It may be difficult to define Maude’s music, but no matter what you call it, the smooth, funky groove is undeniable.  Emerging from the hip-hop laden scene of Houston, Texas in 2007, Maude pushes in a wholly different direction, merging refined vocals and ragtime influenced piano with snappy drum lines and tight, funky bass.  Formed by front man Omar Lisandro in late 2007, Maude is the kind of band that venues love – their sound crosses boundaries that rarely even see each other,  with pop sensibilities and catchy hooks combining with traditional jazz sounds and funk-inspired lines appeal to both young and old alike.

On their upcoming EP release, the Texas quartet of vocalist and pianist Omar Lisandro, bassist Robert Terrill, guitarist Sam Laws, and drummer Matt Berry fuses original songwriting with tried and true hooks to create a sound with the authenticity of Ray Charles or Stevie Wonder.  But despite the classic feel, the music manages to feel modern and alive to even the youngest listener.   Maude’s unique brand of pop jazz with heavy ragtime influence is suited equally well to funky tracks like Break It Down and inspiring ballads like Sad Songs and Waltzes. 

Despite the member’s relative youth (Lisandro is 23, Berry 25, Laws 23, and Terrill is only 19), the group feels solidly planted in all three eras – the 20’s, 50’s, and 70’s – that define their influences.  Maude channels Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Patsy Cline, and Madeline Peyroux in equal amounts.  The fresh fusions and interpretations of old sounds make for something completely new and yet comfortingly familiar, paying homage to the greats while creating something unlike anything else around.

As Maude prepares for a bright future with local performances, they focus on performing to support the upcoming release of their EP.  As put best by a fan, “I don’t know what they are, but I sure dig it!”