Veteran keyboard player Jeff Babko is probably most familiar to viewers of Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a member of the house band Cleto and the Cletones. Babko has also recorded or performed with heavyweights such as drummer Simon Phillips, guitarist Steve Lukather and Toto, Jeff Coffin, Neil Young and Sheryl Crow among others, some of whom have appeared on his own releases.
Babko has composed for and performed on numerous film and television show soundtracks. He’s also comic Martin Short’s go-to piano man, and has toured with Short and Steve Martin along with the Steep Canyon Rangers. He’s recently worked with John Mayer and his own band, which also features drummer Steve Ferrone: “I’m juggling a lot of things.”
Jeff Babko says many albums influenced him when he was younger. “At a certain time, you’re malleable and impressionable,” he said. “Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book was the first record I remember getting. I just digested and dissected it. Bruce Hornsby’s The Way It Is did a lot for my playing. Richard Tee’s Strokin’ and Natural Ingredients – I ripped off so much.”
When pressed to name just three, these are the ones he cited:
TOTO – IV (1982): I know every note. Dave Paich, his piano and B3 playing, I thought, was the template for how to be a successful Los Angeles session player. He drew from Leon Russell to the Band to Billy Preston. Plus Luke’s written part for “I Can’t Hold You Back.” Now that I know Dave, he’s very meticulous – deep pocket, depth, knowledge, touch. I was 10 when I got the cassette. Every song has its moments – like the Professor Longhair/Dr. John [sound] on the outro of “Rosanna.”
THOMAS DOLBY – THE FLAT EARTH (1984): There was more piano playing [than on Dolby’s debut album]. It’s a tossup between the first two. I realized how much I lifted from his piano playing on those. As a synth geek – which I am – by Flat Earth he had a Fairlight. The analog synthesizers on The Golden Age of Wireless were more appealing sonically. “I Scare Myself,” “Mulu [the Rain Forest]” was elegant, “Hyperactive!” – there was loads of interesting songwriting.
HERBIE HANCOCK – THRUST (1974): He was such a pioneer: clavinet, Rhodes – Fender Rhodes is probably my favorite instrument. “Butterfly” is the most beautiful a Rhodes can be played. The clavinet on “Spank-A-Lee,” the production, the interplay [between] Mike Clarke on drums and Paul Jackson [on bass]. He’s one of the greatest pianists to walk the earth.
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