Higher Love Band

Singer, joy-enabler, do-er. For some reason, these guys have let her be loud in front of a mic with them since 2011.

Musical Inspirations:

Josh has been playing music ever since he was able to sit by himself at the piano bench. Throughout his upbringing he was introduced to a wide variety of instruments, mentors, and musical genres. This depth has led to a (sometimes frustratingly) "wide musical field" and appreciation of the art of sound.

Josh discovered his love for the expression of improvisation and jazz midway through high school. Years later, joined a classic rock and party band in college resulting in the expanded addiction to other keyboarded instruments such as the Rhodes, Clavinet, Wurlitzer, and all mighty Hammond Organ.

After living and playing music in Boston and Vermont, he relocated to Eugene, Oregon in search of a way to express himself musically. Josh connected with several local musicians including Ed Parker (guitar) and years later, he became one of the founding members of Soul Restoration Project.

Inspiration comes from classic players such as Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Billy Preston, Jimmy McGriff, Jack McDuff, Booker T., Dr. Lonnie Smith, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, and Herbie Hancock. More modern players include Tony Monaco, Ken Clark, Neal Evans (Soulive), Bob Birch (New Mastersounds), Nate "Count" Basinger (Diplomats of Sound), Corey Henry, Larry Goldings, Jon Cleary —and of course the incredible Jacob Collier.

Conant has been performing in the Eugene and Portland music scenes since the 90's. He has a strong intuition for improvisation and is into a variety of musical styles.

Jon has been a part of the Eugene music scene since the early 90's, playing bass in multiple local groups and singing on stages all around town. Having grown up at the Oregon Country Fair and backstage at Grateful Dead concerts, his stage presence combines the frenetic energy of Pete Townsend with the non stop energy of a vaudevillian.

Jon has been playing with this group of musicians since 2012 when he joined the Soul Restoration Project as a guitar player, then transitioning to a vocalist, followed by picking up the bass again.

He draws his musical inspiration from a wide variety of styles, from Radiohead to James Brown to The Gorillaz and back to the early roots of Motown.

Ed has performed with a variety of groups in the jamband and soul/R+B genres in the Eugene and Southern California areas starting in the mid-90's. Prior to moving to Eugene, OR in 2001 he led an Orange County, CA jamband called Wheels of Autumn and had the privilege of opening for many national touring acts including String Cheese Incident, Levon Helm, The Yardbirds, Hot Tuna, Jazz is Dead, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, and many others. Ed draws from a deep musical well when it comes to styles and genres. His primary influences include Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Jerry Garcia, Jimi Hendrix and Ry Cooder. Ed's favorite soul/R+B artists include Black Pumas, Michael Kiwanuka, Curtis Mayfield, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Leon Bridges, and Tedeschi Trucks Band.