Avatar Blue
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Avatar Blue (1992-1995) exploded on the Boston music scene as an influential R&B/Funk band in the early 1990’s. Immediately earning “Best Unsigned Band” (Musician Magazine), “Best Funk Act” (Boston Music Awards) and “Best Hip-hop/Rap Act” (WFNX Reader’s Poll) nominations in 1993 and 1994 this rebellious octet made up by James Bas (Guitar), Jim Calandrella (Tenor Sax), Deanna Dellacioppa (Vocals), Mick Demopolous (Bass), Ron Lowenstein (Alto Sax), Chris Phoenix (Vocals / Keyboards), Bryan Steele (Tenor Sax) and Troy Velazquez (Drums), felt they had something to prove. Phoenix later admitted in Performer magazine that the band started out being very competitive with other local funk heavies Chucklehead, Chuck and Rippopotomus. One such story has the band performing a mocking version of Knucklehead the first time they opened for party juggernaut Chucklehead, ”…let’s just say there was a little tension backstage after our set.” The instrumental piece SLAM was written specifically to be performed at gigs to demoralize the horn sections of other bands, “We had the best d**n horn section in Boston and we let everyone know they we’re gonna get blown away .”
In an attempt to ease tensions, Chris Phoenix wrote the unity anthem Hip-Hop 2 The Top and invited Joe Peek (Chuck) and Mike Stevens (Rippopotamus) to perform on the track. Hip-Hop 2 The Top debuted on WFNX and was then performed at the 1994 Boston Music Awards after party by all three bands. By 1994 Avatar Blue had begun recording their debut LP when the departure of band members required replacements to be found. Laquinta Brown (Vocals), Takahiro Miyazaki (Alto Sax), Lyn Tatsuno (Bass), and Reiji Munekoa (Guitar) were quickly added to the roster and a heavy diet of performances and recording at Phoenix Recording (Allston, MA) ensued.
The self titled 15 track debut LP CD, Avatar Blue, was released in early 1995 on the PolyGram boutique label Renaissance Records and distributed by PGD. Initial reviews cited that the album contained strong Pop/R&B ballads in Sittin’ On the Edge and This is Love, but that it suffered from a lack of direction as it attempted to “cover too much ground” as it skipped between Pop, Funk, Reggae and Hip-Hop. Note Magazine stated that “This record has a jump start on the listener causing you to have to try and catch up to its dazzling fusion of pop, R&B, funk and hip-hop.” Despite it lukewarm reception the album did manage to get considerable New England college radio play for Tell Me Why and earned Chris Phoenix and Deanna Dellacioppa a Billboard Songwriter Achievement Award for Sittin’ On the Edge.
Regularly found at the House of Blues and Aerosmith’s Mama Kin, Avatar Blue and their “Get On It!” mantra earned them a reputation for “furious horn arrangements” and “slick, melodic pop-funk” often being compared to The Brand New Heavies and Prince’s NPG (New Power Generation). The band continued to perform and record but was finally disbanded in late 1995 when co-founder Chris Phoenix moved to New York City.
Avatar Blue performed with: Average White Band, Blues Traveler, Bobby Orr (Cars), G. Love and Special Sauce, Powerman 5000, Terry Bozzio, WAR
Additional Notes: Nate Morton was the band's drummer for a few months in 1994 while Troy Velazquez had surgery to repair a hernia.
