Funk, jazz and much more music on tap this summer
By Daily Press staff
Jefferson Starship and Delbert McClinton will headline an eclectic list of musical acts as part of this year’s Twilight Dance Series at the Santa Monica Pier.
The names of 17 acts participating in the 18th annual free concert series were released this week. All the concerts, except for one, will be held on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
Shuggie Otis and The Brother Johnson — blues rock and funk bands, respectively — will kickoff the series June 27 and Jefferson Starship, a classic rock band, will close out the series on Aug. 27.
Here is a brief description of the bands: The Brothers Johnson are the originators of the sophisticated funk R&B style that shook a generation and influenced almost every musician who came after them. They are back together after 18 years apart. The group began playing music together in the ’70s with Billy Preston and collected seven Grammy nominations and six Gold and Platinum LPs. The Brothers were discovered by Quincy Jones who produced them and brought them to stardom.
Shuggie Otis was lured from semi-seclusion to the Pier stage by the prospect of performing with the Brothers Johnson. Otis is the author of The Brothers mega hit, “Strawberry Letter #23.” Shuggie is a prodigy guitar hero whose performances are rare these days.
Jazz on the Latin Side All-Stars, which appear July 3, is the series only Wednesday concert. Jose Rizo put together a special group for special occasions that includes Poncho Sanchez, Justo Almario, Francisco Aquabella, Alex Acuna, Danielo Lozano, and Rizo. Most of these guys have performed on the Pier before but never at the same time. A dance floor will be available for the Salsa crowd.
Eileen Ivers is a seven-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, star of River-dance, and more than 80 recording credits. Ivers’ band delivers her unique, new, groove-oriented genre of rock, Latin and African rhythms with driving Celtic melodies.
Brother is a favorite at the Pier, using their rich Australian heritage to grab attention to their powerhouse rock. Bagpipes and didgeridoo add a unique flair to their Aussie Celtic rock.
Rosie Flores jams rocka-billy-style. But you may remember her from her Screaming Siren days in the 1980s, one of her first bands. Laura Love plays Afro-Celtic-hip-alachian-funkabilly-R&B music. With seemingly incongruous musical influences, Seattle’s Laura Love’s talent is her ability to get people to listen beyond their own boundaries.
Rachid Taha’s music pulls together Europe, America, and the Maghreb into one shinning melodic and rhythmic whole.
Santa Monica’s summer concert series will be highlighted by Jefferson Starship and Delbert McClinton, but acts covering many genres have already been booked. All concerts are free and take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, except for the concert on July 3. For more information call (310) 458-8900 or go to the Web Site at www.twilightdance.org.
Natacha Atlas, formerly with Trans-global Underground, has put out four solo albums since leaving TGU five years ago. Her multi-cultural background and Egyptian heritage colors her immersion in “shabbi,” Egypt’s indigenous, bluesy pop music.
Graham Parker is known mostly for his witty songwriting. Parker writes songs about the wild passions lurking behind every day drudgery. Along with Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson and the Police, Parker was part of the late ’70s British invasion.
Preston Smith & the Crocodiles has sung for Barbara Streisand’s wedding, played harmonica and scat rapped alongside Salt n’ Pepa on Quincy Jones TV show “Vibe.”
Morgan Heritage is reggae family style. Patriarch Denroy Morgan and a portion of his 29 offspring bring you real, heart-felt, up-in-the-hills roots reggae from Jamaica.
Upstream performs an energetic style of rock influenced reggae, techno, funk, hip hop and soca.
Delbert McClinton won a Grammy this year for his latest album and another Grammy last year for his duet with Bonnie Raitt from her “Luck of the Draw” album. He has numerous songwriting credits on albums by Wynona, Vince Gill and many others.
Teresa James is a long-time Pier favorite and powerhouse blues singer Quetzal is fueled by their drive to bring a contemporary urban reality to foundational forms of music. Quetzal mixes folk blends with rock, jazz, R&B, and hip-hop influences, weaving together with various son genres.
The B-Side Players, from the San Diego area, offer a blend of Latin funk, rock, reg-gae, and soul.
Jefferson Starship features a stellar cast of old and new players including Jefferson Airplane founders vocalist Marty Balin and songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Paul Kantner, both of whom were crucial in developing the renowned “San Francisco sound.” Veterans of Woodstock, Altamont, and the Monterey Pop Festival, they were there through it all.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 31, 2002. Read the original PDF.