Here’s a brief history of current and past music projects:
Basic Food Group
1986 - present
Basic Food Group is the music ensemble Todd created in 1986. Since 1993, the trio includes: Steve Boyles; guitar & Rik Sferra; drums.
Their first gig included additional musicians Rob Foy (drums), Paul Vachon (guitar) and Hall Sanders (saxophone). Other former members include Mike Bruns (guitar) Ben Glaros (guitar) and Vernon Norwood (drums). Since 1993 the group is comprised of Steve, Todd and Rik.
CD art by Rik Sferra. Please visit the BFG website for more information, to listen and download music and scores.
Dream Kitchen
2018 - present
Dream Kitchen grew out of various ensembles at the California Jazz Conservatory. The group includes Joyce Todd McBride; piano, Jeff Kaz; sax, Jeff Pera; drums. This group plays originals and new interpretations of modern music. Checkout DK’s music on Instagram, Bandcamp or Soundcloud
Dream Kitchen performing at The Dome Center for Arts, Music and Dance, October 8, 2022.
Performing in Berkeley, 2019. Left to right: Jeff “Kaz” Kazsubinski; sax, Jeff Pera; drums, Todd Larson, bass, Joyce Todd McBride, keys.
Strange Meeting
2021 - present
The trio consists of Renata Quintini; guitar, Jeff Pera; drums, Todd Larson; bass.
From the trio show in Menlo Park, August 3, 2022. Jeff Pera - drums, Renata Quintini - guitar, Todd - bass.
From the trio show in Menlo Park, August 3, 2022. Jeff Pera - drums, Renata Quintini - guitar, Todd - bass.
Mishmash
2023 - present
Klezmer meets hot jazz and Euro-folk. From left: Joey Appel: guitar. Ben Hartman: alto sax. Artur Friedhoff: violin. Todd Larson: bass.
Album released in August, 2023 on Bandcamp.
Mishmash performing at a gallery opening in Berkeley, CA, February 18, 2023. Photographer unknown.
Cheap Charms
2018 - 2021
Cheap Charms is Artur Friedhoff; violin, Alek Barkats; keyboards, Jeremy Cox; drums, Ben Hartman; sax, Todd Larson; bass. Here’s an album we recorded in 2019: Cheap Charms
Performing at The Dome in Oakland, 2019. Left to right: Ben Hartman; sax, Jeremy Cox; drums (hidden), Todd Larson; bass, Artur Friedhoff; violin, Alek Barkatz; piano.
The “Cheap Charms” CD was recorded in spring of 2019 at SAE Expression College Studios.
Slice
1983-87
Slice grew out of a project drummer Rob Foy and Todd devised to record their originals and provide music for WLOL FM’s “Breakfast Quiz” show with John Hines and Bob Berglund. Dr. Mark Wherry joined the group on keyboards and they continued to develop their R&B style, record and perform around the midwest, eventually earning an audition for Ed McMahon’s “Star Search” TV show. Members included Hall Sanders on sax, Lonnie “The L. Train” Farrow on guitar, Ginger Commodore and Dennis Spears on vocals, and guest studio musicians including Ricky Peterson and J.D. Steele. Slice also opened for Kool & the Gang at Riverfest in St. Paul in the mid 1980s.
Promo photo c. 1985. Left to right: Rob Foy; drums, Susan Larson; vocals, Ginger Commodore; vocals, Dawn….; vocals, Mark Wherry; keys + vocals, Todd Larson; bass, Lonnie Farrow; guitar + vocals.
Slice performs at Riverfest, St. Paul, MN c. 1986. Left to right: Mark Wherry, Ginger Commodore, Dawn, Rob Foy (hidden) Susan Larson, Todd Larson
2 Mikes In Racin' Wagon
1980s
This group was also known as the M.A.N. (Mike and Nels) Band back in the day. Mike Linden and Mike Nelson (Nels) operated A Christie Studios, and I did a lot of work there. Some of this 1980s work was released in 2014 as “Orphans of the Discotheque” by 2 Mikes In Racin' Wagon.
Rendezvous
1982-83
This jazz fusion group played originals and the music of Joni Mitchell, The Crusaders, Chick Corea and others.
c. November 1982. Top row: Bill Gabrys; keyboards, Bob Schepanik; drums, Paul Vachon; guitar. Bottom row: Giorge Pettus; vocals, Todd Larson, bass, Peggy Clark; vocals, Doug Keane; sax.
Studio Sessions + other…
Bass and production work on many demos, soundtracks, commercials and singer-songwriter projects starting in the 80s, including work with Tom Baden, produced by Yanni. Other projects included Tom Bartosh’s EP, work with The Suits (3-Piece) and The Dots (live at First Avenue).
Here’s a photo from a session with Alec Barkatz during the pandemic in 2020, working on a TV soundtrack on my back deck in Oakland:
