What Is Hip?! Tower of Power @ Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater July 27, 2016

For 40+ years, Tower of Power has been bringing it's horn driven soul and funk, from their hometown of Oakland, California, directly to the people, and tonight, at the Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater in Apple Valley, Minnesota, ToP brought it, in spades.  Though members have come and gone, some originals are still in the band including Emilio Castillo on tenor sax, Stephen "Doc" Kupka (known simply as, "The Doctor") on baritone sax, and the rhythm section of Francis "Rocco" Prestia on bass, and David Garibaldi on drums.  Newer members like lead singer, Marcus Scott, Tom Politzer on tenor sax, Sal Carrachiolo, on trumpet, fellow trumpet/flugelhorn player Adolfo Acosta, Roger Smith on Hammond B3 organ, and guitarist Jerry Cortez, augmented the group, and brought the funk in a way only ToP can.

Musicianship and showmanship are in equal parts with ToP.  Throughout the gig, the members really energized the crowd, with Politzer and Castillo dancing on stage while playing their horns, Tommy P, as he is known to the band, also played some wicked solos, while Castillo added vocals along with Marcus Scott, who's singing is very energetic and he's a true front man for the group, much in the same way original lead singer, Lenny Williams was.  The set list was culled from the classic albums of the early 1970s, as well as newer material that came out in the early 1990s.  Recognizable numbers, the band is famous for, including such tracks as "Get Yo' Feet Back on The Ground", "To Say The Least,You're The Most", "Down To The Nightclub", "Don't Change Horses", "Diggin' On James Brown", "So Very Hard To Go", "What Is Hip?" and the encore... "You're Still A Young Man".

Both fans young and old, appreciate ToP's high energy, good time music.  They are surely a band, that can put a very bright spot into your world if you are feeling down.  Again, it's musicianship, and showmanship, that counts equally, with this band.  Each individual artist contributed thrilling solos to the songs, and the stars of the evening had to be the aforementioned tenor sax tag team of Emilio Castillo and Tom Politzer, "The Doctor" on baritone sax, Roger Smith on B3, Sal Carrachiolo on trumpet, and who can forget Rocco Prestia's bass lines and the high energy singing of Mr. Marcus Scott.

Mentioning the soloists, each song, was a vehicle, for any one of them to do their thing, while keeping the band as tight and on the beat as ever they are.  That was really fun to listen to.  If you have not heard of, or seen Tower of Power, check them out.  Cool band, with great songs, and they know their fans want to party, and will enjoy the groove.  The show stopper, just before the end, was stated by Marcus.  "Let me ask y'all the eternal question.  What Is Hip?"

That's an easy answer.  ToP is hip, and the people dig it, daddy-o.

The full set list of ToP, at the MN Zoo.

1. I Like Your Style
2. Ain't Nothin' Stoppin' Us Now
3. Get Yo' Feet Back On The Ground
4. To Say The Least, You're The Most
5. Down To The Nightclub
6. Willing to Learn
7. So I Got to Groove
8. Don't Change Horses
9. Souled Out
10. Diggin' On James Brown
11. So Very Hard To Go
12. What Is Hip?
13. You're Still A Young Man