SETH FARBER, a highly respected Musical Director, who is equally adept on piano, keyboards and accordion, was born into music. Raised in New York City by his mother, a piano teacher, and his father, a music afficionado and amateur violinist, Seth discovered his affinity for the piano at the age of four. It's no wonder that years later he’d find himself one of the busiest keyboard players in Manhattan. Since 1984, Seth could be heard playing in the blues, rock and jazz clubs, piano bars, theatres and studios around town. In 1988 he joined the band of rock/blues sensation Willy "Mink" DeVille as musical director. A veteran of more than 20 European tours, he’s a featured player on the 1993 CD Willy DeVille Live which was certified gold in Europe. Over the ensuing 10 years, Seth recorded and performed with such artists as Billy Joel, Lucinda Williams, Cliff Eberhardt, Curtis Stigers, Chuck Jackson, Popa Chubby, Alejandro Escovedo, Little Steven, Liz Queler and many others. Starting in 1997 Seth began working on the Broadway show Smokey Joe’s Cafe as conductor, pianist and synthesist. In the 2000 and 2001 period, whenever he was in New York, Seth played in the orchestra for the Broadway show Fosse.
In the Spring of 1999, Seth began his musical relationship with ODETTA. He arranged, co-produced and played piano on Odetta’s landmark album, Blues Everywhere I Go, on M.C. Records, which was nominated for a Grammy Award and a W.C. Handy Award. Almost simultaneously, Seth began accompanying Odetta on her tours throughout Europe and the Americas. Odetta has been thrilled with their musical collaboration, and with Seth’s innate ability to understand and follow her musical thoughts on stage and to explore with her a diversity of musical directions during a concert. In 1996, Seth's first solo album, "Late One Night" was released on Red Wall Records. And late in 2001, ODETTA - Lookin' For A Home, a tribute to the music and life of Leadbelly, which Seth again, arranged, co-produced and provided stunning piano accompaniment, was released to rave reviews. In support of Lookin' For A Home, which has received two more W.C. Handy Award nominations (Best Traditional Blues Album and Best Female Blues Artist), Odetta and Seth have appeared on Late Nite With David Letterman in addition to the national radio concert shows, Prairie Home Companion, Mt. Stage, and E-Town, and have been touring North America and Europe non-stop, with tour dates booked through March, 2003.