Jazz and blues with a Latin/Brazilian tinge. Friends has been making beautiful music and delighting audiences for a long time, playing a mix of instrumental and vocal tunes. The band features Amy Keys, whose powerful voice and infectious spirit often leave the audience breathless. Friends is co-led by two of the most soulful and in- demand musicians on the scene, bassist/vocalist Hussain Jiffry and saxophonist/flutist Robert Kyle. Dynamic pianist Quinn Johnson brings the fire and drummer Kevin Winard keeps things poppin’ & groovin’!

Since arriving in California in 1988 from his native land of Sri Lanka, Hussain has become a very busy bass player in Los Angeles.  His “in-the-pocket” feel and his versatility have his phone ringing for over thirty years. His presence is always a joy to behold on the bandstand, raising the level of musicality onstage, and inspiring the musicians around him and the audience with his infectious groove and his smile!

With influences spanning traditional Sri Lankan music, Pop, Jazz, and R&B, Hussain’s musical journey began in school choirs, eventually mastering the piano accordion and electric bass. He embarked on a successful European tour with an R&B band before relocating to Los Angeles to study music at the Musicians Institute, graduating with the Vocational Honors Diploma. Since then, Hussain has mesmerized audiences worldwide, performing, recording or touring with esteemed artists like Sergio Mendes, Al McKay, Yanni, and Herb Alpert. His exceptional skills as a writer, arranger, producer, and engineer have earned him a Grammy Award for his contributions to Herb Alpert’s acclaimed album “Steppin’ Out.”