The Toledo Show : Family's Running Deep

This is Toledo Diamond

This is Jessie Payo

That's Tom McNalley backing up Toledo

Walter Davis with unknown Dame

Like some kind of Ambien™ hazed Bootsy Collins nightmare-on-wax, The Toledo Show peeled itself back - like a royal purple onion - revealing family, friends and funk; spectacularly - Harvelle's darling Jessie Payo reuniting with Mr Toledo Diamond himself front and center; familiarly - the return of the forever vocals of Rachel Lynn to So Cal; and funkily - the knock-down drag-out rhythm section of Brian Allen on bass plus (any and all drummers including Asa Watkins &) Punky!! (also of note: the appearance onstage of SoulFunk vet, guitarist Tom McNalley).

Toledo and Jessie reunited

That's Rachel Lynn

(Come check her out solo on Wednesday night before House Of Vibe)

Funky Birthday Shots

First off - Happy Bday to the righteous funky brother number one: David Ormesher!


Miss Heather with David O


John "Pop" Clark on wicked guitar.


above - Octavia with Kenny Crouch (keys).

A pre-birthday bash of sorts -
no doubt this celebration will be continuing on for the next 24 hours (or so). Cheers to another trip round the sun.



The house is full of funkateers and soul babes. (above - Miss Heather w your humble blogger). Like Putney Swope says "the Boorman 6 girl has GOT TO have soul". Singers Lisa Foreman and Octavia have got the soul.



above David O w J (from CT)

Big-ups to Kenny Crouch (keys), drummer Cedric Anderson, Miss Heather & photographer Josh, Tom McNalley, singer Ella, J (all the way from CT), bassist Cornelius, the marvelous Lisa Foreman, guitarist John "Pop" Clark, Singer/DJ Reesso, Tanisha and of course Ryan Cross.


above - Lisa Foreman is funkin' for Jamaica.


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Location:1432 4th St,Santa Monica,United States

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! : The Return Of Mayia Sykes

My night started off with Coq Au Vin. Two days before Thanksgiving and she wanted to prepare Coq Au Vin. And who can say no to Coq Au Vin? Seriously.

Good food is a ripe aphrodisiac for haughty musical exploration, and as luck would have it, my favorite eclectrician, Ryan Cross, was holding court with his cast of players including Zane Musa, James Allen, Robert Miller and Mr Brandon Coleman.

Pictured top: Tom McNalley accompanies featured vocalist Mayia Sykes in what was one of the best musical performances I have seen in a while, at Harvelle's or anywhere. Detroit native Tom is an accomplished guitarist with a passion for Haitian music and

culture. Mayia Sykes continues to surprise and delight audiences around the world, and to experience her in an intimate setting like Harvelle's is beautiful and rapturous.

Soulfunk is every Tuesday night.