Things will be getting downright funky when Rann Berry’s Rhythm and Soul Revue presents The Music of Motown at the Vernon Jazz Club Saturday.
The band features Berry (lead vocals and guitar), Gord Frie (sax), Mike Schell (trumpet), Chris Manuel (trombone), Justin Glibbery (keyboards and vocals), Michael Fic (vocals and bass), and Scott Gamble (drums).
This high-energy seven-piece band will be grooving to Motown classics from the ‘60s, including Hard to Handle and Mustang Sally (Wilson Pickett), I Feel Good (James Brown), Soul Man (Sam and Dave), and My Girl and Ain’t Too Proud to Beg (The Temptations).
“We absolutely love this style of music, and the soulful groove and vibe that it creates,” said Berry. “We want to create the atmosphere of a Detroit nightclub in the 1970s – super funky and soulful!”
Berry’s music is influenced by a variety of styles including rock, R&B, funk, and swing.
It was classical rock that first caught his attention.
“I was first drawn to classic rock, like any kid our age listening to radio and wanting to be the next Beatle. Rock was new and exciting,” said Berry.
This excitement lingers still in the sound that Berry’s Rhythm and Soul Revue creates on stage. This electricity comes from their passion for the music along with how familiar the band members are with each other. Most of them have been playing together for more than 20 years.
The group has opened for artists such as Colin James, Trooper, Randy Bachman, Loverboy, April Wine, and Crash Test Dummies.
They have also been busy touring B.C. with their Vegas-style theatre show One Hit Wonders. This show is complete with dancers and is a full musical journey to the past.
Frie is an award winning music educator and performer. He holds a master’s degree in music from Washington State University and can also be heard touring with the Uptown Hornz.
Schell, the co-founder and leader of the Uptown Hornz, has played at the East 542 Music Festival, opening for Steve Augeri (former lead vocalist of Journey) and Fran Cosmo (Boston).
Manuel, a co-founder of Uptown Hornz, was born and raised in Penticton. He has been a clinician, musician, and adjudicator in the Canadian Forces Reserves and has spent time touring Europe.
Glibbery is the musical director at Penticton Secondary School. He has done a lot of work in musical theatre and has been the keyboardist/musical director of a number of shows, including Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys & Dolls, Bye Bye Birdie, and Crazy for You. He has played with the funk band, The Mammals, and tours as both keyboardist and musical director with Rann Berry and the One Hit Wonders.
Fic has travelled the world, performing on cruise ships and is Diamond Jack for the tributes to Tom Jones and Neil Diamond.
Gamble is a regular on the Vernon Jazz Club stage.
He was named musician of the year at the 2006 B.C. Interior Music Awards and is also a successful graphic artist.
Rann Berry’s Rhythm and Soul Revue takes the stage at the Vernon Jazz Club (3000-31st St.) Saturday at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:15. Tickets are $20 at the Bean Scene, Bean to Cup and at www.vernonjazz.ca.
