The Jay Collins Band is roots, blues, poetry, & modern jazz all at once. Think of Tom Waits & Sonny Rollins or Dr. John & Pharaoh Sanders in a band together. A member of Gregg Allman's band & a veteran of Andrew Hill & Jacky Terrasson's outfits, Jay brings horn chops from gutbucket to funk to outer space; & his lyrics are are a mix of homespun philosophy & confessional poetry.
'With a surprisingly gruff voice, he delivers his rollicking original tunes that blend the down-and-out sensibility of Tom Waits with the barrel-house American roots sound of The Band.' -San Francisco Chronicle
'Jay Collins is a great example of a player whose varied experiences nurture a deeper musical personality. He kicks it groovy with an organ outfit, & blows outcat style with logic & grace.' -Village Voice
'Their sound is an amalgam of jazz, gospel, funk, & blues that often recalls an urban version of The Band fronted by an older, voice-darkened Richard Manuel.'  -San Francisco Bay Guardian
'Whether playing full-barrel with the Allman Brothers, tackling Andrew Hill's sinuous structures, or leading this powerhouse shuffle-and-funk jazz outfit, NYC's Jay Collins is a rollicking, soul-drenched saxophonist of the highest order. This group has a knack for chunky New Orleans-flavored momentum.'  -Melissa Bearns, Eugene Weekly