Conan O’Brien has named his house band for his new TBS show: Jimmy Vivino — former associate music director, arranger, guitarist and vocalist for Conan’s “Tonight Show” stint and “Late Night” years — will lead the group, dubbed “Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band.”
Vivino — who ostensibly takes the spot of Max Weinberg and the Max Weinberg 7 — will be with O’Brien for the debut of “Conan” on Nov. 8.
Weinberg — a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band since 1974 and a fixture in late-night TV as Conan’s musical director (and sometime comic foil) for 17 years — recently revealed that he underwent life-saving open-heart surgery just two weeks after the demise of Conan’s "Tonight Show.”
Weinberg decided not to make the permanent move to Los Angeles, where “Conan” will tape.
Here’s the rest of Vivino’s Basic Cable Band: Scott Healy (keyboards); Mike Merritt (bass); Mark Pender (trumpet); Richie “LaBamba” Rosenberg (trombone); Jerry Vivino (saxophone, woodwinds and vocals); and James Wormworth (drums).
