Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Touring USA/Canada with Streetlight Manifesto

Streetlight Manifesto in Denver, CO
  I'm getting ready to head out on the road with "Streetlight Manifesto" for the next couple of months. A Punk/Ska/Rock band with 4 horns, Streetlight is definitely a departure from my usual gigs. That said, it's probably the hardest gig i've ever played: HIGH energy, LONG sets in HOT venues, and it's nothing but SCREAMING trombone/vocal parts.  It's a lot of fun, the guys are great musicians, and the travel is comfortable (bus tours).

  Another great thing about the Streetlight gig is the fans.  They know every lyrics/horn line and sing (scream) along while we do our thang, it definitely gets you pumped up.  There's a lot of stage diving and mosh-pit action as well (which honestly just scares me, I have to dodge kids so I don't get smacked in the teeth).

  Check out the tour dates on my schedule, and this video of Streetlight at the Reading Festival in England over the summer.  Listen for the crowd singing the horn lines at us!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Trombone with Syl Johnson & The Sweet Divines @ Southpaw, BK

A couple months back I was honored to be asked to play with The Sweet Divines backing up the great Syl Johnson in Brooklyn.  Syl had his first hit in 1967 when he released "Come On Sock It To Me" on Twinight Records, and was still hitting the Billboard charts in 1982 when he released "Ms. Fine Brown Frame".  After taking a break from the music industry he was sampled by The Wu-Tang Clan, Public Enemy, Kool G Rap, MC Hammer and others, sparking a re-entry into the business by releasing "Back In The Game" in 1994.

The Sweet Divines, along with the Dig Deeper series are leading the way in the NYC Soul Scene, having hosted such legendary R&B/Soul artists as Martha Whitney, Otis Clay, The Green Berets, Tami Lynn, Billy Prince, Renaldo Domino and more