Eclipse Biography

This is the Movement.
Eclipse is a band that breaks boundaries. From Cincinnati, Eclipse was formed in the fall of 2005 and has been moving forward ever since. With no less than 7 musicians at every performance, they bring a new and forward-looking sound to the music scene. These versatile style-mashers continuously push traditional boundaries as they seamlessly combine elements of hip-hop, jazz, rock, funk, latin, & world music into their sound. Some have described Eclipse as sounding like The Roots, Ozomatli, Outkast, Domino Biscuits, and Gym Class Heroes. This composite of talent comes from Brian Batchelor-Glader (keyboards, vocals and rhythm guitar), Max Gise (acoustic and electric guitars and vocals), Jibri (emcee), Daddie Rich (emcee), Aaron Jacobs (upright and electric bass), Phillip Tipton (drums), Charlie Schweitzer (percussion), and Paul Batchelor-Glader (saxophones). The group ranges in age from 22 to 35.

The core of Eclipse first met each other while attending the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati. In their free time, Max, Brian, Aaron, and Phillip began rehearsing jazz and rock fusion tunes to hone their improvisational skills. Soon after, the guys met Jibri while performing at a live poetry jam in a local bar. The moment that they heard Jibri, they knew his sound was special. The first proto Eclipse performance occurred at Brian’s senior recital at CCM in the fall of 2005. Soon after that initial performance, Daddie Rich, a life-long friend and musical compatriot of Jibri’s, joined Eclipse within weeks. This was moment Eclipse was born. “When I first heard Daddie Rich’s and Jibri’s combined vocal attack, intelligent lyrics, and effortless interplay with each other and the band, I knew we had something special,” says guitarist Max Gise.

Since their conception, Eclipse has been staying busy. They’ve played festivals, clubs, and colleges throughout the Tri-state area and also in other nearby cities like Chicago, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. In August 2007, Eclipse released their debut self-titled album and had the opening song “Mambo Hop” featured on WOXY’s local Lixx. Recently, they were featured on FOX 19’s morning show playing “Tomorrow,” another single from the debut album. Eclipse has also just released a new live CD, and is in the final stages of finishing a DVD featuring footage from several performances. The band plans to record a second studio album in the winter of 2008, and to continue to venture out further east and south to cities like Washington D.C., Atlanta, NYC, and Philadelphia to bring their music to new audiences.

Band Members

Brian Batchelor-Glader - piano, organ, keyboards, vocals, keytar

Brian has studied piano since the age of 9 and has had a diverse musical background. Staring in musicals such as Little Shop of Horrors, and Guys and Dolls, Brian developed his singing and acting abilities. He got into jazz early on and began performing professionally at the age of 15 at local venues. He further continued his studies at the Birch Creek Summer Performance Center studying with faculty from the Eastman School of Music. He also studied classical from Cleveland State professor of piano Dan Barber. Brian has studied jazz with Cleveland legend Dan Wall and recently Cincinnati’s own Phil DeGreg. He has won awards such as 1st place jazz pianist at the Akron Jazz Fest, Capital University Jazz Fest, Findlay Jazz Fest, and Lakeland Jazz Fest as well as entry into the High School and Collegiate OMEA All-State Jazz Bands. Brian received his bachelors of music degree from the renowned Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. Brian currently performs professionally with his band Eclipse, solo at the Federal Piano Lounge, with various jazz groups, and is a frequent guest artist in the Jon Justice Band. He is a teacher at the Cincinnati Music Academy. Brian is also a producer/electronic music composer with Mission Control Records. Brian co-produced two albums that came out this year, the Eclipse self-titled album and the duo album with Jahson, the Battle Within.

Max Gise - Electric and Acoustic guitars, background vocals

Max Gise has played the guitar since he was 13 years old. During High School, Max played in the jazz band and participated in the Oklahoma All-State Jazz Band in 1997. He attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Classical Guitar Performance. From 2002- 2004, Max taught privately at McMichael Studios and performed regionally with the Hip-Hop/Jazz trio 2Bass3 in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. Before moving to Cincinnati to get his masters degree in jazz from CCM, Max was the featured local artist in the Norman Jazz festival. Max is currently a professor at Cincinnati College-Conservatory of music and a private lessons teacher at the Cincinnati Music Academy.

Jibri - MC , vocals

Allen Jibri McPherson, cut his teeth in the Cincinnati and national music scenes as Jibri Wise One with the introduction of his debut album, “The House the Dog Built” in 1999 on the Ear Candy label. Jibri has recorded and toured nationally with DJ Quik and MC Breed, most notably on the 1994 song “Who Da Phuck Are You” with DJ Wizzz off Breed's Dark Shadow.

Charles Schweitzer - Percussion, background vocals

Charles Schweitzer is a native of Northern Kentucky, who currently resides in Cincinnati, OH. He holds a bachelor’s of music degree from Northern Kentucky University. While pursuing his classical studies at NKU he became interested in different styles of world music. He has studied abroad with Afro-Cuban de Matanzas and Los Muňiquitos de Matanzas from Cuba, and Maestre Kinge from Brazil. He has also studied with West African Master Yaya Diallo and Middle Eastern drummer Michael Buch. Locally Charles performs with many groups such as Tropicoso, Salsa Caliente, Zumba, the Mike Wade Sextet and the Mark Shulte Quartet. Charles has recorded on numerous albums and has performed on several live broadcasts on both radio and television. His unique and creative percussion adds an exciting element to the band.

Phil Tipton - Drums

Phillip Tipton is a drum student at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music studying with Marc Wofley and John Von Ohlen. Originally from New Haven, Connecticut, Phil developed his sound mixing the styles of gospel, R&B, hip-hop, funk, and jazz. Phil has played drums for 16 years and currently works with local groups in Cincinnati such as the Tyka Project, New Identity, a solo artist by the name of Jerrard, and others. Phil has competed in numerous drum competitions and has won many of them, like the Guitar Center Drum Off and the Mars Music Store drum competition.

Aaron Jacobs - Bass, background vocals

Aaron Jacobs is a graduate from the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music with a degree in jazz bass. While at CCM, Aaron has been able to study and play with some of the greatest musicians alive today, both on faculty and visiting artists. He has played electric bass since middle school and upright since high school. It was in high school when Aaron first started playing music out in clubs and restaurants while also immersing himself in classical music. He played in both the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra and the All State Orchestra in high school and still enjoys playing classical gigs. Aaron was accepted in both the classical and jazz departments at CCM, but after majoring in classical for a year and a half, He switched to a jazz major. Currently, Aaron freelances extensively as a jazz musician around Cincinnati and also currently plays in a few bands such as the wonderful salsa band Tropicoso and Worldwide. AJ - “I have been around music for as long as I can remember and I plan on being in this profession for the rest of my life”.

Daddie Rich - MC, vocals

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio Daddie Rich, a former musician (clarinet, sax, and drums) has been writing for over ten years. This rapper, poet, actor, and activist has been a fan of music since he was a youth where he was influenced by one of his late uncles that used to play in a jazz band in the Cleveland area in the 1950’s and 60’s. He has performed at many venues and has many compilations with various DJ’s throughout the Midwestern region and globally.

Paul Batchelor-Glader - Saxophone

Paul Batchelor-Glader has been playing saxophone since he was 11 years old. Paul has taken private lessons from some of the top saxophone players in the United States, including Fred Heyburn, Steve Wendleken, John Wojciechowski, Adam Grom, Mike Lee, Rick VanMatre, James Umble and James Bunte. Paul went to Ellet High School in Akron, Ohio and is currently a music education major at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Paul has performed with artists such as Arturo Sandoval, Bob Mintzer, Terri Lyne Carrington, Eric Marienthal, John Von Ohlen, Marvin Stamm, Stephen Fulton, and John Clayton. Currently, Paul is playing in Cincinnati, OH with Eclipse, The Don Stein’s Powerhouse Band, The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, and every Sunday with his brother, Brian, at the Reserve Piano Bar. Paul plans to become a high school band director after getting his degree, but will continue to play professionally, as well.