyboard at eight years old, starting with classical music, then getting involved in improvisation. He was a professional keyboard player by age 20. This highly skilled, yet funky keyboardist has toured with many hip-hop groups, including Blackalicious, and adds clever dance moves to his playing style. His new album, Honeycut - The Day I Turned to Glass is on CD now.

3. Zach Gill
Zach Gill's primary obligations are vocals, keys, and occasional accordion in his band, ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra). Zach is a highly skilled, fun keyboardist who always gives the audience a show. He has played with many bands, most notably Jack Johnson, G Love and Special Sauce, and Matt Costa. ALO's new album, Fly Between Falls, is available now.

Other awesome keyboardists include Dave Katz of Ekoostik Hookah, Trevor Garrod of Tea Leaf Green, Danny Louis of Gov't Mule, Jason Cohen of Ryan Montbleau Band, John "JoJo" Herman of Widespread Panic, Kyle Hollingsworth of A String Cheese Incident, and Mark Boyce of G Love and Special Sauce.