Affirmation

Background

Affirmation formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1977 around keyboardist Thom Teresi, guitarist Joe Gaeta, and electric violist Jimbo Ross. The group also included bassist Tom Fowler, drummer David Crigger, and percussionist Mike Fisher.

Teresi performed with the 1960s vocal group the Shirelles and the Los Angeles Latin-rock band El Chicano. Gaeta contributed guitar and bass to the 1977 A&M release Spaced, the ninth studio album by singer-guitarist Shawn Phillips. He also accompanied singer-actress Sally Kellerman.

Ross joined the Venice swing group Dr. Jazz in 1974, under guitarist Stan Ayeroff and clarinetist Jan Threlkeld. The group played St. Charles Place near Windward Avenue, where Ross impressed local associates of trumpeter Don Ellis. In 1975, Ellis recruited Ross as an improvising violist in the string quartet of his reconstituted big band. Ross appeared on the 1977 Ellis album Music from Other Galaxies and Planets alongside drummer David Crigger. Both musicians performed with the orchestra at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 8, 1977, a concert issued by Atlantic as Live at Montreux.

Crigger joined the Don Ellis Orchestra at age eighteen. In October–November 1977, he recorded with organist Brian Auger and singer Julie Tippetts on their collaborative album Encore. The sessions featured guitarist George Doering and bassist David McDaniels. Crigger subsequently joined saxophonist Klaus Doldinger’s German fusion group Passport and drummed on their 1980 release Oceanliner.

Fowler joined the San Francisco band It’s a Beautiful Day in 1971, replacing bassist Mitchell Holman. He played on their third album, Choice Quality Stuff / Anytime,  and the 1972 concert document It’s a Beautiful Day at Carnegie Hall. In 1973, Fowler joined Frank Zappa‘s touring ensemble and appeared on the albums Over-Nite Sensation, Apostrophe (‘), Roxy & Elsewhere, One Size Fits All, and Bongo Fury. He joined the first American touring group of Jean-Luc Ponty and played on the French violinist’s 1976 Atlantic albums Aurora and Imaginary Voyage. Fowler also played bass on “Chariot” and “Rokkinrowl, I Don’t Know,” two tracks from the 1975 George Duke album I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry.

Fisher toured with Canadian singer Gino Vannelli in 1979 behind the album Brother to Brother. The touring ensemble included guitarist Daryl Stuermer, bassist Dave Marotta, and drummer Mark Craney. Fisher played percussion at the March 31, 1979, concert at the Forum in Inglewood, California, and appeared with Vannelli at the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans in April.