Workin and Broke : Soul Funk

There's nothing that sucks more than being broke around the holidays, and when you're working hard, it's like adding insult to injury. At Harvelle's the Tuesday night SoulFunk is a veritable church visit, one and all testifying. Blues and jazz and people playing to their hearts content, is a sure way to escape the bleakness of the situation. So I'm gonna be polite and comb my hair and be gracious this season and white knuckle it into 2010, where the future is.

OK. So this past Tuesday.... Ryan Cross brought his crew through. Keith Eaddy on bass, Dennis Hamm on keys and Gene Coye on drums. Featured singers Nicole and Tina sang some Xmas classics and some R&B and blues in tandem and solo.

Mayia Sykes took the stage and sang her heart out; she thawed me a little too. John Beasley - a keyboardist with an amazing resume - sat in on a few tunes. There's a video of Maiya jamming with Mr Beasley I have posted here. Lisa Foreman brought down the house with her sheer funkiness.

I hung out with guitarist Tom McNalley and chanteuse Hilary Van Lier throughout the night, and left broke - but slightly more enthused about life. A special shout out to Marcas Johnson, a keyboardist that sat in and a cool guy that I've recently gotten to know a bit.

I don't expect it to be any less funky this week.

Soul Funk Chronicles : Ladies Night

A Tuesday night just simply isn't without some Soul Funk, courtesy of Ryan Cross and his partners Gene Coye and Brandon Coleman. Tonight, feature Sarah Daye (above) sang an energetic set of rapturous torch elegies, and the band - being held down most of the night by Keith Eaddy (top pic) on bass (and guitar!) - hosted some guests including Shaunte aka Bone - trombone player in the House Of Vibe - and my fave jazz singer Ms. Hilary Van Lier (pictured).

Guaranteed SoulFunk : Cross/Coleman/Coye

Ryan Cross hosted an awesome night of music Friday, that featured Maiya Sykes (pictured above with Ryan), a multi-octaval musician with a fierce yet angelic voice. Also sitting in; James Butler and Keith Eaddy on bass, and Hilary VanLier - the modern day chanteuse - who sang her own "I Ain't Even Trippin'" and was a very cool highlight to the night. Ryan's got a Rol-O-dex™ full of the hottest players in town, so you never know who you're gonna hear, but it's always guaranteed soulfunk-y!

Ryan and his SoulFunk bandmates, Gene Coye (drums) and Brandon Coleman (keys and vox)are now performing every Tuesday night at Harvelle's! 

Come down and see 'em live!

Soul Funk : A night and a half of super bad jazz

Friday night Soul Funk! 

Rachel Sienna center-staging it

even the cymbals were funky

Ryan Cross on bass