Welcome to our Website!

Here you will find information and photos about the Natural Impulse Band. You will also find links to band member projects and links to music downloads (eventually).

Natural Impulse is a band that developed its sound in the funk, soul, and fusion filled 70's. From our earliest days on 15th Street in Richmond our number one rule has always been "Keep it fun and make it funky." Whether it's a hard funk jam or a smooth jazz groove we'll get you bouncin' in your seat or dancin' on your feet.

We have been concentrating on writing and working in the studio, so we're only playing live to keep our fingers loose. But we'll be adding more gig dates as we finish our new songs and projects. Visit often and give us some feedback!

The Big Project

So here's part of the story about our Great Britain connection:

That promo 45 that we did back in the day (about 1977-78) took a trip across the Atlantic and ended up in England. The songs on the single were The Time is Right/She Went Away. For several years a recording company tried to get in touch with the band to no avail until...

Rick created a Facebook page 2 1/2 years ago. These producers managed to contact Rick and asked for permission to re-release the 45 as there had been a great deal of interest in it. Well, Rick did a lot of work to contact the band and get permission for the project to continue.

Two small pressings later this same production company wants a CD's worth of songs, both classic Natural Impulse from the 70's and new stuff. So...

Here we are in 2010 writing, arranging, and recording those songs for the upcoming CD. Wow.

For Our Brother, James (Hank) Oden, by Rick Ramos

I met James Arnold Oden when I was 17 years old. I was playing in a battle of the bands at Kennedy High School and he performed with Red Westbrook and his buddy Fred. He came up to me after our band played and told me he liked the groove and said we should jam.

We got together later that week and started rehearsing and the rest is History. Third Rail band started in 1972 in Leroy Heights, but did not establish a sound until Hank Oden took the reigns as lead vocalist and conga player. His voice was un-mistakable. He was powerful tenor with a growl that would turn heads.

Some of us work hard to be able to create music, but not Hank. He had a gift, the ability to watch someone play an instrument unknown to him, figure out how to play a couple of notes and use his dynamic sense of rhythm to crank out a melody that would make you laugh in astonishment.

On one occasion I had the pleasure of hearing Hank pick up a trombone and crank out a solo Fred Wesley would have loved, he did it so easily, so effortlessly.

There are so many stories I could tell about Hank, the trip to Clear Lake or Turlock, Sons of Norway gatherings, helping his brother Henry open a club in Oakland, playing on the Jay Payton, Soul Is show, getting nominated with Confunction and Tower of Power for the first ever Bay Area Music Award as best horn band; or my favorite taking me to Everett and Jones barbeque.

August of 2008, I am so glad that the band was able to get together for one more performance. Hank was so thrilled to be performing again. All he had wanted at that point in his life was to allow his grandchildren to see him do what he did so well, make music and make people dance. It was a great gig and I am sure someone here has a recording you can listen to today. My wife Kathy and I had the pleasure of going with Kathy and Hank to see Bianca perform in Berkeley right after our performance. We had a great time and I cherish every moment I have spent with my friend. He was a big man with a big heart and I know that I will see him on the other side someday.

Love you brother, Rest in Peace,

Rick Ramos