We Came To Play! Tower of Power @ The Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN, 12-3-16

For the second time in one year, yours truly, got to see Tower of Power, play.  Their music, especially because of the horns, has been a big influence.  It was nice to see the band again, sounding great, and on top of their game, led by lead singer, Marcus Scott, and their horn section with Emilio Castillo and Tom Politzer on tenor saxophones, original member Stephen "Doc" Kupka on baritone saxophone, and trumpet players Sal Carrachiolo and Adolfo Acosta (also on flugelhorn), the rhythm section of Jerry Cortez on guitar, Roger Smith on Hammond B3 organ, and original members Francis "Rocco" Prestia, on bass, and David Garibaldi on drums.

Scott's dynamic stage presence, showed through all night.  ToP has had many great lead singers, and without doubt, Scott is one of them.  A great singer, and, he can work the crowd and get them into the groove on every song.  In fact, the whole band, just has this aura of making people want to feel the soul, and "funkafize" as one of the tunes they played tonight, says.  "You Got To Funkafize" was song number four on a set list that kept the crowd at The Dakota dancing and wanting more.  Who knows?  "Maybe It'll Rub Off", and make you feel good!, to reference another song in the set. This set, was different from the MN Zoo set as it was not as long, and the boys really hit everything head on, while still allowing for fixtures of the band like the trumpet players, Tommy P. on lead tenor sax, "Doc", on bari sax, as well as Roger and Jerry to have their say in the songs.

Bringing the funk is what ToP does, in spades.  They are so unique, having the horns and the vocalist, central to the band, but letting the rhythm section absolutely rip when they want to, as well.  They can play ballads, and bring the funk, with ease.  They've been on top of their game for almost 49 years.  Boys, when you get to 50, you'll surely have more in store.  Speaking of more in store, Emilio Castillo, tenor saxophonist and co-founder of the band, mentioned a new record coming next year.  We'll see what comes of that.  Two different shows, and two totally different sets, that yours truly has seen from ToP this year, and both were spot on.

Yours truly, even got a copy of the set list, which is pretty cool.

Set list: Tower of Power @ Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, MN, 12-3-16

1. We Came To Play
2. Soul With A Capital S
3. To Say The Least, You're The Most
4. You Got To Funkafize
5. Time Will Tell
6. Maybe It'll Rub Off
7. Get Yo' Feet Back On The Ground
8. James Brown Medley
9. So Very Hard To Go
10. What Is Hip?

Encore:

11. You're Still A Young Man