Band mixes in original tunes

The group opened for B.B. King in December.
By GUY D'ASTOLFO
VINDICATOR ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
No Bad JuJu hasn't been totally honest with its fans.
The nine-piece horn-and-vocal-driven R & amp;B-rock-blues-funk dance band has been mixing in original tunes during its live set.
And no one has noticed. Which might be the highest compliment.
"Usually, those are the songs that they like the best," said Mark Matteo, the Youngstown native who leads the Pittsburgh-based group.
In fact, when they squeeze in an original between some Aretha Franklin, J. Geils and Black-Eyed Peas, most people on the floor don't even realize it.
No Bad JuJu has packaged nine of its originals (plus one cover) on its next CD, titled "Face the Music," which was released this week. It is available on the band's Web site, www.nobadjuju.com.
Looking ahead
"We'd like to evolve into all original music," said Matteo, a Youngstown native and graduate of Youngstown State University's Dana School of Music.
The guitarist and his wife, Sabrina, who is the band's singer, wrote the songs.
The band is releasing the album on its own, but is looking for a label -- and getting some interest. For now, No Bad Juju continues to play at its home base in Pittsburgh -- The Rhythm House in suburban Bridgeville.
NBJJ got a chance to play at a somewhat nicer venue Dec. 2 when it opened for blues legend B.B. King at Pittsburgh's opulent Heinz Hall.
"The show was great, well-received," said Matteo. "A lot of our fans were there. In fact, ticket sales got a boost when they put us on the bill. It was basically sold out."
History
NBJJ got its start several years ago, and has already released one album, 2002's "Live at the Chapel of Blues," named for the Pittsburgh blues bar where it was recorded.
The band, whose members hail from all over the tri-state area, is deep with experience. Most have done session work with the likes of Johnny Winter, Savoy Brown, Alvin Lee, Roy Buchanan, Luther Vandross and Aretha Franklin. Matteo is the only one from the Youngstown area.
In addition to B.B. King, No Bad JuJu has also opened for Blood Sweat & amp; Tears, the Little River Band, Coco Montoya and Firefall, and also played at Pittsburgh's Light-Up Night earlier this month.
It has built a following in Pittsburgh, West Virginia and eastern Ohio, and Matteo said he's looking for a suitable -- in other words, large -- venue in the Youngstown area for the band to play.
The group is also making plans for a European tour that will begin this summer.