News/Update http://www.towerofpower.com/index.php en info@towerofpower.com Copyright 2010 2010-03-09T13:19:59-07:00 Interview and performance video from Leverkusener Jazztage http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/interview_and_performance_video_from_leverkusener_jazztage/ http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/interview_and_performance_video_from_leverkusener_jazztage/#When:13:19:59Z Here's some new video:
On the Serious Side



Me and Mrs. Jones




...And another link to an interview:
http://www.wdr.de/tv/rockpalast/extra/konzerte/2009/1107/tower_of_power.jsp
]]> 2010-03-09T13:19:59-07:00 Updated Information On The Upcoming 40th Anniversary DVD and CD Release, June 2010 http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/updated_information_on_the_upcoming_40th_anniversary_dvd_and_cd_release/ http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/updated_information_on_the_upcoming_40th_anniversary_dvd_and_cd_release/#When:03:28:56Z
Frank Anzalone photo


We are taking this opportunity to provide you with the latest information regarding Tower of Power's 40th Anniversary Concert DVD.

For those of you who have already purchased and reserved your DVD, you have been sent an email with the information that is shown below. If you did not receive the email, or have changed your email or mailing address in the last few months, please contact me at squibcakes@comcast.net.

As you may know, Tower of Power celebrated their 40th Anniversary with two very special shows in 2008. Their appearance at the San Mateo Fair in August of 2008 was filmed, as well as a memorable and historic show at the Fillmore in San Francisco on October 18th, 2008. The ten current members of Tower performed at the Filmore as well as about 30 alumni members dating back to the band's beginnings in 1968. It was an incredible night, and the show was filmed for release on Blu-Ray and DVD, as well as an audio CD.

Many TOP fans took advantage of the pre-sale of a limited number of autographed DVD's that was offered prior to the event. The funds that were generated from those that pre-purchased the DVD and those that made the trip to the Fillmore to see the show as VIP guests enabled us to film the show with multiple HD cameras and record the audio in 5.1 Surround Sound. In addition to the recording of the show at the Fillmore, footage was also taken at the band's actual 40th anniversary, August 23, 2008 at the San Mateo Fairgrounds. Some of that footage along with a documentary style walking tour of Oakland and Berkley with Emilio, Doc, Dave and Rocco will also be included as bonus features. In addition to the DVD, the package will also include an audio CD of the concert.

We are very proud of what the final product looks like and can’t wait to make this available to you.There have been some production delays resulting in the release date being pushed back. There was a major corporate sponsor that had committed to handle certain aspects of the post production of the project. Unfortunately the company who had originally committed to sponsor this Monsterous event, and handle the manufacturing and distribution of the DVD, backed out at the very last minute, leaving us scrambling to put those rather important pieces back in place elsewhere.

We are taking this opportunity to address the situation and to apologize for the lengthy delay. For those of you who have already purchased the DVD, rest assured that you will be receiving your autographed copy of what we are sure you will ultimately agree is a truly Monsterous DVD. We are anticipating a new general release date of June, 2010.

For those of you who have not already reserved your DVD/CD package, we will start taking orders for the DVD and CD package in the very near future. The recordings of this historic event are something that every Tower of Power fan will surely want to add to their collection.

On behalf of Emilio, Doc, Dave, Rocco, Larry, Tommy, Adolfo, Roger, Mic, and Jerry, thanks again for your support and dedication to Tower of Power.

Sincerely,
Brian Rachlin
Web Admin for
Tower of Power
]]> 2010-02-26T03:28:56-07:00 Special TOP Soundcheck Video Footage from 2003 http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/special_top_soundcheck_video_footage_from_2003/ http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/special_top_soundcheck_video_footage_from_2003/#When:04:20:37Z This video was shot and edited by Frank Abadie, AKA "Frankie Foto", a longtime Tower of Power fan.

Here is a 10 minute glimpse of some great behind the scenes TOP video.

Enjoy!

]]> 2010-02-23T04:20:37-07:00 Rocco Prestia: Sonora’s Funkiest Native Son http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/rocco_prestia_sonoras_funkiest_native_son/ http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/rocco_prestia_sonoras_funkiest_native_son/#When:23:23:46Z

Please click the link below to view a new interview with Rocco Prestia:
rocco.pdf
By GARY LINEHAN
The Union Democrat
]]> 2010-02-18T23:23:46-07:00 Magazine Article From 1975 http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/magazine_article_from_1975/ http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/magazine_article_from_1975/#When:04:42:01Z SOUL POWER CIRCA 1975

The year was 1975. Tower of Power was releasing hit singles and albums, touring the country, and appearing on television shows like Soul Train, Midnight Special, and Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.

TOP's discography to date included "East Bay Grease", "Bump City", "Tower of Power", "Back to Oakland", "Drop It In The Slot". The TOP Horns were already a well established unit, lending their talents to dozens of high profile recording artists in addition to performing on their own recordings.

After an appearance at The Tower Theater in Upper Darby, Pa., just outside of Philadelphia, a reporter from Chicago Concert Magazine caught up with Emilio Castillo, Lenny Pickett, Hubert Tubbs and some guests.

The following is the cover and the article from a recently discovered copy of Chicago Concert magazine, June 1975:


..."Seven years is a long time for a band to be together"






]]> 2010-02-15T04:42:01-07:00 In-Depth Interview of Tower of Power http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/in_depth_interview_of_tower_of_power/ http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/in_depth_interview_of_tower_of_power/#When:04:05:43Z
Check out this latest interview:


Why Music? an interview with legendary band, TOWER of POWER! from Carla Moreno on Vimeo.



Visit http://www.carlamoreno.com/ for more info on Carla Moreno
]]> 2010-02-14T04:05:43-07:00 TOP / Infinity Hall Promo video http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/top_infinity_hall_promo_video/ http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/top_infinity_hall_promo_video/#When:15:45:22Z This video was created by our friends at Infinity Music Hall and Bistro

Thanks to Larry from New Haven for the heads up, as well as Infiniy's talent coordinator.

Check it out...



]]> 2010-02-06T15:45:22-07:00 What Fans Are Saying About TOP at Jazz Alley… http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/what_fans_are_saying_about_top_at_jazz_alley/ http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/what_fans_are_saying_about_top_at_jazz_alley/#When:17:12:36Z From "Space Needle", a TOP Message Board Member:

NEWS FLASH!!! Dateline, Seattle WA, 1/29/10...................

10:00 P.M., Seattle: Traffic in downtown Seattle ground to a complete halt shortly after 10:00 on Friday evening as thousands of gallons of steaming hot East Bay Grease rolled through the city streets. Officials quickly identified the source of the slick, funky goo as being the Jazz Alley nightclub on 6th Avenue. Upon ascertaining that escape was impossible, crowds flocked on foot to the club, only to find the show was completely sold out. Following is a summary of the rare treat experienced by the fortunate patrons wise enough to secure advance reservations:

* Second show setlist was: Soul Vaccination Intro, Stoke Medley, Only So Much Oil, Stike My Main Nerve, Just Enough and Too Much, Loveland, You're the Most, Time Will Tell, Funkafize, Souled Out, SVHTG, Knock Yourself Out, This Time It's Real (encore tune). Great mix of tunes! Highly cool that the band came out, didn't mess around with talking to the crowd and blasted immediately into the wall of sound that is Soul Vaccination.
* Great to see Mic in the saddle again. He had all the parts down perfectly and was having a great time. He took a few solos, including a nice trombone solo on Strike My Main Nerve, and sounded great. Our group all noted how perfectly the trombone blended with the horn harmonies--pretty amazing how five horns can sound like a solid block of harmonic sound, yet it is possible to pick out each instrument if you listen carefully.
* Very impressed with Jerry Cortez. Dude has the chops (instrumental and vocal) and played some very, very tasty rhythm licks. Also had a couple strong solos. After less than a month with the band, he seems to be fitting into the guitar slot like a key in a lock.
* Little known fact: Roger was born with a third arm and hand. This has to be true. There is no other explanation for how he can play the Hammond like that.
* I have never heard Garibaldi's drums sound so good. Must have been the way the mics were set up on his kit. Very clear, stacatto sound. His snare sounded like a percussion grenade going off each time he hit it (and he hit it a lot!).
* I'm not sure who's running the board for TOP these days, but he deserves a pat on the back. Sound was absolutely perfect. Nice and loud but not muddy/boomy. After all, TOP music is something that can only be truly experienced by hearing it with the ears and feeling it in the gut.
* Looked like Rocco has some new bass amp equipment. He had two cabinets on the bottom which looked like they each housed 15" woofers, and a cabinet on top that holds four 10" mid range speakers. The whole rig was quite a bit taller than him! Sounded great.
* Braggs was Braggs. Great showman, great voice. Hit all the high notes dead on. By the grins on the ladies faces sitting near me, I think they liked him......
* I had the pleasure of visiting with Jan, who flew up from Atlanta to catch the shows. Great guy, and said he absolutely loved the shows and the venue (and he like the Seattle microbrews even more!!)
* Seattle TOP fanatics Tim, Katie, Kevin, Cheri, Nina and Sonny were all there for the second show. They were insane, as usual.....
* My wife and I are heading back down to see both shows tonight (Saturday), presuming we can navigate through the greasy streets!
Later,
Dave

(p.s.: I didn't go to the early Friday show, but nabbed a set list. It was: We Came To Play, Soul w/ S, Can't You See, Serious Side, How Could This Happen 2 Me, Groove, Mrs. Jones, JB Medley, What is Hip, YSAM. Very cool that the band didn't duplicate any of the first set tunes in the second set)



From "Johnny R", A TOP Message Board Member:
Early Thursday Show

I've been going to TOP shows since 1976 and I've got to say that Thursday's early show was one of the tightest Tower of Power shows I've heard in a long, long time. The horns were absolutely smoking. I can't think of a better sax soloist than Tommy P...absolutely powerful. As Space Needle said, the mix was great especially the drums....wow! It was a nice line-up of songs....the same as Space Needle reported with the Friday early show. Is there a better song for Larry Braggs than Me and Mrs. Jones....I don't think so! What a fantastic night. The crowd was large and very appreciative. We sat behind Roger and were absolutely amazed at his work! Had a chance to thank him after the show....what a great guy! Jerry Cortez played great and did a fantastic job with backup vocals. We were a little far from Mic and Adolpho...couldn't see them well, but could hear! Jazz Alley is a super place to see and hear TOP...an excellent night! JohnnyR.



From "BusMaster007", a TOP Message Board Member:
Outstanding...!!!

Sometimes it seems like one particular show is just a little more special than other ones, for whatever reason the listener finds it that way.
Tonight was one of those nights for me.
Second show, Saturday Night.

I was accompanied by my beautiful wife and two daughters.
Before the show, Soulvaccinated stopped over to say 'hello' to us. That was a nice and thoughtful surprise. Thanks for doing that! It was nice to meet you.

During the show, I was just amazed at how the presence of Mic Gillette transformed my perception of the performance.
It was like a trip back in time, hearing and watching him play.
"I remember when...", was what I was thinking.
He gave an onstage compliment to Adolfo after a solo that showed the class that Mic always has had, and it was a great moment to witness that.

There were some moments that the band seemed ultra tight. It's so cool when that happens! Nobody does it like Tower of Power. They simply cannot be copied when it comes to 'tight'.
Everyone seemed to be on the money all night long. I loved it.
All my girls were diggin' it.

Thanks again, Tower of Power, for being such a great experience to watch, listen to and be a part of for all these years!

Read more and post your comments at: Official Tower of Power Message Board


]]> 2010-01-31T17:12:36-07:00 Vocal Workshop With Larry Braggs on 1/30 at Jazz Alley in Seattle. http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/v/ http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/v/#When:00:12:56Z



THIS IS A DON'T MISS EVENT!
LEARN FROM TOWER OF POWER'S MOST DYNAMIC SINGER
12:00 Noon Saturday, January 30th
Jazz Alley, Seattle Washington
Roger Smith Will Be Accompanying Larry On Keyboards


Join Larry Braggs for a special Vocal Workshop and learn some of Larry's techniques as he covers the following topics:
- Vocal Performance Dynamics
- Recording Skills and Techniques
- Stage Presentation
- Voicing and Phrasing
- Practice and Preparation
- Maintaining Your Vocal Instrument
- Expressing Yourself
This will be a 90 minute information packed workshop beginning at noon on Saturday, 1/30

- The first 25 people to register for the event will recieve an autographed copy of Larry's solo CD, "Places"
- This is an all ages event, with no charge for parents accompanying their children
- Admission is limited, so please RSVP right away to
- The cost is $25.00 per person, which includes a signed copy of Larry's CD, "Places" for the first 25 people to register.
You will come away from this workshop with a lot of new knowledge from Tower of Power's most dynamic lead singer, "LB" Larry Braggs,



A signed copy of Larry's CD, "Places" is included with the first 25 registrations. Don't delay, space is limited!
]]> 2010-01-19T00:12:56-07:00 European Interview with Emilio, Doc, and Dave http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/european_interview_with_emilio_doc_and_dave/ http://www.towerofpower.com/news-and-updates/european_interview_with_emilio_doc_and_dave/#When:04:18:46Z


Please click below to read an interview from http://www.Smoothjazz.eu



http://www.smoothjazz.eu/20091120top.html


Tower of Power's artist profile on the SmoothJazz.eu website:

http://www.smoothjazz.eu/index2.php?artist=104

Check It Out!

]]> 2010-01-11T04:18:46-07:00