Chris Gibbs is originally from England but settled in Montreal in 2011. (Coincidentally, also from Reading like Caleb but the two actually met in Duffy’s, Dorval). He first experienced live music in the folk scene during his early 20’s, playing flute & recorder in pub sessions and back room 'lock-ins’. Soon he co-formed local folk group ‘Tanglefoot’ and for several years built his performance chops playing in folk clubs and festivals all around the UK. At that time his major musical influences were the Waterboys, the Levellers, Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention. This was also the period when Chris discovered the thrill of performing live and loved the way gigging would introduce you to so many new and interesting people.

 

After Tanglefoot Chris bought a saxophone and started to listen to funk, soul and jazz. He joined a 7-piece funk band, ’Souler Rhythm’, and over the next 3-4 years played literally hundreds of gigs to larger crowds and on larger stages, notably opening for some well-known acts such as ’The Average White Band’, ‘Bad Manners’, ’Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ and 'Terry Callier’.

 

Chris is involved in several musical projects in Montreal, the foremost being the live shows with Caleb playing warm and upbeat classic hits from all genres and adding colour and dynamics to Caleb’s original songs. A second project is with the ‘Fierce Tomkins’, a local 5-piece, writing and recording rock and funk music - kind of ‘Chilli Peppers meets James Brown’ - where the arrangements are tight, punchy and powerful.

 

Chris is a totally self-taught musician, playing 100% by ear, and all his shows with Caleb are improvised on the spot - influenced by the energy of the room, tempo of the song and mood on the day! 

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