MEET THE BAND

Junkyard Saints is a DC/Baltimore-based seven-piece band with full horn section performing its own brand of New Orleans-style party music, blending funk, swing, Latin, R&B, with a splash of zydeco to round out the mix.

With regular college and independent radio airplay across the country, Junkyard Saints have played at some of the most notable venues and festivals in the country including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Pier Six, Ft. Lauderdale Cajun Crawfish Festival, Ft. Lauderdale Riverwalk Blues Festival, Bethlehem’s Musikfest, First Night, Iota, The FunkBox, and at private events for corporate and entertainment clients such as HBO, John Waters, Crayola, and Northrop-Grumman.

Junkyard Saints are:

BRIAN SIMMS (bandleader, lead vocal, keyboard, accordion) spent part of the ‘90s touring and recording with Rounder recording artists Disappear Fear. He has also performed and recorded with Indigo Girls, Patty Reese, Billy Coulter, Chopteeth, Lisa Moscatiello, Doug Segree, Eric Scott, Deanna Bogart and Kelly Bell Band. In addition writing and producing for Junkyard Saints, Brian has performed with and produced many Baltimore/DC area artists. His accordion, keyboard and vocals can be heard on many commercials and radio spots up and down the East Coast.

STERLING PATTERSON (guitar, vocals) achieved great fame on MTV in the 1980s with Baltimore band, The Gents. Influenced by Carlos Santana, Django Reinhardt and Steely Dan, Sterling’s guitar licks liven each performance and showcase the energy inherent in every Saints tune.

ANDY HAMBURGER (drums, percussion) is an award-winning drummer/percussionist from Washington, D.C. who has played with The Platters, The Marvelettes, The Drifters, The Coasters, The Ink Spots, Temptations and Harold Melvin’s BlueNotes, and many others. His 20-year career covers a broad range of musical styles, all of which bring a unique and driven rhythm to the Saints.

JOHN AVERSA (bass) came to the Saints after a stint with Baltimore funk favorites Jay Jay. After studying bass at Berklee College of Music, John has been integral to a number of R&B and rock projects with Baltimore’s Val Yumm and Mandrill. John’s innate sense of funk and roots rhythm sets him apart from other bass players and contributes to the powerful groove.

TREVOR SPECHT (saxophone, vocals) is a Peabody grad with a wide range of performance and musical technology experience, including classical saxophone quartets and wind ensembles to funk/rock party bands and Afrobeat band, Chopteeth. Trevor’s musical influences include Branford Marsalis, Charles Mingus and John Cage.

TODD BUTLER (trumpet) did his undergrad and graduate work at Towson University, and has established himself as a versatile performer in the area, working with artists including Little Feat, Bela Fleck, Jackson Browne, Billy Bob Thornton, Dana Carvey, David Spade, Robert Townsend, and The Drifters. Todd also leads The Todd Butler Group, voted Best Jazz Group in the Mid-Atlantic Music Monthly Readers’ Poll. Todd is a Yamaha Performing Artist.

JEFF CHIAVERINI (trombone) earned his B.S. in Music Performance from Towson University, where he learned from the Jazz great, Hank Levy. Jeff has performed with Jackson Browne, Little Feat, Bela Fleck, Lenny Pickett, The Temptations, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole, The O’Jays, The Drifters, The Meters, Yellow Man, Levon Healm, Billie Bob Thornton, Sam Bush, All Mighty Senators, and others. Jeff has many recording credits, appearing on radio and TV spots throughout the mid-Atlantic area and nationally.