Allman Brothers Band bassist Oteil Burbridge will bring his band, the Peacemakers, to Canyons in Blowing Rock next week. All-Star First Bass Man Oteil & the Peacemakers at Canyons February 24 By Jeff Eason The man known simply by his first name “Oteil” has become the biggest sensation on electric bass since the world first discovered Flecktones phenom Victor Wooten. His full name is Oteil Burbridge and he has been a fulltime member of the Allman Brothers Band since 1997 and know has his own powerful musical act. Oteil and the Peacemakers will perform at Canyons of the Blue Ridge in Blowing Rock on Thursday, February 24th starting at 10 p.m. Advance tickets are now on sale. Since joining the Allman Brothers, Oteil has been the bassist for many of the historic Southeastern rock, jam and jazz bands of the early 21st century. In addition to his membership in the Allmans, Oteil has also been the bassist for Frogwings featuring Butch Trucks, Mark Quinones, Derek Trucks and Jimmy Herring. The band has also featured singers such as John Popper, Edwin McCain and Oteil’s older brother, Kofi Burbridge. Oteil first formed the Peacemakers in 2000 and soon after released and album of original material called Love of a Lifetime. “The Peacemakers are my jazz rock band,” said Burbridge. “It gives all of us a chance to stretch out and see where the music will take us.” Oteil describes the Peacemakers as an essentially American band. His influences include jazz, gospel, rock and even bluegrass music. “Even though we don’t play any bluegrass tunes, per se, the influence is still there. It’s in my head.” On 2003 the Peacemakers released their second album, The Family Secret. The album has been described as soulful jazz with a mix of instrumental and vocal cuts. The album also features a second disc that is a DVD with interviews with members of the band and a 40-minute bass lesson for aspiring musicians. Other projects that Oteil has been involved with include the power trio Vida Blue with Phish’s Page McConnell on keyboards and The Meters’ Russell Batiste on drums. He was also the bassist for the touring version of Gov’t Mule’s The Deep End, Volume One. He also performed as part of a reformed version of the Aquarium Rescue Unit with Colonel Bruce Hampton. Oteil’s two main pursuits continue to be the Peacemakers and the Allman Brothers Band. Last year he recorded the bass parts for that historic band’s first studio album in nine years. He even co-wrote the tune “Instrumental Illness” with guitarist Warren Haynes for the album.