The Amalgamated, Karlos Paez of B*Side Players, Steve Harris and The Soulfires perform at The Casbah in San Diego. Also included in the evening -- live art and displays by True Delorenzo, Martin Nasim and Nick Bahula. Tickets available now via the Casbah website. Doors open at 8:30 p.m.
KARLOS PAEZ of B*SIDE PLAYERS
"Karlos Paez born July 22, 1972 and raised in Tijuana, Mexico by his mother Refugio Mujica from Tecate, MX and Father Ezequiel Paez from El Recodo, Sinaloa. His father Ezequiel Paez is a world-renowned trombone player and musical arranger who spent 17 years in Los Moonlights from Tijuana and 10 years in La Banda El Recodo. Paez, Sr. still composes and arranges music for Banda El Recodo, Los Recoditos, La Arrolladora Banda Limon de Rene Camacho, Diana Reyes, Rey Sanchez, Nico Flores, Ezequiel Peña, Banda Astilleros, Banda el Recreo, Banda Carnaval, Pedro Infante, El Coyote, Patricia Navidad, Banda La Costeña, & Marisela.
While he was still in grammar school, Karlos heard the music of Bob Marley & Carlos Santana; he started playing guitar, trombone, trumpet, and began to write songs. He met the musicians that would become the first incarnation of The B*Side Players in an African Drumming class at Southwestern Community College in San Diego in 1994. “We were all playing with bands in the local funk, punk rock, and acid jazz scene in the early 90s,” Paez recalls. “When we started playing together, our sound was different because we brought an Afro-Latin edge to the music.”
Karlos Paez has recorded and collaborated with Akwid, Poncho Sanchez, DJ Dus, Fred Wesley, Big B, War, Asdru & Raul Pacheco of Ozomatli, Quetzal, Brian Jordan, Harold Todd, Mike Clark & The Headhunters, RYMO of Slightly Stoopid, P.O.D., DJ Unite, Elijah Emmanuel & The Revelations, Hyena & Gilbert Castellanos.
After 18 years, Karlos Paez is still touring and recording with the B*Side Players but has made time to produce and create many other musical projects. As the creator, lead singer and songwriter of Maiz, Chula Vista Soldier Club, Black Market Discipes, Sonido De La Frontera and Solrak and the New Aztec Empire, Karlos Paez celebrates his first solo record Music, Culture, Love. With the help of San Diego’s most talented musicians and producer/musician Bryan Stratman, the record delivers organic, soulful, cosmic grooves with conscious lyrics inspired by the MUSIC, CULTURE, and LOVE of Karlos Paez." www.karlospaez.com
THE AMALGAMATED
"Based in San Diego, the Amalgamated spun off from the Hi-Lites in early 2007. Five members of the Hi-Lites -- an eight-piece ska band -- left the group due to a falling out with bassist James Trent, who also writes the band's original tunes.
The five members who bolted and two other former Hi-Lites formed the Amalgamated, a ska-jazz band with early-1960s rock-steady and reggae influences.
“We are an incredible live band that makes everyone dance to up-tempo beats and can also get you into a groove with light reggae textures. We open each song up for solos, allowing all members the opportunity to show off their improvisation talents. The creativity flowing may remind the audience of great jazz standards being performed.”
The band has appeared at the Belly Up Tavern, Casbah, Soma, Queen Bee’s Cultural Center, Winston’s, O’Connell’s, Royal Dive, Hensley’s Flying Elephant, Kensington Club, Radio Room, and the Ramona Mainstage.
Founding Amalgamated trombone player Keith Duncan left the group in 2009, followed by founding percussionist Chris Wise, who also co-founded the Hi-Lites. The band also lost August Christman (bass), Dave Polnik (sax), Sean Conway (trumpet), Mark McLemore (drums), and Charles Roy (guitar).
Drummer Jason Yandall left the band in June 2011, to concentrate on his new band Ottly Mercer. Amalgamated guitarist Reggie Costa is mixing and co-producing OM’s upcoming debut album, while Amalgamated singer Raphael “Rip” Peña has helped them book shows as their promoter."
STEVE HARRIS
"Stevie Harris is an American musician from Cleveland, Ohio, whose music blends elements of rock, funk, soul, hip hop, and blues. After relocating to San Diego, CA, he started recording for Cargo Records, writing and co-producing the eclectic acoustic album Pebble, and the record Armeghetto for his post punk funk outfit, Conglomerate. Released from the label, Harris moved to Oakland, CA, where he released several independent albums in various styles while performing around the world as a member of the Remarkable Current, most notably recording songs with Talib Qweli and Mos Def.
Upon his return to San Diego, Harris transformed himself into the James Brown-esque frontman for the Styletones and the post apocalyptic funk bluesman of Stevie & the Hi-Staxx receiving best new artist nominations at the San Diego Music Awards, two years in a row for two different bands."
THE SOULFIRES
"The Fire Eaters began as an instrumental soul jazz and funk band that includes members of The Styletones and Pocket. Drummer Jake Najor also plays with Connie Price and The Keystones. In 2012, the band changed its name to The Soulfires.
In a way, the band is the next generation in a rich local history of soul and acid jazz. According to keyboardist Tim Felten, “As far as how we fit into this, Jake has played with both Robert Walter and Karl Denson, and Jake’s brother Zak was an original founding member of the Greyboy Allstars. So, there’s some lineage here with Jake.”
The band started in 2009, when they backed Ikah Love during his El Dorado residency. “That was the catalyst that got this band going. We moved on to El Camino and ended up parting ways with Ikah and doing our own stuff,” says Najor.
They cut their teeth playing standards in the genre and got tight through constant gigging, armed with vintage equipment, warm tones, soulful arrangements, and chops. “The goal is to write more originals. Opening it up to different influences. That soul-jazz music is very prevalent in what we do, but we do want to move it forward,” says Najor."
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