Milk and Cookies

The original material reveals roots in rock, funk, R&B, and soul, and at times, a hint of gospel and rockabilly. The band has worked hard to craft a signature sound that transforms easily from high-energy rockers to blues ballads. Although serious about their music, the Phat noiZ Blues Band occasionally projects its sense of humor into songs about love, life, and its complexities.

The rapid-fire guitar attack of Alvin Jett is complimented by jazz influenced sax riffs delivered by musical partner Frank Bauer, fueled by driving rhythms of Jeremy West, and held together by the tenacious bass lines of Matt Davis.

Milk and Cookies was co-produced by Steve Ewing of Ten Ton Productions with the help of the band. The album was also engineered and mixed by Steve and recorded at Music Creek Soundworks Inc. in St. Louis. Guests on the album include harmonica player, Arthur “Mississippi” Williams, who also provides background vocals, and Rich McDonough on slide guitar.

A native of East St. Louis, Alvin Jett has been entertaining audiences throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area for twenty-five years. Although Jett came from a musical family, he didn't seriously start playing guitar until he was 20 years old. Jett quickly learned the rudiments, and received his formal blues education playing with Tommy Bankhead & the Blues Eldorados honing his skills into his own fiery brand of hard driving St. Louis blues.

The Phat noiZ Blues Band is Jett’s means for delivering to the audience his brand of in-your-face, hard driving blues. The band performs its own unique style of original blues music as well as blues, R&B and rock standards. Currently operating as a four-piece, the Phat noiZ Blues Band consists of Alvin Jett on guitar and vocals, Frank Bauer on saxophone and background vocals, Jeremy West on drums and Matt Davis on bass and background vocals.

Saxophonist Frank Bauer led his own band, Blues Attitude, for some five years before hooking up with Jett in 1999. A fan and player of both jazz and funk; Bauer is rooted in the blues sounds pioneered by Dexter Gordon, Gene Ammons, Maceo Parker as well as local St. Louisian’s Oliver Sain, Corky Blake, and Dennis “Chicago Slim” Lansing. Having given up playing sax for sports as a child, he returned to his true love back in the early 90’s and has been performing in front of audiences ever since.

Literally a student of music, bassist Matt Davis, who joined the band in 2003, is a graduate of the Webster University music program. Describing his music as Saikyou-Ryuu, Davis toured with nationally renowned jazz vocalist Erin Bode, the Mighty Big Band and Stoned Walls.

Self-taught drummer, Jeremy West, who also joined the band in 2003, anchors the Phat noiZ sound with the savvy of a musician much more experienced than his 24 years. He has drummed in a number of local punk bands, with Shania Twain, Building Rome and Steve Ewing (former lead singer of the URGE).

In addition to a demanding regional tour schedule, over 200 gigs a year, Alvin Jett & the Phat noiZ Blues Band performed at the 2005 King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas, in addition to festivals throughout Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and the Pacific Northwest. Alvin has also been a part of the Guitar Masters Concerts promoted by the St. Louis Blues Society.

Alvin Jett & the Phat noiZ Blues Band were finalists at the 2006 International Blues Challenge, sponsored by The MO Blues Association, and their first CD, Wet My Beak (Self-released 2005), made the final four for the title of Best Self-Produced CD.