Urban Family Dog

URBAN
FAMILY DOG
"3-FINGER CHARLIE"

Nels Dielman - Producer, Drums
Keri Johnson - Vocals
Joshua Geller - Guitar
Charles Chastain - Bass
Steve Stassi - Trumpet
Mike Rotondi - Trumpet
Matt Lilley - Saxes
Mike Harrington - Bass Bone
Roger Johnson - Percussion (studio)
Nathalie Wood - Vocals (studio)
Bob Harrington - Bass Bone (live)
Jacqui Walker - Vocals (live)
Vien Hong & Shaun Lang Photographers

Urban Family Dog (UFD): an 8-piece American retro funk-rock ensemble and horn section formed in Los Angeles, California. Fronted by dynamic singer/songwriter Keri Johnson, their musical style fused traditional funk with elements of other genres including hip hop, rap and progressive rock. One of the unique features of UFD's groove is the upside-down relation of the guitar and bass. Charles Chastain's funk-filled slap bass is extremely busy and rhythmic, while Josh Geller's open, syncopated guitar parts tend to weave around the grooves. UFD's horn section, known as the K-9 Brass, played film-score motifs and jazzy, open solos.

UFD's third CD, 3-Finger Charlie, named in tribute to bass player Chastain (who attended Grove School of Music) is a reference to his grisly encounter with a Skilsaw November 2001 and his subsequent recovery. Chastain successfully duplicated all the parts previously recorded with four fingers with only three functional digits in subsequent live performances. 3-Finger Charlie was produced, engineered, and mixed by new drummer Nels Dielman and was recorded entirely in the band's studio in Westchester, CA.