Performing all over Tampa Bay and throughout the state of Florida for the past 15 years, Friends of Fil combines straight-ahead Jazz performances with Fusion and Festival perfomances to keep the sound of Soul cookin'!

Currently perfoming in the style of the "Organ Trio" with powerhouse organist Casey Otto on Hammond with full Leslie speaker and foot pedals! He's bringin' the Bass! Albert "Newbeat" Warren lays down the Groove and swing beats on the Drums along with Fil Pate on Electric Guitar adding dense textures and soaring solos!

**

We also play in the Fusion Trio style with Tampa's best Bassists and Drums while using a Hammond Leslie speaker for Electric Guitar! The rotary sound is unmistakable!

Drawing from our influences, we have combined our favorite sounds into some fun Original Music plus we often get to explore the far reaches of sound in Jazz music as well as Jazz Fusion!  

Our straight ahead roots are in the horn music tradition: Miles, Coltrane, Kenny Garrett, Christain Scott...  we have a soft spot for trumpet and it's always a treat to have a sit in!  Performing as a Jazz duo or trio is some our favorite moments in Music!  

Our Fusion roots are plenty also with fun harmonies and improvisations of Jazz over the best Grooves and open spaces!    

We've learned from the Derek Trucks Band, John Scofield, Medeski Scofield Martin and Wood, Bobby Lee Rodgers and Ike Stubblefield, Wes Montgomery and Jimmy Smith, Herbie Hancock, Pat Martino and Joey DeFrancesco, and recently we've been diggin' Dr. Lonnie Smith and Jonathan Kreisberg!