Oteil and the Peacemakers

With a name that means “wanderer” or “explorer” in Egyptian, it’s only fitting that veteran bassist Oteil Burbridge has earned the title of journeyman extraordinaire. Discovered by Colonel Bruce Hampton at the age of 21 and recruited to anchor his Aquarium Rescue Unit, Burbridge went on to succeed Allen Woody in 1997 as the full time bassist for the Allman Brothers Band. Since then, Burbridge has continued to forge ahead into new musical territories by joining the ranks of Gov’t Mule on the road and lending his powerful talents to Phish keyboardist Page McConnell’s side project, Vida Blue. As if all of that weren’t enough, Burbridge has had his own gig going with the Peacemakers since 1995. More than any of his other outlets, that band, which mixes funk, acid jazz and rock and also gives each a turn in the spotlight, proves that Burbridge’s quest can’t be confined by any conventional limits.