Articles tagged with: funk

Big Mike Aguirre & The Blu City All Stars

Posted in Live Entertainment, Blues, Musicians, Contemporary, Covers

Big Mike Aguirre & The Blu City All Stars

Big Mike Aguirre and The Blu City All Stars have become one of the premier soul and blues bands in St. Louis. They are known for playing music of the Mississippi River: St. Louis Blues, Memphis Soul, New Orleans Funk, and everything in between. Big Mike is not only an incredible blues guitarist, but has a soothing and expressive voice with  a charismatic stage presence to go along with it.

The Blu City All Stars consist of Andy Coco on bass, guitar, and vocals, Nathan Hershey on organ, clavinet, Rhodes, keys, and vocals, and Kevin Bowers on drums and percussion. This group is made up of musicians of the highest ranking and talent in St. Louis.

Dave Black

Posted in Live Entertainment, Blues, Musicians, Country, Jazz, Rock, World, Weddings

Dave Black

Dave Black has worked with many artists from a wide range of musical genres that includes Jazz, Blues, Rock, Country, Bluegrass and Folk. He has worked with various notables including Richard 'Groove' Holmes, Bucky Pizzerelli, David Liebman, Fareed Haque, Little Anthony & The Imperials and The Drifters. Plus, Dave keeps himself busy working as a freelancer in the St. Louis area, performing and recording with many local artists.

In 1997 St. Louis' all-original jazz quartet, Brilliant Corners released their CD 'Two Road' (MaxJazz) featuring compositions by Dave and other fellow band members including Paul DeMarinis, Dan Eubanks and Kevin Gianino. Then, in 2000 Dave released his own CD 'Alone & Together' (Wildstone Audio) which showcases his advanced skill as a solo guitarist.

Dave's latest release, 'Departures' (Wildstone Audio) released in 2006 features his own group that includes bassist Marc Torlina and drummer Matt Kimmick. It contains all original material with styles ranging from Jazz, Funk, Fusion to Samba, Tango and even Celtic.

Dave is an adjunct professor at Webster University where he teaches Jazz Guitar, Jazz Ensemble and various music history courses.

Dawn Weber

Posted in Live Entertainment, Musicians, Contemporary, Covers, Electronic, Jazz, Weddings

Dawn Weber

Dawn Weber has a mesmerizing, high-energy stage presence. This St. Louis-based artist has a background that includes extensive training in both classical trumpet and flugelhorn as well as jazz. Weber's style ranges from jazz, rock, R&B, swing, and salsa to hip-hop, electronic, and funk. Currently, Weber is in charge of four projects which flow seamlessly together while each offering a distinctive sound:

Dawn Weber Group: up to a 6 piece playing jazz, pop, blues, R&B, and funk.

Dawn Weber Swinging Blues Review: 5-6 piece playing swing and jump blues. 

Dawn Weber and Naked Rock Fight: 6 piece band playing soul, groove, funk, and fusion.

Dawn Weber and the Electro Funk Assembly: 3-6 piece group playing acid jazz, lounge, and swing.

Dawn Weber & Electro Funk Assembly

Posted in Live Entertainment, Musicians, Electronic, Jazz, Missouri Touring Performers

Dawn Weber & Electro Funk Assembly

World class trumpet player. Prolific songwriter. Stylish vocalist. Mesmerizing, high-energy stage presence. Add it up and you are given one, and only one person– Dawn Weber. But that's just a basic overview of what the multi-talented, eclectic Dawn Weber brings to every performance. The St. Louis-based artist has a background that includes extensive training in both classical trumpet and flugelhorn. But Dawn's talent and personality really shine in other styles of her music– ranging from jazz, rock, R&B swing and salsa to hip-hop, electronic and funk styles. Dawn starred in the groups Vargas Swing, Urban Jazz Naturals and Mo and Dawn (The Remix Project) and is now leading her own bands.

The larger version of Dawn's Electro Funk Assembly brings it with an explosive, high-energy show! The full EFA group features a live drummer, bassist, keyboard player and guitarist supporting Dawn's vocals and trumpet -- fused with an electronic blend bubbling under. You'll hear original music blending house music, funk, hip-hop, and electronica elements that will make you get down and move your body! You'll have a blast!

The smaller, three-piece EFA Lounge band offers a more sophisticated approach adding classic hits– performed in Dawn's unique style – to the musical mix. Dawn's EFA trio creates a high-energy blend of jazz, Latin, and funk grooves with electronic elements to create great dance music that flows non-stop!

DJ Nune is Lamar Harris

Posted in Live Entertainment, Musicians

DJ Nune is Lamar Harris

'CREATIVELY CUSTOMIZING MUSICAL EXPERIENCES'

A respected artist, educator, and arranger, Lamar Harris has shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the business such as New Edition, Babyface, Bilal, Chrisette Michele, Chico DeBarge, Lee Fields, Biz Markie, Doug E.Fresh, Vintage Trouble, Marc de Clive Low, and many others.

Lamar's creative range from music to fashion earned him a featured spot in ALIVE Magazine as a Men of Style Winner in 2013. His intensely creative sound soothes the ears with melodic, abstract sounds that leave audiences craving for more. The music forces the listener’s mind and soul inside the sounds, releasing their energy into a place of solitude and relaxation.

In 2010, he was one of twenty-one award winners in Missouri of the Peabody Logos Leadership in Education Award. For eight years, he was the Director of Bands at Crossroads College Preparatory School where he designed and instituted a $65,000.00 music production lab, organized fundraisers and community events.

As the RFT’s 2013 and 2010 Best Jazz Artist and Best Funk/R&B/Soul award winner, he has performed on the Jamie Foxx "Foxhole Radio Show" and Old School 95.5, performed for John Legend, Bill Bellamy, Sommore & Miguel, Porsche, IKEA, Brooks Brothers, The United Way, Circus Flora, St. Louis Ballet, St. Louis Arc, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Nieman Marcus, ISES National Convention, PROMO- STL, National Association of College Organizations, The Taste of St. Louis, Black Caucus of the American Library Association, St. Louis Fashion Week and has been featured at Jazz St. Louis. In July 2014, St. Louis Magazine named him as the Best Multi-talented DJ in St. Louis. Lamar was a cast member for the musical, “Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story” at the Muny Theater in St Louis, Missouri. He has partnered with various organizations such as Pepsi, Junior Chamber International, Black Caucus of the American Library Association, College Bound and countless others.

Funky Butt Brass Band

Posted in Live Entertainment, Musicians, Contemporary, Jazz, Missouri Touring Performers

Funky Butt Brass Band

A listThe Funky Butt Brass Band was formed in 2008 by six musicians who revere and respect the New Orleans brass band tradition. Made up of members of Gumbohead, The Feed, Musica Slesa, Bob Kuban's Everyday People and other St. Louis musical groups, the FBBB takes traditional New Orleans brass tunes and gives them a funky new flavor, in the style of the Dirty Dozen or Rebirth Brass Band. Don't be surprised if you also hear a little Motown, Southern rock, blues and some straight-ahead Chicago blues to go along with the second line "street beat" groove. The Funky Butt Brass Band is guaranteed to get your toes tapping, your feet marching and kick any party into overdrive.

The New Orleans brass band tradition has its roots in that city's jazz funeral processions. Once the dearly departed was buried, the brass band would "cut the body loose" by playing uptempo, joyous music. As they marched, they would be joined by revelers who formed a line alongside and behind the band. This was known as the "second line."

Press and Performance Highlights

Marquis Knox

Posted in Live Entertainment, Blues, Musicians

Marquis Knox

Marquise Knox was born in 1991 in St. Louis while his mother was visiting family. They returned to Granada, Mississippi, but moved to St. Louis for good a couple of years later. Marquise still resides in St. Louis, Missouri, but also spends a lot of time in Grenada, where he loves to fish and visit friends and family.

Marquise hails from a musical family deeply entrenched in the Blues. He learned how to play guitar from his grandmother whose family were sharecroppers and whose great, great grandparents were slaves. He also played with his uncle Clifford, who was a major influence in Marquise's life.

For Marquise, Blues is his heritage and a way of life. He spent his early teenage years in St. Louis mentoring under the late great Blues legend, N.E.A. Heritage Fellowship recipient and Grammy Award winner Henry James Townsend. Marquise's talents have earned him performing rights with some of America's most notable blues performers such as blues legend and Grammy Award winners B.B. King, Pinetop Perkins and David "Honeyboy" Edwards (the latter two also NEA Heritage Fellows). He has also performed at dozens of festivals, and has toured Germany and played the Baden Blues Festival in Switzerland.

Marquise met Sam Lay during a visit to Clarksdale, Mississippi. Like other statesmen of the Blues, Sam took an immediate liking to Marquise and took it upon himself to help give Marquise's career a boost by insisting that Chad Kassem bring Marquise to the celebrated Blues series "Bluesmasters at the Crossroads", which has showcased a virtual who-who of the Blues at Blue Heaven Studios in Salina, Kansas. Marquise was an immediate crowd favorite, and was adopted by all of the elders of the Blues in attendance that year. His obvious talent along with his deep knowledge of the Blues and vast respect for his elders made it clear Marquise had something special, and Kassem signed him to a three album deal.

Knox's debut album MANCHILD was nominated for a Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut. The album was recorded when he was 16, in two nights, during an ice storm in a church with the world renowned Michael Burks and his band. There is even a song called Ice Storm on the album. The release received worldwide acclaim, including Living Blues' Best Debut Artist Award and a Blues Music Award nomination for Best Debut Artist. Marquise then recorded a direct-to-disc album while in town for the next year's Crossroads.
Marquise recently released his third album, Here I Am, once again recorded at the legendary Blue Heaven Studios in Salina, Kansas. It features Marquise and his band, with a little help from Wayne Sharp of Michael Burk's band sitting in on B-3 and piano. Nine originals, and three reverent covers of Marquise's favorite Muddy Waters tunes.

I think this excerpt from Here I Am's liner notes says it best. "When you listen to Marquise - 19 years old when he recorded this title - you get the sense that this is what those masters must have sounded like as young men. Marquise's blues are so transparent and bare. It's so easy to feel his music as totally legitimate. That's above all what makes it so appealing. That's what makes Marquise Knox special. He's the whole package. A throwback blues master on the rise. Anybody believe in reincarnation?"

Marsha Evans

Posted in Live Entertainment, Blues, Musicians

Marsha Evans

With a repertoire that encompasses blues, R&B, jazz, pop classics and the great American songbook, vocalist Marsha Evans has earned her place among the most in-demand entertainers in the Midwest as well as her title, the River City Show Stopper.

Marsha has headlined major events such as the Big Muddy Blues & Heritage Festival and BluesWeek, and shared the stage with nationally known artists such as Michael McDonald, Fontella Bass, the Temptations, Clark Terry and many others.

Marsha's musical career began at an early age, inspired by her mother, one of the first black females to perform on the stage of the Muny Opera, and her father, lead trumpet player for the famed George Hudson orchestra for many years. After working as the featured vocalist with Hudson's orchestra, Marsha went on to become the featured vocalist with legendary pianist and member of the Rock and Roll hall of fame, Johnnie Johnson.

Backed by the talented musicians in her band, The Coalition, has established herself as one of the most in-demand entertainers in the region. With her incredible combination of vocal talent and the rare ability to immediately connect with an audience, Marsha Evans creates the perfect musical accompaniment for any occasion.

Mo E Trio

Posted in Live Entertainment, Blues, Musicians, Jazz

Mo E Trio

From the start of his performing career in the mid 90s Maurice "Mo" Egeston has made a mark in the St. Louis region as a leader of innovative and popular bands. His early study of classical piano brought him to graduate work at SIU-E. It was while completing his Master's that Mo began exploring styles of music beyond the classical tradition. Since then, all of his projects, including Vargas Swing, the Soul Alliance featuring CocoSoul, Urban Jazz Naturals and Mo & Dawn have seen Mo combine his musical talent and formal training with an ability to lead and run successful groups.

In 2010 Mo Egeston is returning to his roots as a pianist fronting his own group, the Mo E Trio. The Trio combines influences from all the projects Mo currently performs in (UG Project, the Soul Alliance, and Brothers Lazaroff) with his own interest in soul, jazz and electronic influences. The resulting sound is a groove based experience that seeks to redefine traditional expectations.

Drummer, Grover Stewart and bassist, Teddy Brookins join Mo on this journey. Styles referenced include soul, jazz, bossa, r & b, organic house grooves and drum and bass; however no genre is considered off limits! Originals, jazz standards, pop music and neo-soul melodies will all be a part of the Mo E Trio sound. A sound which easily slides from deep lounge ambiance to center stage funk grooves.

At times guest artists join the experience complimenting the sounds of Mo, Grover and Ted. Mo E Trio is always diverse and improvisational with a definite focus on the tap of the toe and the nod of the head.

Mo E Trio- A Journey in Sound, Soul and Groove.

Mo Egeston- Keyboards, Programming

Grover Stewart- Drums

Ted Brookins- Bass

Ralph Butler Band

Posted in Live Entertainment, Blues, Musicians, Covers, Weddings

Ralph Butler Band

With 25 years experience and more than 7,500 performances, the Ralph Butler Band is still one of the most sought after bands in the country. Always fresh and exciting, the Ralph Butler Band seamlessly blends traditional Motown sound to the most popular songs of today. Versatile and perfectly seasoned, the band's music inspires a comfortable, interactive atmosphere, filling any room or sunlit sky with robust entertainment. With a strong St. Louis fan base, the Ralph Butler Band keeps a full schedule performing for all venues ranging from festivals to fairs, weddings to anniversary parties, and corporate functions to college campuses. Keeping a full calendar Ralph has earned the title of "Public Entertainer Number One."

"I make it a point to get in touch with the audience right away and to stay in touch throughout the engagement," says Ralph. "These are real people that I'm performing for, and when I share the warmth and togetherness by connecting with them and letting them know how special they are, it creates the true magic of a live performance." This has made the Ralph Butler Band one of the most sought after wedding acts, as they have performed at hundreds of wedding receptions over the past three decades.

Over the years, Talph Butler has added new and exciting performers to the gorup in order to keep the band fresh and popular with audiences. "New people and new energy excite me," says Butler, who loves assisting younger artists in perfecting their skills. Today, the Ralph Butler Band is a group of versatile veterans who take pride in the quality of their performance. Each performer brings their personal accomplishments a seasoned musicians to the stage. Their broad repertoire offers titles ranging from Bob Marley, Bobby Darin, Amy Winehouse, Al Jarreau, Paul Simon, Maroon 5 and Bette Midler ... only to name a few.

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