Which Way Is Up? : SoulFunk 09

Ryan Cross, Brandon Coleman and Gene Coye host the hottest jam on the West side aka SoulFunk. It's always different, and it's always funky. This past session included guest players Jes Selane on guitar, Maiya Sykes on vocals, Urie Norris on keys and Frank Abraham on bass.

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.

Soulfunk : Tuesday Night Vocalese

SoulFunk! - Ryan Cross, Gene Coye and Brandon Coleman. Three incredible musicians who mix it up - jazz, soul, funk, r&b... There's always top-notch surprise guests and a plethora of vocal and instrumental talent.

Tonight's featured performers : Octavius Terry and Karma.

Previous sessions have included (top to bottom) Judith Hill, Nikki Grier, Chris Pierce and Lisa Foreman .

Soul Funk : Welcome to Tuesday

Ryan Cross and Soulfunk are hardly strangers around these parts. The West side home to L.A.'s coolest jazz cat, it is with major enthusiasm and elation that brings this one all home. Let's not forget Mr.'s Coye and Coleman (drums, keys respectively) and the plethora of talent available to Mr. Cross.

Tonight's guests include Octavius Terry, DJ Vicious Lee and Karma.

Maiya Sykes : Soul Funk-ateer

The effervescent vocalist with the multi-octave range and soul to spare... yes, *that* Maiya Sykes. Maiya has been here and wowed the crowd with her performance as part of Ryan Cross' Soul Funk Tuesday night residency and I'm sure is up to the task of eliciting a grand reaction again.

See what's up with these purveyors of funk, jazz, latin and r&b - Brandon Coleman (keys, vox) and Gene Coye (drums)- with Ryan Cross holding the whole thing down on the stand-up bass. In addition to Ms. Sykes, there is never a shortage of some of the brightest and best players who stop by and join in. It's always a memorable evening.

Soul Funk : California Dreamin'

A night of soul and funk and jazz; any major dude will tell you it's the spot on a Southern California Tuesday night. Ignore the warm smell of colitas rising up through the air, and cruise down a balmy Santa Ana wind-fueled P.C.H. with the top down towards the beach. Right near the "World Famous" Santa Monica Pier, a stones throw from Venice Beach and at least 15 degrees cooler than the rest of Los Angeles, Harvelle's is the place to be.

Brandon Coleman & Gene Coye

I really haven't given enough credit for last night's Soul Funk! performance to Brandon Coleman and Gene Coye. These two guys - these two gentlemen - kept it going all night long. Brandon and Gene both play many places around the world and play all the time, but there's nothing like seeing them in the anything-can-happen arena of Soul Funk! at Harvelle's (every Tuesday).

The Esperanza Spalding video below starts with an incredible solo by Brandon (pictured left in white) - one of many played throughout the night!! Also in the video - behind Esperanza - is Gene - seriously holding it down.

Esperanza Spalding : Let's Fall In Love

The incredible Esperanza Spalding brought her bad-self to Harvelle's and excited the place with her artisanal approach to performing. Unlike any other, Esperanza sings like a bird and plays bass like no one I've ever seen (Mingus, maybe?). She's busy and melodic and truly sounds like she's trying to get into your heart and soul. Everyone fell in love with Ms. Spalding! Check her out - you might fall in love too!

This video doesn't quite capture how electric she truly is, but you'll enjoy it anyway.

Tuesday Night's Soul Funk : Too Much!!!

Too much fun! Too many good cocktails, too many amazing musicians, too much!!!

That describes last night.

Soul Funk, Ryan Cross' Tuesday night residency always gets me out of the house, and puts me in a good mood. Brandon Coleman (keys) and Gene Coye (drums) set it off with Ryan on the bass, jamming deep grooves and tearing it up for the folk who got their early.

The evening unfolded as the stage became a blur of players, singers and musicians sharing their amazing talents with the very entertained crowd. The photos hardly do the night justice, as it's high auditory component was the key!! Esperanza Spalding, Nayana Holley, Kiki, Jacob Lutrell, Todd Washington, Crystal Star Knighton, Wildflower and Kamasi Washington (and many others!) provided an incredible night of music.

Thanks for bringing it Ryan!! And special thanks to Mika and Jessica - Harvelle's staff members - for making it a very cool Tuesday night.

Esperanza Spalding

Crystal Star Knighton

Jacob Lutrell on vocals and keys

Kiki, Nayanna and Crystal Star Knighton

Esperanza

Kiki

Brandon Coleman

Alfredo Rivera with Esperanza

Kiki!!!

Crystal Star Knighton

Todd Washington

Nayanna Holley

Wildflower

Didn't catch this guy's name,

but he pounded the skins into utter submission!

Soul Funk Tuesday : Ryan Cross & Friends!

Ryan Cross has a LOT of friends. And a lot of friends of friends. And they all tend to gather at Harvelle's on Tuesday nights. The word is out and every week it seems, some of the best and the brightest have been showing their stuff off to an eager audience. (l—r: James Allen (percussion), Gene Coye (drums), Nichelle Monroe (vocals), Brandon Coleman (keys), Todd Washington(guitar).

Soul Funk Tuesday : Full Of Grace

Chase all your blues away.

The Soul Funk night at Harvelle's is every Tuesday.

Ryan Cross brings his big show through and fills the room with beautiful music, dope beats and sexy women. The atmosphere is upbeat - and that's the way it swings at this impromptu jam session.

This past Tuesday, it was ALL funk ALL jazz ALL soul ALL night long! Mr. Cross was nowhere in the place, but Brandon Coleman and Gene Coye were there to bring it! And it was brought! The MC (and on bass) was Ian Martin.

Add to the mix a plethora of talented guests stopping by and jamming! Among them, guitarist/vocalist Todd Washington, House Of Vibe/Toledo Show drummer Pete Antunes, an awesome singer/drummer known as Kiki, Harvelle's fave - vocalist Nichelle Monroe, James Allen who also took a turn on the drums, a horn player named José kicked some serious (br)ass, as did Kamasi Washington - also on sax. There were quite a few others, who's names I didn't catch. 

It was an incredible night of beautiful people and beautiful music. Ryan's gonna kick himself for missing it!

Nichelle Monroe center stage with sax slingers Kamasi and Joe 

and the back of Todd Washington

Nichelle captures the moment digitally

The brass - Kamasi Washington on the far right

Pete Antunes plays mad crazy drums

Todd 'T-Maxx' Washington

Kiki on the mic

The one and only Brandon Coleman

Gene Coye, Ian Martin and Brandon Coleman

The captivating Nichelle Monroe

Kiki on the drums

Soul Funk : Hot Like Summer

Last week's Soul Funk session was a mind blowing combo of old school meets new school, as C.J. Eammons took the stage and captivated right from the start. C.J. (top photo))is a one-of-a-kind vocalist with a multi-octave range. He can sing any style with heavy soul and deep passion. Joined - at one point - by the delightful diva Kim Yarbrough - it was truly happenin' !

The night's second set featured Wally Ali (playing left-handed in the photo above)and Todd Washington (on the right) on guitars, often playing off each other, as they and a variety of back line changes created an electric party that those in attendance will not soon forget.

See what maestro Ryan Cross has in store tonight. Scheduled to perform: one of the top piano players around, Ruslan Sirota who plays with Stanley Clarke, singers LaRae and Robyn Jackson and - of course Robert Miller will be laying down the groove.

Soul Funk! : Judith Hill at Harvelle's

The world recently discovered singer Judith Hill as she sang the final number "Heal The World" at The Michael Jackson Memorial at the Staples Center this past Tuesday. Gathered here are a few clips of her performing at Harvelle's back in May with Ryan Cross on bass, Gene Coye on drums, Dennis Hamm on keys and Katisse Buckingham on sax.

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).

Soul Funk! : Sarah Daye

Ryan Cross : Soul Funk Tuesday

Tonight Ryan Cross and his Soul Funk Tuesdays play host to Amir, a charismatic vocalist with an incredible range and great repertoire. Unscheduled guests always drop by to jam, making this one of the most popular nights in live music in L.A. for both audience and players alike.

And on the West Side!

SoulFunk : Nikki Grier : Caught Up In The Rapture

Sometimes when I'm watching the world-class musicians that perform at Harvelle's, I think to myself 'if they hadn't discovered they were musicians, what would they be doing?' I can't imagine Nikki Grier doing anything but singing. People listen to Nikki. People want to listen to Nikki. They REALLY want to listen to her. The room was practically silent as she opened up her heart and poured out it's contents for all to see. Whew!

Of course Ryan Cross and his SoulFunk! stalwarts Gene Coye (drums) and Brandon Coleman (keys and vox) tore they place apart with their sonic combo. Whether jammin' some hard bop, or backing the folks who sit in they rock the house.

Ask for it by name: SoulFunk! Every Tuesday night at Harvelle's!

SoulFunk : Nikki Grier & DJ Vicious Lee

Ryan Cross introduced the ultra cool soul singer Nikki Grier to an enthusiastic crowd at Harvelle's Tuesday Soulfunk 2 weeks ago. While headliner Judith Hill took a short break, Nikki took the stage and showed up to sing! Her performance of "Love Is Stronger Than Pride" brought the house down!

Graciously she invited Judith back onstage to do some side-by-side vocalizing and competitive "add-a-note" jamming. Once again, as often happens at Harvelle's, the audience totally won!!! (See video below.)

Also featured tonight - DJ Vicious Lee on the 1's and 2's. Vicious is the DJ at Harvelle's insanely popular Sunday night Toledo Show. Vicious is known to keep the dance floor beyond packed, and he knows which crates to dig into. 

Big shout-out to Ryan Cross for bringing the talent to the people.

Keep it coming!

SoulFunk : Judith Hill Shines

Soulfunk Tuesday turned it out! Ryan Cross brought a plethora of talent to the stage and beyond. Judith Hill was definitely the shining star of the night (pictured here with Ryan Cross on bass and Gene Coye on drums). 
Ryan Cross brings Soulfunk! to Harvelle's every Tuesday night. 

SoulFunk : Special Guests :Dennis Hamm & Judith Hill

Tonight Harvelle's welcomes Ryan Cross and his SoulFunk! Tuesday Night party! Dennis Hamm will be sitting in on keys and the beautiful and talented Judith Hill will be keeping the party going. 

Be bold! It's Tuesday night! Couple a bucks gets you into Harvelle's to see world-class musicians at local pub prices! You know where it's at!