The world-beat band Sol'Jibe is independently gaining
national exposure and winning over fans wherever they play their
intoxicating, effervescent blend of rock, roots, flamenco, Latin
music, jazz, and world rhythms. Fans throughout the western U.S. have
purchased thousands of copies of Sol'Jibe's first two albums, On Your
Feet and Marinero, and sales of the band's new EP New Day are quickly
surpassing previous efforts. New Day is also getting played
extensively on dozens of college and Internet radio stations like
AccuRadio.com and Live365.com, as well as XM Satellite Radio. Voted
Reno's best band from 2005-2007 by readers of the Reno Gazette-Journal
and 2006-2007 by the Reno News & Review, Sol'Jibe won Harrah's "Search
for the Stars" competition and is on regular rotation on its hometown
Triple-A radio station 100.1 The X (KTHX-FM).
Sol'Jibe's sound -- which is often described as Dave Matthews meets
the Gipsy Kings -- is driven by the expressive vocals and violin of
Tim Snider and the passionate guitar stylings of Milton Merlos. They
first met showcasing their musical abilities in a high school talent
show and soon become the best of friends, sharing mutual interests in
cultures, sports, hobbies, and most of all, making music. Longing to
immerse themselves in the music of other cultures, the pair trekked to
southern Spain to study music with the Gypsies, honing their skills
and enriching their style. They returned home with a distinct sound
that can only be described as Sol'Jibe.
However, Sol'Jibe was officially born when Snider and Merlos enrolled
in the jazz program at the University of Nevada, Reno, and met soprano
saxophonist Jonathan Phillips and percussionist Cody Remaklus. The
band has toured relentlessly ever since, staging upwards of 200
concerts and clinics annually and recently adding artists like bassist
Fernando "El Nando" Flores, drummer Caleb Dolister, and pianist Joel
"J" Cowell to the mix.
Consistently performing to full houses, Sol'Jibe maintains a strong
sense of purpose for themselves as musicians. "Music is universal,"
explains Merlos. "Our dream is to experience every musical opportunity
possible throughout our lifetimes with the idea that it can create an
environment in which people culturally can be drawn closer together in
harmony." In addition to Spain, they've traveled extensively
throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean in pursuit of
this dream. The band also completed an intensive, three-week residency
at the National School of Music in Havana, Cuba, and intends to
continue studying culture and music across the globe.
Sol'Jibe is sharing that vision with a growing legion of fans, making
its major festival debut at the 2007 High Sierra Music Fest July 5th
at the Vaudeville Tent and on the Shady Grove Stage. The band also
performed at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, in 2005
and 2006, and headlined community concert series in California, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Sol'Jibe also has opened for
such national acts as Michael McDonald (at Red Rocks Amphitheater),
Micael Franti and Spearhead, New Monsoon, Steel Pulse, David Linley,
and Dave Koz.
Sol'Jibe's dream of fusing diverse world-music influences with their
own blend of American rock is taking them to new heights, and it's
only a matter of time before the masses take notice.
