Chris Bavaria-Guitar


(Picture taken by George Hagegeorge on July 24, 2005 at Baltimore's Artscape Festival)

 

After high school, Chris enrolled at The Berklee College of Music in Boston (1981-83) as a Guitar Performance major.

While studying at Berklee, Chris played in a band called Musique du Jour. Made up of fellow students, the band covered artists ranging from The Allman Brothers to Frank Zappa.

Returning to Baltimore, Chris entered, Freehand. The band wrote and performed original instrumental progressive jazz/rock/funk. Recording a little and performing only on occasion, the group split up.

Chris began working for Paul Reed Smith Guitars in 1985. He continued until 2004.

A collaboration began with rock vocalist Mandy Kriss and her band, Amaran, ('85-'90) which included Hoppy Hopkins (The Mambo Combo; Shameless Mooks) on drums, and Barre Lankford (Spectrum) on electric bass.
Recording a little and performing only on occasion, the group split up.

Chris then co-formed cover rock bar band called Cranial Chaos ('90-'93) out of the Annapolis area. The band was known for crazy antics and a wide variety of rock styles.

At this time, he established a private guitar teaching practice.

In '95, Chris signed a contract with 4 Star Entertainment at The Washington Talent Agency (Rockville) and entered the band True Colors. TC was a variety band covering every era of music including jazz, R&B, rock, Motown, and Top 40. He remained through '97.

Not having practiced the trumpet much since high school, Chris picked up the trumpet again and played with short-lived Annapolis based funk/groove band, Sukkafool, headed by drummer/guitarist/singer/songwriter Chuck Hurley (Dirty City Band). ('98-'99)

Chris occasionally appeared with area artists such as The Geckos, Jimi HaHa (of Jimmie's Chicken Shack; Jarflys), Joe Karr, Meg Murray, Dingleberry Dynasty, Ryan Diehl, Jonathan Stone, Dana Biagini, Greg Thompkins and others.
During this time he submitted a piece to a compilation CD of Annapolis area guitarists called "Six String Sailing". Produced by Steve Alexander at Digital Bay Recording Studio, artists include Bryan Ewald (Starbelly; Jarflys), Dave Glaser, Todd Kreuzburg, Michael Reitzek, Dean Rosenthal, Russell Stone, Angie Miller and others ('99).

Chris had the opportunity to tour with Jen Jones and her band, The Camaros. The Camaros are a swing/rockabilly band originally from NY and now located in Nashville. The band recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis TN and Phase Studio in College Park MD. ('01-'02)

As well as performing with The Swingin' Swamis, Chris is involved with a new collaboration with Mandy Kriss as a vocal and guitar duet. This time the genre is jazz standards. They can be seen performing once a month at The Sputnik Café in Crownsville and elsewhere. Recording is in progress (Invisible Sound Studios; Nonsuch Productions) for a future CD release. Guest artists will be featured such as Larry Melton (Mambo Combo; The Jarflys; Mosaic; Permanent Vacation) on bass to expand the duet format.
Repertoire will also include rock, blues, and soul.