Sue Ann Carwell : First Lady Of Soul

Sue Ann Carwell is amazing! 

One of the blues-iest, most dynamic singers I've had the pleasure of witnessing, she has a deep pedigree as part of The Brides Of Funkenstein/Parlet (the legendary female singers of the Parliament /Funkadelic /George Clinton camp) and with her time (as the First Lady Of Soul Of MPLS) alongside Prince, where she was considered for the lead singer of The Time. She's been on albums by everyone, singing and arranging vocals by top-charters like Britney, Christina and Mya. Her most recent CD Blues In My Sunshine was co-written and produced by the legendary funkster (The Time guitarist) Jesse Johnson.

She stops by Harvelle's from time-to-time - usually as part of blues guitarist Zac Harmon's show. Here she brings it all the way down with a song from her CD : "It's All The Same".

Sue Ann Carwell's CD Blues In My Sunshine is available at all the usual outlets.

Dessy DiLauro : Why You Raggin' - The Video

Why You Raggin'? is the latest video from hep-hop head Dessy Di Lauro.

Ric'key Pageot is Dessy's partner in crime

below: Toledo Diamond twirls dancers Dame Mindy & Dame Erin

 Featuring internationally known choreographer/dancer Toledo Diamond and his 2 fave dancing dames - Erin Bridges and Mindy Cantu - Dessy DiLauro's Why You Raggin' video brings a magical burst of color to video screens everywhere!! Kudos to director James Elder for a hot blend of visuals that matches the songs energy. [Dessy DiLauro Website]

Dessy DiLauro's EP Jumpin' 'N Jivin' Live @ The Swing House is available at all the usual outlets including Amazon & CD Baby

Harvelle's is hosting a party and performance by Dessy DiLauro on Thursday, July 14, 2011. 

Ultralove : See Me Feel Me Touch Me Heal Me

Tonight - it's Ultralove!

Mike "Ultralove" Wagner is the up&comer to see.
Ultralove (the band) play every Monday night at Harvelle's and very quietly, it has become the best party night of the week. Ultralove's (the band) sound is hip-hop influenced - but in the hands of a skilled singer/songwriter like Ultralove (the man) and the crack-shot ballistics of Ultralove (the band) - the sound is new and fresh and - ok, i'll say it - it's "baby making music".

That's right.

How this skinny kid from Philly is able to transcend the genres and somehow create a hybrid between Stax style soul, eighties pop hooks, sexy Pendergrass/Prince style eroticism - all with the style and energy of a laid-back funkateer strumming an acoustic guitar - is a beautiful mystery for all of us to enjoy.

Kudos to the band : Doug Showalter (g) Adam Berg (k), Jon Swift (k and rap), Mike Gunn (bassist extrordinaire) and heavy hitter Seth Murphy (d).

Shout out to Chelsea, Shaunte, Sebastian, Lauralee, Brew, Guy and Greg Raymond.

The Toledo Show : The Return Of Brian AllenPlus Dessy DiLauro brings it!!

The Toledo Show is a never ending burlesque journey through grimey back alleys filled with unknown vices, sweaty women, tons of cigar smoke and all that stuff that seems cool until you're neck deep in it, and then it's just a daily reminder of how low down and filthy life can be.

But lucky for us, every Sunday we get to celebrate this life source and dance and party and dance some more while Toledo preaches the funk. We watch as Toledo's "Dames" dance with wild abandon - swinging from the ceiling, dancing on the bar (above), bumpin' and grindin' through the crowd and across the dance floor just for your extreme voyeuristic pleasure.

Bringing a short glimpse of what this coming Thursday will bring, hep-hop fro-hawked diva Dessy DiLauro (pictured above with partner Ric'key Pageot far right on the keys) kicked off the second set of the night with a look at her new video ("Why You Raggin'?"), which will debut proper Thursday, July 14, right here at Harvelle's. Dessy and Ric'key did a couple of their new songs, which revved the crowd up for what turned into a spectacularly raging set by The Toledo Show. While they are always "on point", The Toledo Show was extra electric tonight, perhaps spurned on by the return of fistful-of-dynamite bassist Brian Allen (pictured below - with saxophonist Walter Davis).

The Toledo Show happens every Sunday night at Harvelle's.

The Boneshakers : On-The-One & Then Some

The Boneshakers are an electric funk experience like none other. The 5 piece of Randy Jacobs (g), Dave McGraw (d), Tio Banks (k), Andre Barry (b) and legendary Sweet Pea Atkinson (v) electrifies the night!!

Randy Jacobs and The Boneshakers only come around Harvelle's about once a year. Tonight was the night!! Randy Jacobs is an amazing guitarist. In a club where amazing guitarists are featured several nights a week, Randy is the best of the best... knitting blankets of chik-a-chik funk and laying down blistering solos without a guitar pic. Randy isn't just a straight-up finger player - the boneshaker - hisself - uses his wrist, his palm, his digits - front and back - to play that thing! [MySpace][YouTube]

The frontman of The Boneshakers is the one and only Sweet Pea Atkinson. Sweet Pea is an O.G. soul singer who has seen it all and done it all. He doesn't sugarcoat a thing. One of the icons who's image looms high in the club, Sweet Pea also plays here as part of Was (Not Was).

Randy just released his CD The Return Of Randy Dynamite

it's available at all the usual outlets

Amazon - CD Baby - iTunes -

SUMMER DINNER SERIES : First Show - July 22

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_buy tickets_

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_guy davis website_

_gino matteo website_

Tasha Taylor : Her Love Is Rated X*

Here's the facts : Tasha Taylor is the daughter of soul legend Johnnie Taylor. She has a new album out called "Taylor Made". Her Tuesday appearances at Harvelle's will continue through July. Her band includes Zane Musa (sax), Will Artrope (trumpet) and Tommy King (keys). (I will list the rest of the band members here asap.) Tasha's mix of originals and classic soul tunes with the backing of an "A-list" band of musicians is the main feature on "Soul Tuesday". The rest of the soul is provided by Club Soulsides DJs playing vinyl 45's exclusively from the 60s!! Shout out to Paula Weller!!

*Your love is rated 'X'... that stands for X-tra special - Johnnie Taylor ("Your Love Is Rated X")