Greg Izor and His Band

Singer and harmonica player Greg Izor is a premier member of the next generation of bluesmen. At the young age of twenty-seven, he already has a reputation for intense, high-energy performances, stunning technique and musical prowess. He has achieved many accomplishments, including appearances on television, radio, live web casts, and the appearances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Having grown up in the Northeast, then moving to New Orleans at the age of twenty, he is steeped in the tradition of the great Chicago and West coast harp players, and heavily influenced by New Orleans R&B, Swamp Pop, and Louisiana blues.Growing up in Vermont, Greg fell under the spell of deep blues. He started playing professionally at an early age, cutting his teeth in Burlington’s best blues bands, including the Left Eye Jump band and several of Jim Branca’s bands. With the encouragement of blues legend Junior Wells, Greg started his own ten piece band, 16 Coaches Long, that was a favorite on the northeast college circuit. As a teenager in Burlington, Greg played with many local musicians, including Big Joe Burrell, Bloozotomy, The Starline Rhythm Boys, Kip Meaker, Paul Asbell, The Eames Brothers, Jenni Johnson, Swail, and Sandra Wright.Greg moved to New Orleans in 2000, in order to study with the masters of blues, and immediately fell in with the cream of the crescent city’s blues scene. He came under the wing of one of today’s greatest harmonica players, Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone. Sansone mentored his young student, and taught him the importance of carving out an individual style. Greg strives to make traditional music fresh, by bringing a great deal of intensity and creativity to his playing, and by adding a variety of influences. Greg developed his fiery showmanship on Bourbon Street, where he was featured at the Funky Pirate Club five nights a week. Since moving to New Orleans, Greg has played with Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Henry Gray, members of the Samples, John Fohl, Jerry McCain, Eddie Bo, John Cleary, Lil’ Buck Sinegal and members of Clifton Chenier’s band, Mitch Woods, Warren Storm, Eric Lindell, Little Anthony Geraci, Anders Osborne, C.C. Adcock, Joe Krown, members of the Iguanas, and has played at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival three times with Johnny Sansone. Greg has been featured on the last five of the city’s harmonica shows, one of the city’s Jazzfest highlights. He has also been featured on bills with Kim Wilson, Rod Piazza, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, B.B. King, Carey Bell, Buddy Guy, The Dixie Cups, and many other legends. With regular appearances at legendary New Orleans clubs such as the Maple Leaf, Ernie K-Doe’s Mother-In-Law Lounge, and the 711 Club, he has earned a reputation for powerful, showstopping performances, remarkable technique, and instrumental prowess. Greg is also a member of the King Brisket Boys, a New Orleans all-star blues band that started out as the house band at Gatemouth Brown’s BBQ joint.Greg recently moved to Austin, TX, where has already started playing with the city’s blues legends. He is featured on the weekly Wednesday night “Soul Food Show” at Ben’s BBQ with members of the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Dave Alvin’s band.Greg has been featured on several different artists’ albums, including Eric Lindell’s critically acclaimed album “Change In the Weather,” and “Even Kids Get the Blues” featuring Bonnie Raitt. He has also recorded with the Dixie Cups, the King Brisket Boys, Jim Branca, Dawna Hammers, and the Left Eye Jump band.Greg believes in keeping the blues alive by adding outside influences, including southern soul, brass bands, and big bands, and by promoting the harmonica as an instrument. “I think it’s really important to keep the blues alive, and the best way to keep the tradition alive is to know the music of the masters, and add your own thing to it to keep it modern, and doing things to stay creative within the genre.”