LA-based guitarist JEFF KOLLMAN (BOMBASTIC MEATBATS, COSMOSQUAD, ASIA feat. JOHN PAYNE, GLENN HUGHES) will be hitting the road and boat, respectively, with CTA (CALIFORNIA TRANSIT AUTHORITY) and MARK MIKEL's band, and has just wrapped production on a new EPK with blues rockers BLEEDING HARP.

Kollman has been tapped to fill in with CTA in place of regular guitarist Marc Bonilla (KEITH EMERSON, Glenn Hughes) on several US East Coast dates this month, including a 4-day residency at New York's famed Iridium, before heading out on the Progressive Nation at Sea cruise with Mark Mikel's band.

States Jeff: "Funny how things come back around. I was actually supposed to hook up with CTA for some shows about a year ago, which didn't happen in the end, so I'm looking forward to finally getting on stage with these guys. Even better, we're doing a run of shows at the Iridium which I've played with the (Bombastic) Meatbats several times already. We also cut our upcoming live DVD there. Great place and always a good time to play the Big Apple.

"And I'm really excited about the prog cruise with Mark Mikel. I've been on cruises before but never one where I get to play and hang out with some of my favorite bands, like KING'S X. Can't beat that! And what can I say about Mark - I've had the opportunity to work with many talented singers, songwriters and producers in this business in the past 20+ years and I still believe that the genius and depth of his songwriting and production far exceeds anyone that I've had the pleasure of rubbing elbows with. Well, I have yet to work with PAUL MCCARTNEY but.... Mark has been a dear friend of mine going back to the early Edwin Dare days in Toledo, Ohio. He actually co-wrote a couple of songs with us, ‘Come And Rule The Nighttime’ and ‘Listen To Your Head’, and sang on the demos. We didn't use ‘Nighttime’ but ‘Listen’ ended up on the Can't Break Me CD. For those that are interested, the demos of both songs with Mark's vocals are posted on his Bandcamp page. Talk about a blast from the past!"

Following Progression Nation at Sea, Kollman will be heading into Ireland's 32 in Van Nuys, CA with Bleeding Harp on February 27th. The brainchild of UK-born lead vocalist and harmonica player Paul Vallis, the line-up features Kollman, co-guitarist Jeff Marshall, bassist Kevin Chown, keyboardist Lao Tizer, and drummer Drew Megna. The group's brand new EPK can be viewed below:

Jeff Kollman dates:

February

5 – New Hope, PA – Havana Restaurant & Nightlife with CTA

6-9 – New York, NY – with CTA

15 – Studio City, CA – Baked Potato with JEFF KOLLMAN BAND

18-22 – Progressive Nation at Sea – with Mark Mikel

27 – Van Nuys, CA – Ireland’s 32 with Bleeding Harp