In 2018, I left a position as the house keyboardist at the Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton, Florida, a wonderfully set up venue owned by keyboardist and vocalist Al Pollack.  The club has a full back line, and also features a Hammond B3 and 122 Leslie - definitely a keyboard player’s delight. At the steady Monday nights, there was good camaraderie among fellow musicians, and a good time was had with the devoted audience. 

As usual, however, there were lots of new ideas percolating in my musical brain, and again, as usual, I had the impetus to pursue them to the exclusion of some of the comfortable yet perhaps distracting gig cycles I found myself in, including this Biscuit gig.  And now, it’s 2025 and my group Blues Equation is returning to the Biscuit as a featured act - I thought I would share some thoughts apropos to this renewed connection. 

In my blog titled Why Blues Equation – In Naming a Band, I explored the origins of the group’s name and how the group is carrying on and expanding the Soul Jazz tradition. The Biscuit, in large part, a blues and roots based music oriented venue, not to mention the blessing of its Hammond organ, is ripe for the soul jazz experience that defines Blues Equation. So, as this is all lined up, for July 9, we’re taking aim, and looking forward and ready to make our mark.

To add a bit more - recently, at least since I was last performing at the club, the Biscuit has branched out bringing some of the more smooth jazz (typically saxophonist lead) groups. Of course, BEQ, with wide open arms welcomes the interest from those who frequent these shows. And while the group is orchestrated and balanced strongly with the powerful Hammond organ and virtuosic guitar work of David Landivar, our saxophonist Ben Sparrow shall not disappoint, being clearly one of the best toned and wise note choosers I’ve come across in a long career playing /recording alongside some of the greats.  

We also hope to take the energy of this crowd and buttress their experience, bringing some of the earlier fusion, some might say the origins of smooth jazz - the George Duke angle, even further back hook slingers like Ramsey Lewis or Booker T - into the present and the future.  As I put it in my last blog, and this is what I think BEQ adds to this mix, Soul Jazz is gritty, bluesy to the core, and the jazz part speaks of a level of freedom, expression and communication that can maximize the audience experience. 

And not least, there’s the ever compelling Afro-Caribbean and South American influence of the musicians juxtaposed with the ferocious and undeniable back beats of funk, rock, R&B from drummer Krister Landivar and the gang, also, the intrinsic connection to the spirit of classic rock that warms and permeates our collective consciousness.  So, what else is a music group here to do but take the crowd for a magical musical ride? Get ready . . . 

“Blues Equation” is the name of one of the group Blues Equation’s original compositions. It became the band name from that instinctive place a group arrives when no one can find a reason or the inclination to dislike the choice, and more reasons to like it. It also sounded good, and the song, a bluesy repetitive minor riff mostly in 7/4, is catchy, cooks, and is really fun to play. But there were doubters. A follower of the band insisted on referring to us as the D.O.G.S. (drums, organ, guitar, sax, a name originally considered), even after we’d made BEQ more or less official. His issue with the Blues reference in the name is worth exploring.

Blues Equation hails from South Florida, a region rife with bar bands playing blues based rock, ala southern rock, Texas blues, and heavy shuffles. And while there are of course other forms of blues derived from the field hollers which grew far reaching branches into Appalachia, New Orleans, and other regions of the country, locally here in South Florida, the crowds mostly expect some form of the former (the rock influenced blues prevalent in the clubs). Looking wider/worldwide, the blues reference also likely evokes some form of the 12 bar mostly guitar driven form. Recently on a trip to Rome, I attended a blues jam wishing for something other than what I would expect locally, but was disappointed to find something quite similar.

So the blues in Blues Equation could potentially be misleading to some. The reality is, however, that branches from the early blues roots were the same roots that intertwined with other musical influences in the development of early jazz. Arguably, jazz would not exist without blues. I take that back, let’s use the word inarguably. Blues is the human cry, it’s the improvisatory, it’s Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Monk, Coltrane and Miles Davis. Blues is the heart of jazz.

While some of the early fusion groups (think Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra) may have strayed to a degree from the blues base, or certainly could not be said to be steeped in blues, that’s not the case with Blues Equation. The essence of that early organ trio sound came from the Black church which is drenched in soul and blues; the progenitors of the hybrid gospel blues funk soul sound like Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff and later Joey Defrancesco earned that title which we apply to ourselves - Soul Jazz.  Soul Jazz is gritty, bluesy to the core, and that jazz part speaks of another level of freedom of expression and communication, and an exploratory approach harmonically and otherwise. 

Strawberry Fields segues to Within You Without You to an original shout gospel drenched tune where blues and Afro-Cuban grooves mind meld?  Yes.  And “Equation” ? Yup, Blues Equation might be prone to a few odd time signatures here and there, and may even consider the 12th bar of a blues in certain circumstances to be something avoidable, extraneous. But it all comes back to something relatable, cooking, taking the audience for a ride, and with great credit and appreciation given to the universality of those original five notes (found not only in the cotton fields of early America, but bored into ancient wind instruments), tones which when bent and shaped have given rise to a great and far reaching form of human expression. BEQ is proud and humbled to be a part of that.

Hi All - Here's an excerpt from upcoming book MUSIC LESSONS: A Young Baby Boomer's Journey Through Sound and Time

So there I was, a young journeyman musician moving from one group to the other at age eight, nine, ten, somehow avoiding the pitfalls of drink, drugs, and women. A few years down the road when I was about thirteen or fourteen, I was playing in a group with Steve Ettinger on bass, Buzzie Dumas on drums, and Jimmy Kessel on guitar, and had a good old fashioned life changing experience.  We were practicing a song called “Stormy Monday.” After the rehearsal, we went upstairs and Jimmy put a record on the stereo player. For me, back in the day, around 1970-71, the stereo systems were starting to become like one of the instruments in the band. No digital coldness, you could just feel those speakers, and the music breathing, something more than alive.  Jimmy wanted us to hear a particular recording of Stormy Monday. He put on the record, the soupy electric power of the needle hitting the empty record grooves setting the stage, and then - bang, the deepest richest sound I’d ever heard coming out of a speaker, or for that matter, anywhere in my universe, bellowed from the speakers. This was a live record, and you could hear/feel the ambiance of the location, the stage, the hall, the passionate commitment of the musicians, the excitement of the audience. The guitars were shining and crying, and spoke like I’d never heard an instrument speak before; the organ created a backdrop that felt as large as the auditorium itself (this was my first time hearing a Hammond organ so vividly);  the vocals were somehow gritty and velvety at the same time, and full of human soul. This would have been enough to change everything, but then, when the record finished, Jimmy put on the first song from the same record. More sound of the needle hitting the groove, then I heard a voice from the speaker, “OK, the Allman Brothers Band,” and the first lick of Statesboro Blues vaulted out of the speakers. That was it, my world had changed.

By John Burke
Freelance Writer

I am thrilled to introduce you to Blues Equation, a sonic powerhouse, bringing together the extraordinary talents of Hammond organ artist Tom Regis, South Florida saxophone phenom Ben Sparrow, and the virtuostic Landivar brothers — Krister on drums and David on guitar.

Blues Equation is not just another band; they are a vibrant fusion of sounds and styles, blending the traditional rhythm-and-blues-infused organ trio vibe with elements of jazz, Latin, and progressive music. Their innovative approach to music pushes boundaries while honoring the rich legacy of jazz organ groups rooted in the vibrant traditions of the Black church.

With each performance, Blues Equation transports audiences on a journey through the cultural melting pot of the Americas, infused with the rhythmic pulse of the Caribbean. Their music is a celebration of diversity, reflecting the unique influences that each member brings to the table.

Tom Regis captivates listeners with the soulful sounds of the Hammond organ, creating a lush backdrop that sets the tone for the ensemble's eclectic style. Ben Sparrow's saxophone adds a melodic brilliance, weaving intricate lines that dance effortlessly through each composition. Meanwhile, the Landivar brothers provide a powerful foundation with their rhythmic precision and virtuosity — Krister's drumming drives the energy, while David's guitar work adds depth and flair.

As they perform, Blues Equation invites you to experience a fresh and innovative sound that resonates deeply, connecting with audiences on both emotional and intellectual levels. Their music is not only a reflection of their individual talents but also a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity.

Join us on this exciting journey as we explore the music, influences, and stories behind Blues Equation. Stay tuned for upcoming posts where we will dive deeper into their latest projects, share behind-the-scenes insights, and highlight their upcoming performances.

We can’t wait for you to discover the magic of Blues Equation. Let the music play!