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Rudder

Rudder is a NYC-based instrumental band. Founded on deep musical relationships and friendships lasting over a decade, this quartet brings an aggressive, driving rock and jam vibe to a purely instrumental setting. Rudder is equally led by its four members.

Chris Cheek (saxophones) is now somewhat of an icon in the saxophone world. His playing has been heard for years with the Paul Motion electric bebop band. He is also a member of Charlie Haden's Liberation Orchestra and has recently been playing with guitar great Bill Frisell. As a leader, Chris has four noteworthy albums to his credit in addition to appearing as a sideman on over 60 other CDs. This summer Chris is touring with Paul Motion and Bill Frisell. With Rudder, Chris plays tenor, as well as baritone sax and brings his unique usage of effects on his horn to the Rudder sound.

Henry Hey (keyboards) has enjoyed a widely diversified musical career in New York. He has toured and recorded with everyone from Jeff Watts, Alex Sipiagin, Bill Evans, Bill Bruford, Monday Michiru and Till Broenner to Harry Belafonte, PM Dawn, Phil Ramone, Richard Perry, and most recently extended world touring and television appearances as pianist and shared musical director for Rod Stewart. This summer Henry is touring with Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, Alex Sipiagin and Monday Michiru. Henry plays rhodes, organ and unique synthesized and sampled textures with Rudder.

Tim Lefebvre (bass) is one of the most skilled and sought after bass players in NY. Tim has made appearances in Saturday Night Live's house band over the last few years - his work has also been heard on The Apprentice, The Sopranos, Late Show With David Letterman, The Knights of Prosperity (CBS), 30 Rock (NBC), Oceans 12, Ocean 's 13, The Departed, Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, and Analyze That!. Tim was the Musical Director/Leader on The Caroline Rhea Show on ABC and has appeared recently with Chris Potter, Patti Austin, Uri Caine, and Dave Binney. This summer Tim is touring with Chuck Loeb, Dennis Chambers, Till Bronner, Eric Marienthal and Jim Beard. Tim brings his incredible support and huge low sounds to the Rudder vibe.

Rudder: Evolving Their Groove

by Cicily Janus
July 31, 2009

Unleashing their heavily rooted and pedigreed vine upon the jazz world, Rudder has succeeded in blurring genre lines with their irresistible groove. This NYC-based foursome with Henry Hey on Keyboards, Tim Lefevbre on Bass, Keith Carlock on Drums and Chris Cheek on Sax has continued throughout the past years to scale the wall of success in both the jazz and jam-band scenes. Their new release, Matorning, released in April through Nineteen-Eight Records promises more of their intelligent, head-knocking originality. Matorning ...

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Event

Danny Glover and David Rudder to Host Brooklyn Fundraiser

Source: Michael Ricci
April 1, 2010

Internationally renowned actor and activist Danny Glover and legendary recording artist and music producer David Rudder will host a fundraiser at Brooklyn hot spot Deity Lounge (368 Atlantic Avenue between Hoyt & Bond) on Monday, April 19th at 7PM. Billed as Cocktails & Conversation, the event will benefit Brooklyn's own Something Positive Dance Company. A portion of the evening's proceeds will be donated to the Haitian Earthquake relief efforts. In addition to Glover and Rudder, the event's host committee includes ...
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242

Festival

Nineteen-Eight Records Six-Day Music Festival in Toronto

Source: Michael Ricci
January 14, 2010

The Rex Jazz and Blues Bar will host a six day music festival featuring Nineteen-Eight Records artists from February 2-7, 2010. Highlights of the week-long event include appearances by 2007 Juno Award Winner Chris Tarry and RUDDER, the NYC based quartet whose most recent album, Matorning, was named one of the top ten albums of the year by the Boston Globe. Information is available by calling The Rex at 416 - 598 - 2475. Additional information on the artists is ...
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220

Radio

The Jazz Session #63: Rudder

Source: All About Jazz
June 22, 2009

Listen Keyboardist Henry Hey, saxophonist Chris Cheek and bassist Tim Lefebvre, who, along with drummer Keith Carlock, make up the band Rudder. These four musicians are incredibly busy in the jazz and pop worlds, but they've found the time to create a hip-shaking, brain-stimulating musical hybrid that some critics have said is in a genre all by itself. In this interview, the band talks about its history, the odd name of its new album (Matorning), and the relative lack of ...
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229

Recording

Rudder:Matorning

Source: JamBase
May 3, 2009

By: Trevor Pour

In the time since I reviewed Rudder's debut self-titled record last year (see review here), it has transformed into an absolute staple of my sonic diet. Its ambiguous genre label prevented me from accurately describing the music to my houseguests, but it never failed to impress even the most cynical listeneres. Rudder's latest creation, Matorning (Nineteen Eight Records), finds the talented NYC quartet with a significantly more focused sound and a substantially harder edge than their last ...
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Performance / Tour

Rudder Members Unite for Limited Northeast & Midwest Tour

Source: Michelle Roche Media Relations
September 14, 2007

ALT/JAZZ EMSEMBLE FEATURES SOME OF NEW YORK'S HOTTEST PLAYERS New York, NY--RUDDER is a NYC-based instrumental band comprised of Keith Carlock (Steely Dan, Sting) on drums, Henry Hey (musical director Rod Stewart) on keyboards, Chris Cheek (Charlie Haden, Bill Frisell) on saxophone, and Tim Lefebvre (SNL band, musical director Caroline Rhea Show) on bass. Founded on deep musical relationships and friendships lasting over a decade, this quartet brings an aggressive, driving rock and jam vibe to a purely instrumental setting. ...
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Bass Player:

New York’s latest underground groove quartet (bassist Tim Lefebvre, drummer Keith Carlock, keyboardist Henry Hey, and saxist Chris Cheek) debuts with a vibe-filled sonic treat. In addition to the customary retro funk and East Village electronica elements, Rudder draws equally from ’80s techno pop and radio rock; as on the Lefebvre-driven “Squarefoot” and “Sk8.” -Chris Jisi

Primary Instrument

Band / ensemble / orchestra

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Rudder is available for clinics

Photos

Music

Recent Releases

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson