The Codetalkers

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The Codetalkers is a jazz rock and roll band from Atlanta, Georgia, comprised of Bobby Lee Rodgers, (lead vocals, electric banjo, guitar, "air trombone"), Tyler Greenwell (drums, vocals) and Ted Pecchio (upright bass, vocals). The band was formed in 1999, upon the meeting of Rodgers and Col. Bruce Hampton at a show at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. The Codetalkers have gone through a couple personnel changes before settling on the current line up in the spring of 2004. Their music has been described as a mix of jazz, rock, blues, bluegrass and funk with improvised jams being the main theme in their live performances. Some of their unique sound comes from their use of a Leslie cabinet for Rodgers' guitar [1]

The Codetalkers have a reputation among the jam band crowd for entertaining fans not only with their music, but their antics while on stage. They are also a taper friendly band, who encourages the taping and trading of their live shows, provided that no money exchanges hands. The band is also known for having guest musicians frequently join them for all or part of a show. Some notable on-stage guests of The Codetalkers have been Derek Trucks, Bob Weir, Mike Gordon, Jimmy Herring, Hubert Sumlin, Ron Holloway and Ike Stubblefield (about who the quartet have penned a song bearing his moniker).

While primarily playing the bulk of their live performances up and down the east coast of the U.S., The Codetalkers usually also play several music festivals each year, such as Vegoose in 2005 and Bonnaroo in 2002 and 2006.

Bobby Lee Rodgers is the songwriter responsible for the original material played by the band. (A couple songs have been co-written with band members.) Rodgers is reported to be a great-nephew of Richard Rodgers (of Rodgers & Hamerstein fame.) He was one of the youngest professors ever to teach at the Berklee College of Music (the world's largest music college) joining Pat Metheny and Herbie Hancock who are also among those ranks. His background is mostly in the jazz world (he was a professor of jazz studies at Berklee) but played bluegrass as a child (his first instrument was the upright bass, which he picked up at the age of seven.) Rodgers' songwriting and instrumental/vocal skills has lead him to great places, most recently as the band-leader for Herring/Rodgers/Sipe, formed with Jimmy Herring (Aquarium Rescue Unit, The Allman Brothers, The Dead, Phil Lesh & Friends) Jeff Sipe (Aquarium Rescue Unit, Phil Lesh & Friends) Mark van Allen (Sugarland, Blueground Undergrass) and Neal Fountain (Fiji Mariners). Herring/Rodgers/Sipe tours in late May of 2006 and continues with dates during the summer of 2006. The band will play songs written by Rodgers.

The Codetalkers first CD, released in 2001, was self-titled and was recently re-released as "Deluxe Edition". Their second record, "Now" was released in June of 2006.