By Preeti Piplani
News Editor

The San Jose-based band The Betting Fraternity offers a refreshing combination of jazz, pop and rock to local listeners. This group is a welcome return to pure and poetic music.

“[The music is] a blend of piano, pop and rock all in one. [The songs] are moving, both mentally and physically,” said Derek James, lead vocalist and pianist.

Formed in June 2002, The Betting Fraternity traces its roots to a show at Club Cafecito in San Jose when James and drummer Justin Imamura first performed together.

“[Justin and I] decided to test out some songs at open mic at Club Cafecito in San Jose. [The performance went] well and so we decided to play together,” James said.

Although the two had worked together previously, it was only after the Club Cafecito performance that they decided to form a permanent group.

“We played live together and it was great. The audience really loved it and we thought ‘maybe we should do this normally,’” James said.

Since then, the band has produced its first self-named CD and is currently working on its second album scheduled for debut in early 2004.

The Betting Fraternity’s CD features five of its most popular songs including “This Night Tonight,” “Take it All” and “Before the Dawn.” Each song combines honest lyrics with enchanting piano and drum rhythms. While only five songs are featured on its CD, the band generally plays two full hour sets at its live performances.

According to The Betting Fraternity’s manager, Joyce Wunderlich, the lyrics are based upon James’ own experience and chronicle his life.

In “Before the Dawn,” James sings passionately: “A little scare to dive in/Who knows what lies/Beneath the waves/Bubbling up/Holding a reason why.”

The band’s name was inspired by a quote that James had seen in his horoscope in July 2002. The quote read: “Beat the odds. The betting fraternity says you can’t win; you will prove them wrong.”

According to James, the name fit perfectly.

“The Betting Fraternity deals with standing up against things. When people tell you are not good enough, in your heart you have to know that you are [good enough], strong and can do anything,” James said.

Just as The Betting Fraternity experiments with mixtures of jazz, rock and pop in its music, the band attributes Bjork, Coldplay, Dashboard Confessional, Pat Benatar and Tori Amos as its main influences.

While The Betting Fraternity maintains a large local fan base, it hopes to expand its popularity by signing a record contract with a major recording label.

“We know they’re going to be big. We know that one day they will be big,” Wunderlich said.

Until then, be sure to catch The Betting Fraternity on November 29 from 1 p.m. at Santana Row’s Park Valencia. For more information or to purchase a CD, visit the band’s website at www.thebettingfraternity.com.