Joey Berkley’s Bandits

The Bandits led by tenor saxophonist Joey Berkley is a jazz/funk group featuring a 5-member horn section along with a full rhythm section and a vocalist. Joey’scareer as a tenor saxophonist, composer/arranger and recording artist has evolved through a variety of stages. First as an in-demand sideman, to the founder/leader of various bands including the Joey Berkley Quartet (JB4), Funkasaurus Rex, Four Good Reeds, the Westchester Jazz Orchestra (WJO), and present day with the creation of Joey Berkley’s Bandits. Brought up as a jazz musician firmly rooted in the tradition of Coltrane, Miles, and Monk, Joey developed his sound by incorporating these influences to create an original contemporary style. 

In May 2016, Joey Berkley’s Bandits released their self-titled album. The new record breathes jazz sophistication into R&B, funk, rock and pop, "stealing" from a wide array of musical genres. Embracing the famous Ellington quote, “there are only two types of music, good and the other kind,” as the record’s theme, all the songs feature inventive writing, great solos and ensemble precision. Most of all, the band features musicianship at the highest level. The challenging Bandits music is a showcase for many top-notch musicians on the NYC “scene.”

Joey Berkley’s Bandits also serves as an instrument for education. Because teaching is a significant part of Joey’s responsibilities as a musician, his unique curriculum brings the stage into the classroom. As the director of the Westchester Center for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Joey uses Bandits to inspire and educate students with a “hands-on approach” demonstrating and instructing the duties of a professional musician.