The Pleasure Pilots
Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2004 | SELF
Music
Press
"It's just cool, Peter Debeneditis said, his pork-pie hat cocked low on his brow. Looking cool in his 1950's-vintage Hawaiian shirt, Debenedittis and his partner Tracy Juecter, cool off after a frenetic swing dance to the music of the Pleasure Pilots.
Swing dancing is improv street art with a big sound and the Pleasure Pilots are "crazy good," Juecter said.
"They have a great horn section, they're danceable and they're fun."
Santa Fe's swing dance retro renaissance is fueled partly by the Pleasure Pilots, a six-piece band with a horn section performing vintage swing and rhythm and blues.
They're the best swing and R&B band in New Mexico," said Randy Forrester, a familiar figure on the Santa Fe dance scene. "They've got great energy and they transfer it to the dancers." - The Pleasure Pilots are a "crazy good" swing band...
The Pleasure Pilots CD, "Pilot Project" is a hard-swingin' romp filled with timeless gems like Johnny Guitar Watson's "Gonna HIt the Highway" and Ike Turner's "Rocket 88." They pick great songs but they put their own high flyin' spin on each tune." Don't ya hate it when you find a great party record but can't stand the silent pause between tracks? No problem here. "Pilot Project" skips the spaces and keeps the joy ride happenin' throuhout the entire disc. Fifty-seven (57) minutes of nonstop hot!" - Putnay - Host, The Bluesshow, KUNM-FM, Albuquerque/Santa Fe
On October 13, 2007, The Pleasure Pilots Band was awarded the Grand Prize in the Junior League of Albuquerque's annual Battle of the Blues Bands by a panel of notable figures in the New Mexico music scene. - Grand Prize Awarded
Discography
"Pilot Project" is the first CD from the Pleasure Pilots, a popular rhythm and blues band based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The album features guitar, piano and B3, drums, standup and electric bass and a slammin' three piece horn section (baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, and trumpet). Most of the tunes are "vintage rhythm and blues" tunes from post-World War II period through the early '60's. The album features songs originally performed by Amos Milburn, T-Bone Walker, Bobby Blue Bland, Fats Domino, Johnny Guitar Watson, Roy Montrell, Billy "the Kid" Emerson, Jackie Brenston and Ike Turner, Johnny Taylor, Calvin Boze and others. There is also an original "Latin-rock-blues" track called Urban Solution written by Pilot's keyboardist, David Phillips. The album was recorded at several studios in Santa Fe and mixed and mastered at the grammy-award-winning Santa Fe Center Studios in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Photos
Bio
The Pleasure Pilots Band features an "all-star" line-up of the some of the best blues and R&B players in the Southwest.
Co-leader Fred Spencer (music director, guitar, vocals) has appeared in New Mexico with Front Porch Swing, the Kingpins, Big Step, and the Soul Deacons.
Co-leader David Phillips (keyboards, vocals) has played locally with the Bumpers, the Arroyo Kings, the Soul Deacons, and Freddy Fender.
Terry Bluhm (upright and electric bass, vocals) has been a player in the Albuquerque scene with Thunderama, Jasper, Bayou Seco and Felix y Los Gatos.
Ryan Finn (trombone, trumpet). In St. Lucia, Ryan has appeared with the Allison Marquis Nonet and with Groovebone. In New Orleans, Ryan played with Tony 'Oulabula' Bazley, Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, Wyclef Gordon and Troy Adams ('Trombone Shorty').
Ray Griffin (saxophones). Ray has appeared with the Oliver Nelson Orchestra, Screamin Jay Hawkins, the Bishop-Mayfield Band, Dream Ticket,The Motown Revue, the Sugarland Brass Band, and Hillary Smith and the GTs.
Pete Amahl (drums) - Well-known in jazz circles, Pete
has appeared with Mose Allison, Natalie Cole, Herb Ellis, Eddie Harris, Junior Brown, Dave Mathews, Roy Hargrove and many others.
"Pilot Project" was the first CD from the Pleasure Pilots, a popular rhythm and blues band based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The album features guitar, piano and B3, drums, standup and electric bass and a slammin' three piece horn section (baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, and trumpet. Most of the tunes are "vintage rhythm and blues" tunes from post-World War II period through the early '60's. The album features songs originally performed by Amos Milburn,
T-Bone Walker, Bobby Blue Bland, Fats Domino, Johnny Guitar Watson, Roy Montrell, Billy "the Kid" Emerson, Jackie Brenston and Ike Turner, Johnny Taylor, Calvin Boze and others. There is also an original "Latin-rock-blues" track called Urban Solution written by Pilot's keyboardist, David Phillips. The album was recorded at several studios in Santa Fe and mixed and mastered at the grammy-award-winning Santa Fe Center Studios in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Urban Solution, a track from the album, won a Nammie for Best Arrangement for 2010 at the New Mexico Music Awards.
In 2011, the Pleasure Pilots were the surprise hit at the Silver City Blues Festival, opened for the Drifters at Civic Plaza in Albuquerque, appeared at the KiMo Theatre and at the Nob Hill Summerfest in Albuquerque.
In 2012, the band appeared at the Ruidoso Blues Festival, at SocorroFest, and at the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival.
In 2014, the Pilots were the Headliner act at the Red River Blues Festival, opened the Santa Fe Bandstand Southside Concert series, and played the "Kickoff" for the Animas River Blues and Brews Festival.
In 2015, the Pilots made their fifth appearance at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and played at the Route 66 Summerfest in Albuquerque.
This year (2017) the Pilots have appeared at Music On The Hill in Santa Fe, Santa Fe Bandstand, Rockin' The Riverwalk in Grants, NM, and at the Trinidaddio Blues Festival in Trinidad, Colorado.
The Pleasure Pilots play every third weekend at La Fiesta Lounge in the La Fonda Hotel on the Santa Fe Plaza.
Band Members
Links
