Originally starting out at the University of Miami's music department, vocalist and keyboardist Gabe Dixon got together fellow students Winston Harrison (bass), Chandler Webber (alto saxophone), and Jano Rix (drums) in 1998 to play a number of local coffeehouse shows under the moniker of the Gabe Dixon Band. With a fusion of jazz, funk, and classic rock that looked up to Sting, Stevie Wonder, and Dave Matthews Band, the band eventually graduated from college, self-released its debut album, More Than It Would Seem, and relocated to New York City before the end of 2000.