The band unites New Orleans-influenced musicians from the US with the Swiss port and cultural metropolis of Basel. US pianist and soul vocalist Andy Boller has known the Ohio River since birth. With 2,000 songs in his repertoire, he is passionate about jazz, blues, and the richness of Southern grooves. His talent took him on stage with Bo Diddley. He opened for blues icons like B.B. King and Mose Allison. For decades, Boller toured from bar to bar in his native US and Europe. In 2016, he co-founded the band "Take The 55" in Basel with TV producer Willie Surbeck and pedal steel player Lo Trottmann.
Trottmann also contributes to the distinctive sound of "Take The 55" with his steel guitar. Most of the top acts in the Swiss country scene have already booked the "Master of Pedal Steel," as he's known in the scene. He has also shared the stage with Johnny Cash, Wylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson.
In 2019, guitarist and Southern rock singer Felix Hohl joined the band. His intuitive and roots-driven playing is deeply moving. "Even Eric Clapton would prick up his ears," Swiss rock singer Bo Katzmann recently exclaimed. The band also benefits from Hohl's experience as a sought-after sound engineer.
The newest addition, in 2024, was Basel drummer Philipp Hohl. The music teacher combines New Orleans with the Basel Carnival. For years, he has demonstrated his laid-back expertise in Americana acts like "More Cash" and Heinz Flückiger's "The Cool Bunch." He forms the solid rhythm section with bassist Surbeck.
With 40 gigs a year, the band experiences its innovation processes primarily in front of an audience. Basel-based music journalist Lukas Müller wrote in February 2025: "One thing is certain: We'll be hearing more from 'Take The 55' in the future."
