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Jeff Babko

Pianist/keyboardist Jeff Babko is a native of Southern California, and has remained on the west coast throughout his career.  Babko constantly balances many musical and professional hats, as an in-demand recording musician and touring keyboardist.

After graduating from the University of Miami’s distinguished Frost School Of Music, Babko began working with international superstar Julio Iglesias on a series of worldwide tours.  He also appeared in Iglesias' "Tango" longform video.

After leaving Iglesias, Babko began regularly touring Asia and Europe super-drummer Simon Phillips. Soon after, he joined guitarist Robben Ford's band, and later extensively toured and recorded with Larry Carlton.  With Carlton, Babko performed for the King and royal family of Thailand in Bangkok's royal palace.   Listeners can enjoy Babko's recorded work with Ford and Carlton on their joint effort, Live In Tokyo, as well as on some of their individual recordings (see "other people's rekkids" section).  Babko also backed Carlton with Japanese B'z guitar superstar Tak Matsumoto on their Grammy award winning recording.

Other tours included Europe with the L.A. supergroup TOTO in 2000 (including the "Live In Sofia" television special), and also with Grammy award winner Shelby Lynne.  

Television work began with Martin Short’s syndicated talk show in 1999/2000, and later on the Wayne Brady daytime show.  For the past 15+ years, most significantly, Babko has been the musical arranger, a composer, and house band member on ABC TV’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live”.  He’s backed up countless rock, pop and jazz artists on the show, and has produced much of the music for its comedy segments (including co-writing “I’m F**king Ben Affleck”).

Always keeping one foot dipped in comedy territory, Babko has been the touring musical director and accompanist for Martin Short since 2002, and also performs with Mr. Short & Steve Martin, also joined by the Grammy award winning bluegrass group Steep Canyon Rangers.  Babko can be seen on Steve Martin & Martin Short's Emmy nominated and wildly popular Netflix special, released in May 2018.

In 2010, Babko recorded (“100 Miles From Memphis”) and toured with Sheryl Crow.  The "100 Miles" band, dubbed "The Thieves", recorded a live set from the Pantages Theatre, which has been a televised mainstay since its release.  Another ongoing touring and recording situation has been with James Taylor, and Babko can be heard on Taylor’s “Covers” record, including its single, “It’s Growing”.  Babko joined Taylor on the 2017 stadium tour with Bonnie Raitt, performing at Wrigley Field and Fenway Park, among other legendary ballparks. 

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8
Album Review

Ann Hampton Callaway: Finding Beauty. Originals. Volume 1

Read "Finding Beauty. Originals. Volume 1" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


"This is my most personal record," Callaway says. “Throughout my career, I've loved singing the great jazz classics and selections from the Great American Songbook, but I've always snuck my original songs on various projects. The pandemic made me think, 'I don't know if I'll live through this, but if I do, what's at the top of my bucket list?' And I realized that I wanted to tell my story and share the deepest part of me. What better way ...

3
Album Review

Dan Schnelle: Shine Thru

Read "Shine Thru" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Dan Schnelle is a drummer on the Los Angeles music scene who has played in a lot of contexts. That is reflected in his first album which delves into different shades of jazz-rock with traces of exotica and electronic music in the margins. “Unknown Territory" and “Spaceman Spiff" are angular pieces that spotlight the atmospheric keyboards of Jeff Babko and the electric guitar of Anthony Wilson with the ethereal vibe of a vintage science-fiction soundtrack. “Shine Thru" ...

6
Album Review

Dan Schnelle: Shine Thru

Read "Shine Thru" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


This debut album from one of the West Coast's go-to drummers delivers an empyrean escape while offering a clear look at the impressive inner workings of a beautiful mind in motion. Those who know Dan Schnelle as a sideman will recognize his master musicianship right off the bat as he lays the foundation for this absorbing music, but they'll probably also come to realize that there's far more to the man than his stick work. In crafting a program built ...

10
Album Review

Mike Miller: Trust

Read "Trust" reviewed by Jim Worsley


This record is more than a breath of fresh air. It is more like when you open the front door and that momentary rush of crisp wind blows in. Trust embraces that sensation and creates a limitless screen door of opportunity. Ten original and melodious compositions by Mike Miller seamlessly flow, and both sustain and cherish the feel of the moment for the duration. The magnitude of this project propelled Miller to assemble an elite group of musicians. ...

24
Album Review

Lyle Workman: Uncommon Measures

Read "Uncommon Measures" reviewed by Mike Jacobs


If there's a major takeaway to be had from listening to guitarist Lyle Workman's Uncommon Measures, it's the palpable sense that all of his impressive musical experience has been poured into it. And to that end, Workman certainly doesn't bury the lead. The epic opening track “North Star" can single-handedly make sense of Workman's entire decades-long resume. It's a CV that includes working in and with bands (Bourgeois Tagg, Jellyfish, Frank Black), being a “hired gun" guitarist (with such icons ...

3
Album Review

BKO Quintet: Bamako Today

Read "Bamako Today" reviewed by James Nadal


While most musicians have the convenience of being in a relaxed atmosphere while preparing to produce a record, this was not the situation for the members of the BKO Quintet. Amidst the revolutionary turmoil which embroiled Mali in late 2012 to the brink of civil war, they maintained focused on their musical endeavor, albeit with a warranted sense of urgency, until with the proper visas and connections they were able to fly to France to produce Bamako Today. Though it ...

180
Album Review

Jeff Babko: Mondo Trio

Read "Mondo Trio" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Stepping out of the confines of the house-band on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live Show, keyboardist Jeff Babko recruits drumming legend Vinnie Colaiuta and Bela Fleck's saxophonist Jeff Coffin to record Mondo Trio,(Abstract Logix, 2007) his first effort as leader. The nine original tunes deftly mix up elements of prog-rock/fusion, funk, plus jazz, and it makes for absorbing listening.

There is a touch of early '70s Zappa about “Head Trauma, with keyboard and sax laying down a grinding riff ...

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218

Performance / Tour

Shogun Warrior to Record Live at the Baked Potato

Shogun Warrior to Record Live at the Baked Potato

Source: All About Jazz

The jam band Shogun Warrior, celebrating six years of playing the first weekend of every month at L.A.'s famed Baked Potato, will be recording live for two nights at the legendary club on December 6th and 7th.

The band features founder Mike Elizondo on bass, who produced Rilo Kiley and Maroon 5, as well as co-writing 50 Cent's hit, “In Da Club." Keyboardist Jeff Babko and guiarist Toshi Yanagi appear nightly on ABC-TV's “Jimmy Kimmel Live" show, as well as ...

177

Recording

Mike Clark's Prescription Renewal Featuring Paul Jackson & Jeff Babko

Mike Clark's Prescription Renewal Featuring Paul Jackson & Jeff Babko

Source: All About Jazz

MIKE CLARK gained worldwide recognition as one of America's foremost jazz and funk drummers while playing with Herbie Hancock's group in the early 1970's. Clark became known as a major innovator through his incisive playing on Hancock's Thrust album, which garnered him an international cult following. He is currently busy touring with his own Prescription Organ Trio / Duo, featuring Jerry Z, doing clinics and performing at clubs and concerts nationwide.

Clark's work continues to influence successive generations of drummers ...

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Clam City

Sam First Records
2023

buy

Finding Beauty....

Shanachie Records
2023

buy

Trust

Blue Canoe Records
2022

buy

Shine Thru

Outside in Music
2022

buy

Uncommon Measures

Blue Canoe Records
2021

buy

City of Cranes

Self Produced
2016

buy

New Jersey Ballad

From: Clam City
By Jeff Babko

Colvin

From: Trust
By Jeff Babko

Noble Savage

From: Uncommon Measures
By Jeff Babko

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