B3 - New Songs, Old Socks (2022) Hi-Res

With their fourth album "New Songs, Old Socks", B3 are back and present both new songs and older pieces in a new guise, musically at home between blues, rock and jazz. Keyboarder Andreas Hommelsheim, guitarist/singer Ron Spielman and drummer Lutz Halfter last released the long-player "Get Up! Live at the A-Trane”. Due to the pandemic, the band had to postpone their 2020 recording plans and do without their French bassist Gérard Batrya. Without further ado, Hommelsheim took over the bass part on the electric organ, experimenting intensively with new sounds and effects. He arranged the music for a trio and expanded the band sound in the studio with a choir consisting of Ingrid Arthur (Weather Girls), Monica Lewis-Schmidt (Sarah Connor) and Simon Paterno (The Voice of Germany). He was also able to win percussionist Rhani Krija (Sting, Keziah Jones) and musical singer Veronica Appeddu (Tanz der Vampire) for some songs on the new album.

B3 mastermind Andreas Hommelsheim played with Alphonse Mouzon, John Lee and Gerry Brown, shared the stage with Kool & the Gang and worked with stars like Nena, Nina Hagen, Jan Delay, Smudo, Max Raabe, Ofrah Haza, Ute Lemper and Jennifer rush As musical director of the German version of countless famous film productions, he worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Hans Zimmer, among others. For "The Lion King" he received the gold record as producer of the original German soundtrack.

The band's guitarist and singer is Ron Spielman, whose distinctive and virtuoso playing between blues, rock, jazz and funk has long enjoyed cult status among the specialist press and fans. Spielman has played with Tommy Emmanuel, Beth Hart, Bootsy Collins, Chick Corea Electric Band, Climax Blues Band, Johnny Guitar Watson and has been a touring guitarist for Andreas Kümmert, Flo Mega, Ivy Quainoo and many more.

Drummer Lutz Halfter studied at Berklee College in Boston, among others, worked for numerous Berlin orchestras and theaters and drummed for Jocelyn B. Smith and Precious Wilson, among others. He has shared the stage with Hommelsheim since the 70s.