Born in San Diego, CA but raised outside of Boston, MA, Rob’s interest in keyboards began in the 80’s, spending time exploring the synths on display at the local electronics stores. However, his parents (both musicians) insisted that he learn piano first before moving on to other keyboards. He quickly developed a love of classical music and studied piano and composition at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA from 1990-1997, culminating in an award for excellence in piano performance.

He joined AGP (Addison Groove Project) shortly after its inception in May of 1997. The band was part of the underground funk/groove scene for the following decade. In 2003 on the eve of their first national tour, AGP bassist John Hall discovered he had colorectal cancer. He encouraged the band to continue the tour with Rob covering the bass parts with his left hand. AGP continued to progress in hopes that John would return to the stage, but he sadly passed away at the end of 2004 and AGP decided to part ways.

In addition to AGP, Rob played in numerous side projects in Boston before moving to New York City in 2005. A true lover of live improvisational music, Rob has collaborated on stage with friends from many bands: Dub Trio, Umphrey’s McGee, Phish, Jennifer Hartswick, Marco Benevento, DJ Logic, Charlie Hunter, Tea Leaf Green, Disco Biscuits, Soulive… and is now very excited to join Matisyahu’s touring band. He currently resides in Red Bank, NJ with his wife and baby daughter.

Skoota Warner was born and raised in Newnan, Georgia

At the age of nine, his interest in playing drums led him to the church. Gospel played a soulful foundation for “The Funky Drummer”. By the age of eleven he was touring the south with various then up-and coming Gospel groups.

High School offered him another arena to sharpen and demonstrate his percussive finesse. He played at school social functions and local clubs.

Graduating from High School meant career path decisions. His decision was to go where musicians who wanted to make it went: New York City. And after a few short weeks in New York, Skoota was spotted playing with street break dancers by Pepeu Gomes and Baby Consuelo, Brazil’s top Pop artists at that time. At age 18, Skoota left for Brazil with Pepeu and Baby where he lived for two years playing live rock shows and recording several albums with Pepeu and other top Brazilian artists.

Skoota returned to New York, at which time he landed consecutive gigs with the likes of such Blues greats as Johnny Copeland, Johnny Johnson, and the following year, Skoota joined the Apollo Theater’s Amateur Night House Band with whom he backed such R & B, Funk, and Hip-Hop stars as Keith Sweat, Guy, and Big Daddy Kane. Skoota’s impromptu rhythm breaks incited live on-stage jams with guest Hip-Hop artists like Kane, Biz Markie, Doug E. Fresh, Special Ed, Kwame and others, exposing them to the funky flavor that a live drummer brings to their Rap Stylings.

Nineteen eighty-nine hallmarked Skoota’s ascending career when New York’s premier studio drummer, Omar Hakim, chose him to be his drummer for the Rhythm Deep Project in support of Omar’s solo recording. Omar said “Skoota nails it! He’s a drummer’s drummer.“

Since ‘90, Skoota has had the opportunity to play with such established artists as Santana, B-52’s, Lionel Ritchie, Cyndi Lauper, Matisyahu & Mary J Blige.

Jason Fraticelli is a Philadelphia based bassist. He comes from a very musical family in Puerto Rico and thus started playing at a very young age. He spent time there on his grandparents’ farm studying the Quattro - a traditional 10-stringed instrument - with his grandfather. His first group, at 10, was with his Dad and his Uncle, called Elysium, where Jason played drums. Elysium was a fusion of Latin and rock, with Beatle-esque vocals.

After high school, Jason attended Bucks Community College where he unfortunately met Aaron Dugan. They both transfered to The New School in NYC and Jason studied with Reggie Workman, George Garzone, Cecil McBee, and Jane Ira Bloom.

Jason has had the opportunity to play with many talented musicians such as Bobby McFerrin, Billy Martin, Cyro Baptiste, Uri Caine, Marco Benevento, Joe Russo, Skeric, Brian Haas, Reid Mathis, and Vince Montana.

Jason’s current main projects in addition to Matisyahu include As Human, Oud Blues, Taylor McFerrin’s Cell Theory, Astrocusion, Leana Song, and his personal favorite: Sinking Ship.

Aaron Dugan (me) is/am a human animal organism guitarist composer looker at things eater of foods frowner of bad weather sometimes enjoyer of nice weather most times. I grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, later moving to Willow Grove, PA. I attended Bucks County Community College for music in 1997. I studied Jazz Improvisation and Composition/fundameltals with Ben Schacter and Jon Sheridan. In 1998 I attended the New School for Social Research Jazz and Contemporary Music program in New York City. I studied with George Garzone, Steve Cardenas, Ritchie Beirach, , Vic Juris, and Peter Bernstein. Since graduation I have been fortunate enough to make a living playing music. I have had the privilege of playing and or recording with Maya Dunietz, Reid Taylor, Bill Laswell, Mark Guiliana, Jeff Arnal, John Zorn, Roots Tonic, Matisyahu, Bootsy Collins, Nigel Sifantus, Anders Nilsson, Madhu Siddappa, Chris Tunkel, Jason Fraticelli and many others. I have been residing in New York (currently Brooklyn) since 1998.