Mo Egeston hits all the notes in busy life
Fans need a scorecard to keep up with St. Louis musician Mo Egeston these days.
Pianist/producer Egeston, who floats musically between different genres, can be heard in his groups the UG Project (short for the Urban Groove Project), Soul Alliance, and the Mo E. Trio, and he also plays in the bands Brothers Lazaroff and Lamar Harris & the L.
“It’s chaos,” local MVP Egeston says of his many affiliations, which exist partly out of necessity after leaving his job teaching music appreciation at McKendree College (now University) about five years ago.
“Since walking away, I’ve had to do different things to keep food on the table.”
Also, he says, he likes “working with people who are stylistically open, and have no attitudes, no extra layers of drama. That allows me to keep it together.”
His UG Project is one of his most visibly outfits, and features musician Lamar Harris on horns and more. They’re joined by percussionist Duane “Jingo” Williams on percussion and C. Jay Conrod on vocals, combining for a sound that lives up to its name, urban grooves.
“I’m running beats through machines and creating DJ effects, and there’s elements of jazz, soul, electronica, and Latin flavor, with house as the main driving sound,” says Egeston.
Soul Alliance pairs him up with R&B singer Coco Soul, and came about after his agent at Talent Plus suggested he start a new outfit that could play everything from the casino circuit to corporate gigs and special events.
“What we’re trying to do is encompass the whole world of dance, with club classics. But we’re adding more rock to our sound,” he says.
His Mo E. Trio lets him do jazz, soul, house, ambient and more within the context of a small trio. As keyboardist for the Brothers Lazaroff, he dabbles in Americana music including roots, reggae, and folk, though his work in Lamar Harris & the L harks closer to home.
All this juggling is nothing new for Egeston, who started his music career locally in 1995 when his Invincible Groov worked as the house band at the Green Room nightclub. He describes Invincible Groov as a party band who could “take Hendrix and put it to a funk groove.”
After the club decided to go in different directions musically, Egeston became part of the original lineup of the popular Vargas Swing. “We were fortunate enough to do an album and get out on the road,” he says of the original lineup that would last until 1999, when members began dropping off.
“People in the band were getting a lot of calls because they were great,” he says.
Egeston continued the Vargas Swing brand with Dawn Weber, and they grooved together for years. During that time, they also started Urban Jazz Naturals, which allowed them to dig deeper into their love of club music. Mo & Dawn became a catch-all for all their were doing.
But Egeston and Weber split in 2008, with the two ending their professional and personal relationships. “There was a lot there musically we never got to do,” he says of his former partner in music and in love, a person he still respects greatly. “It was a challenge keeping all of that in balance.”
Egeston, who teaches private lessons at his Egeston Piano Studio, started off as a classical player but says “the electronica world has been the most influential on my personal style. Every day I’m discovering something, and I’m a student of whatever situation I happen to be in.”
Mo Egeston, Sundays at Lola with Brothers Lazaroff Sunday, UG Project May 22, Soul Alliance May 23, c, and the Mo E. Trio May 30, free.
Get more information at www.moegeston.com and www.welovelola.com.
Mo Egeston: Press
Brothers Lazaroff ...
Jeff and David Lazaroff are the songwriting and harmonizing brothers of the band, but a crack rhythm section of drummer Grover Stewart and bassist Teddy Brookins, as well as virtuoso keyboards by Mo Egeston, expand the sound beyond just twangy roots.
...
This year, the brothers decided to bring it all back home to St. Louis (they grew up in Creve Coeur) and have put together one of the more striking, tight and steady bands in town, in keyboardist Mo Egeston, drummer Grover Stewart and bassist Teddy Brookins. The veterans of the funk, jazz, drum & bass, swing and world-music scenes in town had never played with singer-songwriters before, but they've radically altered the Lazaroffs' sound. The trio adds muscle to the rhythms, expands arrangements with funk and jazz, and grooves without ever descending into aimless jams — all while daring the brothers to jump out of their literate, open-ended songwriting skins.
The band was gathered via MySpace after the sessions for American Artifact, starting with Stewart. Brookins was cherry-picked from Stewart's friends list, and Egeston, whom the brothers first saw playing the keytar with Lamar Harris at the Delmar Restaurant & Lounge, came onboard last. "We're all from St. Louis," Jeff says. "And that gives us that thump, that driving, live sound. Our stuff can be done so rootsy, but we'd rather destroy it a little bit."
Mo:
Just a note of thanks for all you did to bring about a successful wedding/reception for my daughter, K. Your accompaniment with "Cookie" was great!
Again, thank you again for your technical help, adaptability, wonderful music, and professionalism.
I.F.
Brothers Lazaroff were the third St. Louis band of the afternoon, and they had the tightest rhythm section, playing a short, country rock set of originals and a Townes Van Zandt cover, "White Freightliner," to close out.
Dear Mo,
Thank you and your band for performing at our reception.
Thank you so much for providing sound as well. We also want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to rehearse with Robin. (solo vocalist) You all did a wonderful job.
Thank you again,
D and K
(UJN)
This 4-piece jazz/soul/house ensemble from St. Louis delivers one of the best tunes of the year... For the remix, JT(actually Mo Egeston- the remix was on the drums and arrangement only) does his thing with gentle keys, a fat bass, and muted trumpet (Dawn Weber) noodling. All the lounges will be bobbin' to this one. Gonna be major!
Maurice,
On behalf of the Our Gang Next Generation Players I would like to thank you for the accompaniment CD. It was a great help.
Love and Prayers, Our Gang Next Generation Cast (P.M.)
(UJN's "How Can I")...perfect for a nighttime, poolside soiree, even in the winter.
Werewolves of St. Louis: Warren Zevon Tribute 10/23/2009
Brothers Lazaroff followed with “Dirty Life and Times” and then a biting and genuinely howling “Werewolves of London” and “Disorder in the House.” Keyboardist Mo Egeston brought the noise and drummer Grover Stewart the funk.