Todd Ferris Mosby - Mosby Music Group - serving through music: Bio/Groups

Todd Ferris Mosby - Indian & Jazz Guitar Virtuouso

Composer/Guitarist/Educator

Todd Ferris Mosby is a world class North Indian Guitar and Western Jazz Guitar virtuoso and composer combining searing Jazz Rock with North Indian Raag Influences and a twinge of Bluegrass. Todd is a member of the Imdad Khani Gharana, India's royal family of sitar musicians.

Crossing all age and cultural bounds, Mosby is one of the few instrumental artists in the world at home improvising on the most complex set of chord changes or the most beautiful Raag. Worshops and master classes are offered which explore the differences and similarities between improvising on a set of chord changes, a raag and the development of modal composition.

Influenced by the music of John Mc Laughlin, Jao Gilberto, sounds of the Police, Claude Debussy, Imrat Khan and Wes Montgomery, Mosby’s ensemble performances are energetic and uplifting with a sound reminiscent of 70’s Mahavishnu and Chick Corea for Mosby Group, Pat Metheny and Jim Hall for Mosby Trio, Imrat Khan for Classical North Indian and Michael Hedges for solo guitar.

Well trained and highly skilled in the classical music of North Indian, Traditional American Jazz, Brazilian Bossa Nova, Contemporary Classical Composition and Funk, Mosby creates an exciting groove oriented sound falling into the world/jazz/bossa/rock categories of music. Audiences have labeled it Southern Jazz, Western Raag and Midwestern Folk Jazz.

Joyful, energetic, always cool and sophisticated Mosby performs high octane instrumental improvisational music of the highest standards. If Wes Montgomery and the Police spent 5 years in India and then came back to play gigs with earl Scruggs that is what Mosby Group sounds like.

Groups

Mosby Group

Mosby Group is an energetic contemporary jazz ensemble creating a joyful, energetic and devotional music and stage presence connecting to audiences of all ages. With guitar, piano, bass and drums, Mosby Group performs virtuoso instrumental live music of the moment in the moment. Unlike other jazz ensembles, this cool and sophisticated group performs an exciting Midwestern style of Jazz of the highest caliber reminiscent of John Mclaughlin, Pat Metheny and Wes Montgomery with a country twinge. If Wes Montgomery and the Police spent a 5 year hiatus in India and then hooked up with Earl Scruggs it would sound like Mosby Group.

Mosby Trio
Mosby Trio focuses its music on the great American standards in the Traditional Jazz Guitar Trio format of guitar, bass and drums creating a sophisticated and inviting environment. Mosby Trio's cool jazz blend moves easily from intimate ambiance to main stage headliner. Exciting originals and chorusing sound sweep the trio into Pat Metheny like Jazz rock.

Mosby Indian
Mosby performs the classic rags of Imdad Khani Gharana, the royal family of Indian music dating back 500 years of which he is an honored member. Mosby is a senior disciple of Ustadt Imrat Khan and performs on the Imratgitar, a 20 stringed hybrid sitar / guitar which melds the finest aspects of sitar and the finest aspects of guitar into one instrument. The music is authentic and original.

Mosby Solo
Mosby performs solo acoustic, electric and Indian guitar with the hot fire of flamingo and the warmth of a subtle ballads. Rapid fire acoustic strum patterns mixed with fast tans and scale passages and some jazz standards make for an exciting and full package performance.

Musicians

Carl Caspersen - Bass
Amazing technique, sense of time, feel and melodic concept, Carl is one of the finest and most sought after musicians in town. I have known and performed with Carl since he first moved to St. Louis 90-91 from Southern California. A very spiritually and religious minded soul and an incredible chef to boot. He studied at Grove Music School in L.A. and finished up at SIUE in Edwardsville, Ill. He is currently Music Director a Joyce Meyer Ministries which includes composing, producing and mixing music for television and radio.

Ron Carr - Drums
Ron Carr - Drums, Ron is extremely active on the St. Louis music scene. He is a drummer with a whole lot of fire and color to his playing which gives the ensemble a strong drive. One of my favorite drummers to work with, Ron is always right there throwing out tons of rhythmic energy.

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Marc Torlina - Bass
One of the most melodic bass players I know. Marc plays with the touch and knowledge of a guitar player. First inspired by his father playing guitar and the Beatles at an early age. Graduated SIUE as performance major and is one of the most sought after musicians on the local as well as national music scene with artists as diverse as Peter Meyer, Four Tops to Brazilian bands in Amsterdam.

David True - Drums
I have played with Dave since he was in high school. Always has a clean style and a fun person to hang with. First inspired by his mother who is an active St, Louis Jazz pianist. Graduated De Paul University in Chicago with a degree in music performance and is an active young drummer in both the Chicago and St. Louis music scene.

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Adam Maness - Piano
Adam is incredible. His ability to arrange produce, improvise and conceptualize his music is so unique. He constantly amazes me with solos that are so well and a feel that groves so hard. He has definitely added another dimension to the compositions and short form tunes I write and has an ability to get to the heart of a tune and bring out its overall structure in a way that relates well to the music and the listener. He is the pianist and composer for Erin Bode's group.

Henry Claude - Percussion
Henry Claude - A wizard with an array of instruments, Henry is an old cohort. He has performed, recorded and toured with the St. Louis Symphony for the past 20 years nationally and internationally.