The Flux blends Afro-Cuban rhythms, progressive jam rock, and funk into AfroJam - a style that amazes the trained musical ear and heats up the dancefloor. Since their genesis in early 2005, The Flux has electrified the West Coast scene from their home in Berkeley, California. In that time they've shared the stage with bands such as Albino!, Vinyl, Blue Turtle Seduction, Delta Nove, and the K23 Orchestra, building a devoted fan base attracted to their combination of quality compositions and a bit of on-stage silliness.
The Flux released their debut CD Burst in October 2006, with a blow-out party at the Ashkenaz in Berkeley. The 10 song collection runs the gamut from funky dance tunes (O Anna, Love is a Wave, Sorcerers of Funk) to Caribbean grooves (Downhill, Feed) to epic AfroJam explorations (Aloft, Subterranean Refuge). Burst is set to be released in Japan by Grey Dog's Records in October 2007, with 2 bonus tracks that define the current evolution of the band's unique sound (Volta Basin and Entropy). The progressive music underlies a progressive message: an appeal for social and environmental justice and self-empowerment. The songs on Burst urge the listener to "Feed your hopes, not your fears", and affirm that we still have the ability to change the world through our everyday decisions.
The five members each bring a unique contribution to The Flux sound. After studying neo-classical composition, Joe Balestreri developed his soulful lead vocals and sublime guitar style with Midwestern jam band Torque. Recently, Balestreri has enjoyed stints with Zigaboo Modeliste and Congolese guitar master Samba Ngo. He is joined by Phil Gorman on keyboards/vocals/trumpet, another classically trained composer with serious jazz chops. After composing musicals for several years, Phil now aims to turn the rock show into a theater piece. On Percussion, Matthew "Smitty" Smith's 13 years of African and Afro-Cuban Drumming experience includes an intense half year in Ghana as well as studies with Michael Spiro, Trevino Leon, Mark Lamson, Sandy Perez and Jesus Diaz. Smitty also tours extensively with Afro-beat band Albino! and has recorded or performed live with artists such as SambaDá, Friday Jumbo, Karl Denson, The Josh Jones Ensemble, Izabella, and Blue Turtle Seduction. On drum set, Brian Huston brings an explosive and fluid beat, refined at the Berkelee School of Music and countless rock, pop, and Latin fusion projects on the East Coast. He, like Smitty, has studied drumming extensively in Ghana, and the two lock together with the precision that only a decade of playing side by side can bring. Rounding out the rhythm section is bassist Ryan Lukas, a graduate of the Crane School of Music proficient in all styles of music from jazz, to classical, to rock and funk. He is a serious composer as well, having won the Music for Miracles songwriting contest in 2004. Solid grooves, intelligent lyrics, innovative arrangements, positive energy… that's what their fans expect and what The Flux delivers!