2024_Bridgeway_Program_Dinner_Final

Entertainment

Amani Amani means “peace” in Swahili. The group was formed to share the concept of peace through music. The core veteran musicians are frontmen Stephen Fuller on vocals, and Marty Eigen on woodwinds. The band features Tomoko Ohno, piano; Thaddeus Expose, bass; Flip Peters, guitar; Gordon Lane, drums; and Oloye Karade, percussion. Amani performs hits from The American Songbook, Folk, Blues, Gospel, R&B, Jazz, Bossa Nova, and Broadway. Chuck Lambert

Chuck’s musical education started long before he picked up a guitar. At age eight, he studied oboe and piano. Four years later his godfather exposed him to the musical diversity of Caribbean culture and encouraged him to play guitar. In the early 70’s his college band played backup for legends John Lee Hooker, J.B. Hutto and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. Today Chuck plays guitar and sings

his blues for crowds up and down the Jersey Shore, Philadelphia New York City and metropolitan New York areas while always returning to play venues in his hometown of Red Bank, NJ. His group the Chuck Lambert Band combines modern electric and traditional blues, and they have opened for such popular artists as Little Feat and Kenny Wayne Shepard.

Chip Mergott Guitarist, songwriter, and author Chip Mergott was discovered by Bonnie Raitt, and subsequently signed to a major label early in his career. Raitt has described Chip as “one of my favorite songwriters.” He founded

Notebook Records, one of the country’s longest running independent labels, which he founded. He lives and performs in the Philadelphia area, where he also teaches guitar and songwriting. He is the author of several music books as well as a collection of short stories “There Must Be a Better World Somewhere.”