Con Brio is a living, evolving testament to the power of soul. Propelled by the young phenom Ziek McCarter – a charismatic, undeniably gifted showman – Con Brio’s sound draws a clear lineage from the dance-heavy funk legacies of legends like Sly & the Family Stone and James Brown, while keeping an eye on R&B trailblazers like D’Angelo and Prince and a focus firmly on the future.

Based in San Francisco and named after a musical direction meaning “with spirit”, Con Brio has a relentless drive for experimentation, for pushing their technical ability to its limits, for reaching beyond the familiar. The resulting dynamic fuses driving rhythms, blazing guitar-work, soaring horns, the growl of on analog synthesizer or hammond organ, and shimmering, sultry vocals with an unforgettable stage presence and seemingly limitless energy: altogether it’s one hell of a party.

In 2013, the longstanding rhythm section of drummer Andrew Laubacher and bassist Jonathan Kirchner joined forces with incomparable guitar slinger Benjamin Andrews and McCarter: a Texas transplant who as a 19-year-old had already begun drawing crowds in his new hometown. Add in the fireworks of Marcus Stephens on tenor saxophone and Brendan Liu on trumpet and you have the skill and confidence that comes from years of stage time and deeply-established musical partnerships with the thirst and energy of a rising star – a bright light who’s just getting started.

Thanks to a legion of dedicated fans (who reliably show up to tear the house down at every available opportunity), the band has shared the stage with artists such wideranging artists as Meshell Ndegeocello, Fishbone, Galactic and Trombone Shorty.

Upcoming 2016 festival performances include Bonnaroo, Byron Bay Blues Festival (Australia), North Sea Jazz (Netherlands), Fuji Rock (Japan), Outside Lands and Lollapalooza.

The release of the Kiss The Sun EP in February of 2015 marked the beginning of Con Brio’s international touring and ambitious performance and release schedule, which will continue through 2016 with the release of their debut full-length record. The producer and mixer of the album is the legendary Mario Caldato Jr. whose credits include Jack Johnson, Beck, Beastie Boys, Seu Jorge, Manu Chao and Run DMC.