The first act is a visit with VMB! doing Vintage 70's Horn Band Rock & Classic Blue-Eyed Soul, which includes an R&B brass section with double percussion in a Soul, Funk and Rock remix revue of the jazz rock brass movement. The last "act" from the Tropical Knights Ex-pats features material in the style of escape bands, blending World crossover Ska, Latin and Southern Hemisphere music, while the band even has the whimsical guts to visit a song or two from Desi Arnaz and Harry Belafonte, just betting that even a younger audience will know these songs from both "The Mask" and "Beetlejuice" movies.
Who are these guys? Ron Knight, a former World Music on-air host from Sirius Radio and voiceover talent from Delta Airlines, Travel Channel, Nickelodeon, ABC Television, Universal Studios and more delivers this Tribute to vintage horn bands of the 70's, classic Blue Eyed Soul, and showcases the bands variety of World Music crossover influences on R&B.
During the 90's Ron Knight found himself "in the loop" with Brazilian artists, Sergio Dias, Eumir Deodato, Luciano Alves, Marcelo Salazar and more, all forming a family of friends, founding a record label for the distribution of Brazilian and World music artists. When Ron returned to Southern California to open a World Percussion Center (The Drum Loft in San Diego) he found himself on the front page of San Diego Tribune along with Mickey Hart, with published reviews and commentary on Community Drum Circles' impact on social wellness and the health benefits of recreational Drum Circles and rhythm events.
As Ron started to miss the full sounds of all instruments in his work, he returned to his background as a writer and arranger to call upon many friends and musicians in the local area, who'd worked with him or other artists that he'd played with. The spin is some of the area's best musicians in a "three act show" that also capitalizes on Ron's time as a national broadcast announcer and program host, for a second act that lets the audience play along.
The upcoming Sews and Shows Theater show, scheduled for Saturday evening, Sept 12th, at 8:00PM features three showcase sets. One of VMB! a 70's Vintage Horn Band Rock and Classic Blue-Eyed Soul, a second set (Tropical Knight's Ex-pats) that showcases the band's crossover influences into World Pop, with a theme that appeals to ex-patriots longing to leave the country for some place inexpensive and unencumbered somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere, with a World Pop appeal from Ska to Samba feels... and last, a game show. That's right... a game show that reclaims the TV joys of simple Game Shows in a 1/2 hour special venue production that allows the audience to play along in traditional radio and television game show broadcast format. It's a good thing there's no bar in the theater, because this could turn into a drinking game for shots and shooters - but the show does give away prizes, worth the price of tickets alone. This set actually allows the band to open up on its take as a West Coast version of the Letterman Late Night's band, doing this portion of the act a.k.a Last Knights Big Band Rkstra.
Featuring a variety of players whose credits include time with Ray Charles, Boz Scaggs, Don Ho, Melissa Manchester, Peter Allen, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Rocky Burnetts, Tony Bennett, Sony & Cher, Jan & Dean, The Little River Band and more, San Diegans may know many players in the lineup as Ron Knight on Vocals, Percussion, and Announcer; John Hunt on Vocals & Guitar: Jeff "Sly" Simon and Dave Curtis on Bass; Lynn Willard on Keyboards; Eduardo Sabogal on drums; some dates with Roger Friend and Tom Versen on drums and percussion, and a lineup of horns from the mix of Derek Cannon, Steve Ebner, Mitch Manker on Trumpet; Bob Campbell on Tenor Sax; Johnny Viau on Tenor Sax; Mike Leisenbach on Flute, Soprano, Alto and Bari Sax; Steve Leeds on Bari Sax; Paul Nowell on Trombone. The band is generally tight and monstrous on its emulations - with a fun time generally had by all.
Saturday, Sept 12th Event Details
VMB! / NAME THAT TUNE/ TROPICAL KNIGHTS EXPATS REVUE
Ron Knight & Last Knights Band in a 3 set Show: features
VMB! 70's Vintage Horn Band Rock and Classic Blue Eyed Soul; brings you back to the early 70's with a musical revue of the Classic Horn Bands: Chicago, Ides of March, Joe Cocker, Tower of Power, Sam & Dave and much more.
Then, show off your musical knowledge and memories as you NAME THAT TUNE! This fully interactive audience participation Game Show in our community production becomes the place where you can Win Big Prizes! - if you can only NAME THAT TUNE!
Then: if you're tired of the Bailout, and like so many of us, not knowing where YOURS is coming from, you may be ready to leave the country! Let's all leave, as we journey through the Tropical Knights Ex-pats Tropical Revue - it's Samba-Mambo time, in a fun-filled review of the big band music of Coffee and Banana Lands. Hey! It's Chick Chicky Boom- Chick Chicky-Boom;.... That's BABALU to you!
Saturday Sept 12th 8:00PM till 9:30PM
Sews and Shows Community Theater
7860 Golden Ave.
Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Tickets available at
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/404333372
or by calling 619 573 9919
It's a small theater venue of just 65 seats, intimate and fun. A second show is planned for the preceding night, Friday, Sept 11th, at the same 8:00PM time, in the event of a Saturday night sell out. This added show will be in order to avoid smaller venue "Standing Room Only" audience fatigue. It should be fun. Be there. We hear the prizes are worthwhile, but the real prize is the music and night out for community entertainment.
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