Born
and raised in Ithaca, New York, 38 year
old Todd Horton spent thirteen
years living and working in New York
City before moving to Philadelphia in
2003. Much of his early career in NYC
consisted of performing his
original music with his own groups
in rock clubs around Manhattan. Early
influences by Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock
and Weather
Report
combined with his exposure to classic
rock and funk put his writing in the "crossover" category.
His band of many years, D BOP,
was a hard edged Jazz/Rock fusion group
and
an
outlet for his writing and experimental
use of guitar effects on stage (distortion,
wah
wah, harmonizer etc).
Throughout the 1990's, Horton cut his teeth with
famed altoist Arnie Lawrence in his Jazz group as
well as his experimental, improvisational group "The Arnie Lawrence
International Fun Co-Elation". Through this association he had
the opportunity to perform and record with many renowned musicians,
including Hiram Bullock, Winston Grennan, Bernard Purdie, Billy Bang,
Michael Urbaniak, Badal Roy and Vernon Reed, to name a few.
It was also through this collaboration that he met and began playing
with
members of The Spin Doctors, Blues Traveler and The Authority. He
eventually toured and recorded with The Spin Doctors and became an
honorary member of the band.
Spin Doctors drummer and longtime friend Aaron Comess has also been
a member of The Todd Horton Group for many years and produced their
2003 release "Seasons".
While in New York, Horton was
in and out of studios and clubs
with countless local bands. For several years he was a member
of Winston Grennan's Ska Rocks
Band, The Buddy Miles Experience
and
Atilla Engin's
New World Orchestra. Eventually, he
hooked up with Ani Difranco
in 2002 and went on several tours with
her in America and in Europe with Maceo
Parker's band. Horton also appears
on two of Difranco's albums, "Evolve" and "So
Much Shouting, So Much Laughter". Not long after Difranco
dissolved her band to be on her own, Horton left New York. "After
being with Ani it was rough being back in New York. That relationship
was expected to last for some years but it didn't work out
that way. Ani grew tired of touring with a band and wanted to
get
back to
being solo
girl again.
But back in New York, work was scarce and rent was soaring in
the city. Plus, I'd been replaced in all of my regular gigs when
I joined
her band. And I
just couldn't do the New York hustle anymore and desperately
needed a change of atmosphere after the Ani experience. It
was
really
deep and opened my eyes
and ears to a
lot. Among other things, it taught me that
I didn't have to be in New York to being doing great
things anymore".
Another important part of Horton's musical evolution were the many
years he spent playing with West African musicians, including JoJo
Kuo, Richard Bona and Francis M'Bappe. This had a huge influence
on his approach to improvisation as
well
as
his
writing style.
Of all the groups he was involved with, African Blue Note
stands out. They still perform together regularly in clubs, theaters
and festivals in New York after twelve years together. Horton is
the only non-African member of the band and also one of it's founders. "The
music ABN plays is totally unique. It has all of the rhythm elements
of traditional West African music but the improvisational and compositional
elements
of Jazz and Funk. There is really only one band like it in the world.
And after so many years we are all like brothers. ABN has always
been my favorite group to play with, including my own because there
is so much
to be said, musically, when you
combine those elements. And with the high level of musicianship
in that band it's impossible not to be creating
high art and having fun all of the
time."
Since moving to Philadelphia, Horton has continued to lead and perform
with his own groups but has also spent a significant amount of time
in his own studio working on various projects. He now splits his
time between composing, producing and performing. "I can
no longer be satisfied wearing just one hat. I need to do other things
besides playing horns. But I love touring and playing concerts. And
when I'm not doing that I am quite happy producing someone's
album,
composing
a film score or just recording experimental music in my
studio. But at any moment I could be
back out on the road with someone or other." Horton will
be introducing his new band to the stage in 2008 and will be recording
and performing concerts here and abroad.
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