A classic playing the classics?
Tower of Power is doing just that. With 42 years of recording and touring experience, the Bay Area R&B band still has the chops.
Take the latest album, “The Great American Song Book.” Tower of Power was able to enlist the likes of Tom Jones, Huey Lewis, Sam Moore, and Joss Stone in covering some of the soul classics.
Characterized by its horn line – Hollywood Reporter raved about the ten-piece outfit, calling it “tighter than a clenched fist” – Tower of Power has been able to meld soul, jazz, funk and rock like no other musical group.
“TOP is the world’s best rhythm and blues band,” said former band mate and current musical director for the Saturday Night Live band, Lenny Pickett.
Tower of Power will be in Modesto on Friday, Feb. 4, at the State Theatre, 1307 J St., beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets range in price from $40 to $50.
At last summer’s San Joaquin County Fair, they performed several tracks from the new album, including “Loveland” and “Me and Mrs. Jones.”
But it’s those oldies but goodies – namely, “What is Hip?” and “You’re Still a Young Man” – that still attracts generations of TOP fans.
The horn line includes former Manteca resident Mic Gillette (trumpet, trombone), who returned to the group over a year ago, in turn, reuniting with original members David Garibaldi (drums), Emilio Castillo (tenor sax, vocals), Stephen “Doc” Kupka (baritone sax), and Rocco Prestia (bass).
“Having Mic back in the band brings back incredible memories,” said Castillo, who is also the band leader. “His ability to play screaming lead trumpet and then switch effortlessly to trombone is world class.”
He added, “It’s just incredible that after all these years the three original horn players are back together in Tower of Power.”
Gillette now makes his home in the Calavares County town of West Point.
Lead singer Larry Braggs is the band’s front man.
“He has a soulfulness that knows no bounds, finessing a ballad with the best of them, and then turning right around to make it as funky as it gets,” Castillo said.
Rounding out Tower of Power is Adolfo Acosta (trumpet), Jerry Cortez (guitar), Tom Politzer (lead tenor sax), and Roger Smith (keyboards).
The band achieved its greatest popularity in the 1970s, and backed up Huey Lewis and the News, Heart, and Eurhythmics, to name a few, in the ‘80s.
Ticket information can be obtained by calling 209-527-4697 or logging on to www.thestate.org.
To read more about Tower of Power, click on to www.towerofpower.com.
Tower of Power is doing just that. With 42 years of recording and touring experience, the Bay Area R&B band still has the chops.
Take the latest album, “The Great American Song Book.” Tower of Power was able to enlist the likes of Tom Jones, Huey Lewis, Sam Moore, and Joss Stone in covering some of the soul classics.
Characterized by its horn line – Hollywood Reporter raved about the ten-piece outfit, calling it “tighter than a clenched fist” – Tower of Power has been able to meld soul, jazz, funk and rock like no other musical group.
“TOP is the world’s best rhythm and blues band,” said former band mate and current musical director for the Saturday Night Live band, Lenny Pickett.
Tower of Power will be in Modesto on Friday, Feb. 4, at the State Theatre, 1307 J St., beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets range in price from $40 to $50.
At last summer’s San Joaquin County Fair, they performed several tracks from the new album, including “Loveland” and “Me and Mrs. Jones.”
But it’s those oldies but goodies – namely, “What is Hip?” and “You’re Still a Young Man” – that still attracts generations of TOP fans.
The horn line includes former Manteca resident Mic Gillette (trumpet, trombone), who returned to the group over a year ago, in turn, reuniting with original members David Garibaldi (drums), Emilio Castillo (tenor sax, vocals), Stephen “Doc” Kupka (baritone sax), and Rocco Prestia (bass).
“Having Mic back in the band brings back incredible memories,” said Castillo, who is also the band leader. “His ability to play screaming lead trumpet and then switch effortlessly to trombone is world class.”
He added, “It’s just incredible that after all these years the three original horn players are back together in Tower of Power.”
Gillette now makes his home in the Calavares County town of West Point.
Lead singer Larry Braggs is the band’s front man.
“He has a soulfulness that knows no bounds, finessing a ballad with the best of them, and then turning right around to make it as funky as it gets,” Castillo said.
Rounding out Tower of Power is Adolfo Acosta (trumpet), Jerry Cortez (guitar), Tom Politzer (lead tenor sax), and Roger Smith (keyboards).
The band achieved its greatest popularity in the 1970s, and backed up Huey Lewis and the News, Heart, and Eurhythmics, to name a few, in the ‘80s.
Ticket information can be obtained by calling 209-527-4697 or logging on to www.thestate.org.
To read more about Tower of Power, click on to www.towerofpower.com.
