“Powerful Blues / Jazz / Rock guitarist, JEFF PRINE is a Les Paul stylist with a strong personal sound that burns!”
As a journeyman musician from Brooklyn, NY, he’s shared the stage with Dickie Betts, Johnny Winter, Robin Trower, The Outlaws, Cyndi Lauper, Stuff (featuring Steve Gadd), and recorded original songs for Roulette Records.
As bandleader and regional guitarist in South Florida, Jeff Prine has provided musical backing for local blues legends like Joey Gilmore, Juanita Dixon and the late Big Mama Blue. During his two year stint helming the house band at Cheers, Jeff played with Albert Collins, Coco Montoya, Buddy Miles, Kim Simmonds, Dave Mason, Rick Derringer and Steve Morse. Recently, The Jeff Prine Group has opened for Matt Schofield, Shemika Copeland and was the featured guitarists for Ike Stubblefield.
As a recording artist, Jeff’s latest CD release of original music Currents ranges from rocking traditional blues to atmospheric instrumentals, all laced through with his crystalline tone and dexterious picking. Refreshingly committed to six string values, it is the mature work of a vital player, a guitarist’s guitarist who excites audiences and can impress any fan of the real deal! Jeff is currently working on a new CD for release by late 2014.
Jeffrey Prine (no relation to John Prine) was born in 1954 in Brooklyn, New York. He is one of nine children. Jeff’s father was an orchestra leader during the 1940’s through to the 1970’s. As a result, the Prine household was very musical. In addition to Jeffrey, two of his brothers became musicians. His elder brother, Glenn, started playing guitar in the early 1960’s. He introduced Jeff to the guitar. It was apparent that Jeff had an aptitude for playing. The music scene of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s provided a plethora of guitarists. During this period, Jeff and his brothers saw many of these talented musicians. They frequented the Fillmore East and the Action House on numerous occasions. In 1971, Jeff was awestruck when he saw Peter Green play with Fleetwood Mac. Jeff accounts this experience as the most inspirational and influential of his music development. In addition to the inspiring guitar skills of Peter Green, a sunburst Les Paul became the coveted instrument, which he later acquired.
Jeff founded his own band and played the local New York scene for two decades, which included venues such as My Father’s Place, Great Gildersleeves, and Traxx. He did his first four song demo with Roulette Records in December of 1979. Throughout this time he shared the stage with artists such as Dickie Betts, Johnny Winter, Robin Trower, The Outlaws, Cyndi Lauper and Stuff, featuring Steve Gadd.
Jeff moved to Florida in 1988 and wasted no time rapidly immersing himself in the South Florida music scene. He submitted a demo to the Riverwalk Blues Festival committee and was asked to perform at the festival that year. Eventually Jeff was asked to put a band together to back up Big Mama Blue at Cheers in Fort Lauderdale. Throughout his two years at Cheers, Jeff played with Albert Collins, Coco Montoya, Buddy Miles, Kim Simmonds, Dave Mason, Rick Derringer and Steve Morse. At this time, Jeff’s band recorded a T.V. pilot called The Rock and Blues.
Jeff worked hard to establish himself in the South Florida music scene. He formed the Jeff Prine Trio featuring Bobby Freeman on Hammond B3 and Jack Ciano on drums. This trio toured many of South Florida’s finest clubs and featured some of South Florida’s most popular vocalists. A highlight for the Jeff Prine Group, in 1992, was recording a live CD at Tobacco Road in Miami. The release of this CD was followed by a mini tour of several New York venues which included the historic Birdland, the Lone Star Café, and La Bar Bat.
A second CD was released in 2002 featuring the vocalist Juanita Dixon. Consequently the band was in demand at many Florida venues such as the House of Blues in Orlando and Jazziz at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood , The Riverwalk Blues Festival, and headlined the Quincy Blues and Barbecue Festival. Local radio host Len Pace (WLRN) featured much of The Jeff Prine Band’s music.
Jeff’s third CD Currents is an EP featuring five original compositions. They are truly an epic display of his playing, singing and songwriting skills, accompanied by a Hammond B3, piano, bass and drums.
Jeff is working on his fourth CD of original music, due to be released by the end of 2017.