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 Roundup : Ryan Cross Brings It!

Soul Funk!

What is it?
 

Ryan Cross, bass player, has assembled a night of miscellaneous jazz, funk, soul, R&B - a conglomeration of styles and people gathered here every session for your dancing and listening pleasure. There's always surprise guests and top notch singers and players and the most beautiful crowd you'll encounter on the West side on a Tuesday night.

The pix below are a sampling of recent guests who have soul-funked Harvelle's.

The one and only Nikki Grier.

Robert Miller, Ryan Cross and Dennis Hamm

Tricia Battani shakes her groove thang. Ryan Cross on bass.

Rachel Sierra gives it her all, Tom McNally (lft) on guitar.

Dennis Hamm works it out.

Dezmond Meeks and Keyrei join Tricia Battani on stage.

Tom McNally takes the lead. Rachel Sierra on the right.

Nikki Grier : Soul Funk Session-aire

The luscious Nikki Grier did her thing the other night. Check out the video of her singing her own "I Just Wanna". 

Soul Funk :The Return of Nikki Grier

Nikki Grier returns to Harvelle's tonight! This encore performance is highly anticipated and promises to be a night of sweet soul, r&b and jazz. The ultra-sexy Ms. Grier's exquisite voice makes this a very special Soul Funk session. 

Check out the video above of her at Harvelle's back in May with Ryan Cross on bass.

Judith Hill : Shining at the Michael Jackson Memorial

Having recently performed at Harvelle's as part of Ryan Cross' Soul Funk, Judith Hill shined for the world as she took the lead vocal on the closing number of "Heal The World" at this morning's Michael Jackson memorial at the Staples Center (see video below). 

Judith had been rehearsing for the upcoming Michael Jackson tour; as his sudden death has changed everything, it was amazing to see her in front of millions take the lead vocal, poised and shining even more brightly than before.

Click here for a video of Judith at Harvelle's trading vocals with Nikki Grier on Sade's "Love Is Stronger Than Pride" back in May. (Judith enters the video at the 1:20 mark)

Check out Judith Hill's website.

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!