Kim Agnew
Dance, Choreography, Percussion, Fashion Consultation
Adding visual kinetic spice to ALBINO's stage show is dancer/percussionist Kim Agnew. Kim studied dance and percussion under the tutelage of Cuban and West African masters and honed her skills performing in various World Music groups such as the Slaptones and Pangea. An active teacher for over a decade, Agnew is a veteran of the San Francisco Ballet's outreach programs and the Cazadero Performing Arts Camp. Kim now occupies herself with the considerable undertaking of assisting the men of ALBINO! to move and dress as funky as they play. Kim is the band's primary "bedazzler," designing and creating most of the wild costumes ALBINO! flaunts onstage. She also enjoys showering more frequently than anyone else in the band.
Michael Bello
Saxophones, Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Heavenly Thunder
The primal wizardry of Bello's music emanates from the mystical intersection of human and bestial consciousness. With wild compositional abandon he cultivates the lush yet savage jungle that is ALBINO's repertoire, as he roars like a rabid howler monkey from atop its canopy. On tenor and baritone saxophones, Bello often transcends the earthly plane: like a hallowed bellows his lungs conjure sounds that seem to thunder from the Heavens. On keys, he serves up a stench even funkier than the gorgonzola cheese fermenting inside his antique stovepipe hat. Finally, with his Fela-esque vocal growl Bello stirs the soul as he Deconstructs the Transitional Movement of a nation led woefully astray.
Terry Branam
Drums
Having arrived in the Bay via a treacherous one way cab ride from Chicago on Route 666, Terry immediately found himself planted deep in the pocket of the Albino rhythm section. As a life-long student of the famous Bay Area rhythm sections, it wasn’t long until he felt at home on his new planet. Terry’s versatile style has kept him in demand in a wide variety of genres from glam metal to polka to bluegrass to afrobeat. Terry likes flat land, bubble gum, and coffee. Fair warning: give him anything less, and he will hook up the double bass drum pedal.
"Downtown" Chris Brown
Trumpet, Sleep-Deprived Bus Driving
Bay Area native Chris Brown is responsible for ALBINO's funky upper-register flavor. His trumpet playing is consistently raw and soulful, which may be attributed to his claim to being an illegitimate son of Stevie Wonder. Chris studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston and has decades of playing and teaching experience under his belt. This is due in part to the fact that he is actually 83 years old, but allegedly discovered the Fountain of Youth while working for health food stores. Chris asserts that in order to preserve his spritely youthful glow he must often take unsanctioned flugelhorn solos during ALBINO! performances.
Patrick Byers
Baritone Sax, Subversive Mischief
Providing the bottom end to ALBINO!’s heavy heavy horn section is the enigmatic, chameleonic, and sometimes androgynous Patrick Byers. Pat is a Northern California native who studied jazz performance at Sonoma State and became guardian of the ALBINO! reed section’s lowest frequencies after years of touring with Aphrodesia and Lee Press-On & the Nails. When he isn’t honking like an elephant seal in heat, Pat can be found donning his form fitting neoprene and war paint to chase the elusive perfect wave across the Nor Cal coast. Fun Fact: No one in ALBINO! has ever seen him frown.
Adam Lowdermilk
Bass, High Volume Dairy Products
Do not be fooled by Adam's constant, never-ending optimism; when it comes time to spanka da bass, hearts will break, and booties will shake. With a background in soul, free jazz and deep pocketed funk, Adam brings to the table a fresh groove and great attitude. A native Californian, Adam grew up surfing Black's Beach in San Diego and later moved to Santa Cruz, which eventually brought him to Oakland, where by chance he began playing with his long time favorite band.
Cal “Caltron” Reichenbach
Guitar, Tailoring
ALBINO! guitarist Cal Reichenbach is a seasoned producer, session guitarist, and guitar teacher. While on the road, Caltron retains his sanity by obsessively stitching swaths of West African mud cloth onto a wide array of clothing items. While engrossed in his fervent spells of craftiness, he responds only to the name “Holly Hobbie.” Reichenbach is also a member of the instrumental groove band SOCKET, and he often performs with the infamous pan-African funk outfit Aphrodesia. Cal wants to play guitar on your recording! Email calreichenbach (at) yahoo (dot) com to collaborate with him over the Internet.