As leader and founder of the band, Ted Onulak brings his many musical influences to the table. Hearing his sax work it's easy to hear the influence of King Curtis, Dexter Gordon and Ben Webster. Ted confirms, "I like and have always strived to have a big, classic sound. Some of my favorite stuff is from the mid-West Kansas City players like Lester Young, Jimmy Forrest and Buddy Tate, who I met in NYC and became a great mentor to me. Even Charlie Parker at his core is a Kansas City blues player. Listen to "Parker's Mood" if you have any doubts."
Ted's heartfelt vocal style and Blues harmonica playing reveal his deep blues roots, "I consider myself foremost a blues player. It was my first love. I remember moving to a new house with my family when I was about 10 or so and found some old blues albums in the attic. John Lee Hooker, Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' wolf and Muddy Waters. I remember listening to them over and over. When I was about 12 I started to play the harmonica, just teaching myself. It's interesting that I went immediately and naturally to the cross-harp style which is the blues way. Honestly, I really can't play any other way. But it's the blues vocals that kill me. The way that they can reach right inside you and squeeze your heart. I learned an essential thing, if you can't feel it, don't sing it."
These strong roots in blues and jazz do not limit his musical expression and curiosity. "I have always tried to work and perform regardless of the various trends that were happening around me, I played in some disco bands, Latin, did a stint in a Rolling Stones tribute band, Played at CBGb, the Peppermint Lounge, Mud Club and a host of others during the Punk/New Wave era and still managed to keep studying and playing jazz. I have played with Ghanaian master percussionists and Afghani ustads. I even did some Country Western gigs. When I played a country ballad on tenor, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. That's it, really, I'm a romantic at heart, I go for music with a lot of passion."
Diagnosed with a debilitating eye disease (RP) Ted was forced to give up the commercial work that was beginning to open up. "It was a real blow when I just couldn't sight read any more. It was a dark period in my life. I decided to go back and finish my degree at Rutgers in Soviet Studies." There Ted was in the Slavic Studies National Honors Society and still managed to study some Jazz at Livingston College and play with a local original rock group, The Swingers. "That band was a lot of fun, very Rock and Roll, with lots of screaming tenor sax solos, the reviewer in the Star ledger, said that Ted Onulak forms a sonic metaphor for dancing at a party with a lampshade on your head. Well, in that band, he was right."
After graduating, Ted moved to the Washington area in 1987 and has made it his home. "Beside my many stints with a variety of DC area bands, I am very proud that I worked with distinction for almost 15 years with the US Department of State Refugee programs, primarily, with refugees from the former Soviet Union . "One of the perks was that I got to travel to Moscow on several occasions and bring my sax. I played and sang with some of the best jazz musicians in Russia . Even did a blues show at B.B. King's in Moscow . Had a swingin' time."
Ted was recognized by the Department of State for his leadership and contributions to the Us Refugee Programs. "It was tough to make the decision to leave. My deteriorating sight made my job increasingly more difficult. But, now am devoted completely to music and other creative pursuits. I am writing poetry again and am putting on the finishing touches to an original screenplay. I have been married since 1998 to a lovely Brazilian woman, Fabiola Amarante, and am learning the language, music and culture of Brazil . Life just keeps on getting better!" |
