Ari and the Alibis Return to Bradenton Friday Night

BRADENTON – Ari & the Alibis have a one of a kind sound that is quickly gaining the group national acclaim. On Friday night, the Sarasota-based band returns to Bradenton for an 8 p.m. show at Ace's Live.

It's not easy to stand out in today's music world, yet it's utterly impossible for a group like Ari & the Alibis to blend in. An ongoing joke exists over trying to define the group's musical genre. There are elements of rock, funk, jazz, ska and samba as well as blues, soul and tango. It's a veritable mixed bag of styles that manage to come together in some of the most original music on the current scene. In fact, there's so much to the band's sound that it's often difficult to believe only four instruments are at work.

Guitarist Nicolaas Kraster has some of the most diverse influences imaginable, and it shows in every song. Growing up as the son of musician parents in New York, Kraster began with all of the expected rock influences before discovering flamenco guitar and making a name for himself on the world music scene with his band Cabal. These days, Kraster will often play a custom electric flamenco guitar that adds just one more element of mystery to the Alibis' sound. His solos are an understated thing of beauty that rival even the very best axe-men in the area.

Kraster's guitar playing is perfectly complemented by trombonist James DaBone, and the two musicians clearly enjoy tremendous chemistry. DaBone, a Booker VPA product whose upbeat, improvised horn solos are a key ingredient to the band's success, is also easy to point to as being the group's secret sauce.

Then one considers the band's drummer, John "Tip Money" Walker, a classically-trained musician who came to SRQ via Oakland, CA. Walker, who also teaches music theory to kids, brings his own broadly diverse musical background to the table. Before joining the band full-time, the drummer was an on again/off again member, and his occasional absence made it clear exactly how important his contributions were to the overall sound, as well.

Once Walker was finally locked down on drums, however, the band struggled to find a bassist who could commit to the increased demands of bookings and travel. Enter Omar Rodriguez, whose incorporation has not only filled the hole but improved the foundation.

"The addition of Omar on bass has really changed the personal dynamic of the band," said Kraster. "He became an instant family member. He brings an energy and positivity that is infectious, and he can play the hell out of the bass."

Gliding over the Alibis' unique sound is the powerfully-smooth voice of Kraster's wife, Ari McManus, also a Booker VPA alum. McManus, who sang briefly with Kraster in Cabal before they broke off to form the current band, is not only a top-shelf vocalist but a first-rate entertainer, to boot. Her visually-captivating performance draws in the eyes of the audience, and the ears are sure to follow.

McManus and DaBone

The band is riding high on several recent successes, including two mini tours during which they were well received in some of the U.S.'s most venerable music cities, place like Los Angeles, New Orleans and and Austin, TX. The last time they were in town was for the Bradenton Blues Festival, where they drew a full crowd to the riverfront for the Friday night Blues Appetizer concert that also included Damon Fowler. By the time the festival–which included an A-list of national and regional performers–had wrapped up, I was hard-pressed to name an act that had performed a better set than Ari & the Alibis.

The chance to see them at an intimate venue like Ace's, where the cover will be a mere $5, is probably not an opportunity that will last long, given the band's continued ascent, and they are eager to return.

Check out the video below of the band performing at Janus Live, and then get out to the show Friday night to catch a local act on the rise while you still have the chance.