18. Percy Hill
“St. Lucilia”
from “After All”
Joseph Farrell–guitar • Aaron Katz–drums • Nathan Wilson–keyboards •
Yahuba Garcia–percussion • Adam Terrell–guitar
www.percyhill.com

Legend has it that a frustrated Jerry Garcia flipped open a dictionary in hopes of finding a suitable name for his band and the result was the name “Grateful Dead.” A phenomenon was born, as was a genre of music: “jam.”

For a group of University of New Hampshire students carrying on jam’s legacy, luck turned out to play a similar role in naming their band. It was when the bass player’s father’s name, Percy Hill, was spoken aloud that the band had their own “lightbulb” moment. Since that fateful session, Percy Hill has always set the bar for local, regional and even national purveyors of jam music, with their addictive fusion of organic percussion, jazz/funk guitar work and the soulful melodies of the Hammond organ and Rhodes piano.

Originally formed as a six-part group in 1993, the members of Percy Hill toured the Northeast and released a handful of albums to their ever-growing fan base until the demands of a touring lifestyle led to an eventual lineup change between 1997 and ‘98. Original members Nate Wilson and Joe Farrell, keyboards and guitars respectively (both also sing), were joined by bassist John Leccese and multi-instrumentalist/singer Aaron Katz—a creative powerhouse lineup that endures today.

The band refined their sound in the studio, adding lovely vocal harmonies to arrangements by Katz and Wilson. The result was 1998’s stunning “Color in Bloom.” The musicianship and skillful production found on the album helped to catapult the band into the national spotlight, where it earned Record of the Year accolades at the first annual Jammy Awards in New York City.

Between 1998 and 2005 the band played a limited number of engagements as each member focused on side projects. Wilson and Leccese joined former Strangefolk singer Reid Genauer as the Assembly of Dust, while Aaron Katz recorded and released a solo album, and launched a production company in Dover. In addition to these projects and more, the band released live material and an eponymous EP.
Percy Hill returned to Katz’s Dover studio in late 2004 to record a combination of new and road-tested songs. The sessions found the band producing some of their most focused and mature work to date, and resulted in their latest album, “After All.” Drawing influence from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and the oft-used comparison, Steely Dan, “After All” blends danceable grooves and meticulous production to create a sound that suits almost any atmosphere. In addition to continuing their prolific studio work, the band has been supporting the new album with a host of live dates around the country.