Funk | The Sleepless Critic

REVIEW: ‘Music from the Sole’ made an uplifting Boston debut with Celebrity Series of Boston

Posted on January 20, 2024 by The Sleepless Critic

With upbeat rhythms and sweeping and intricate grace, Music from the Sole: I Didn’t Come to Stay is such a lively and fervent celebration, one can only wish this group would extend their visit to Boston. Cheerful and exuberant lighting brighten the stage as the onstage band creates an eclectic blend of house, jazz, samba, Afro-Brazilian and funk in an inviting journey of smooth and invigorating rhythms capable of uplifting any mood.

Music from the Sole Photo credit to Robert Torres

With captivating choreography by Leonardo Sandoval combined with the dancers’ skillful improvisation, Celebrity Series of Boston presented Music From the Sole: I Didn’t Come to Stay from Thursday, January 11 through Saturday, January 13 live and in person at New England Conservatory’s Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. Music from the Sole is currently on tour. This semi-immersive dance celebration is approximately one hour with no intermission. Click here for more information, click here for Music from the Sole’s upcoming events, and here for what is next for Celebrity Series of Boston.

NEC’s Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre has an attractive set up with a raised stage without a bad seat in the house. In an array of pulsating rhythms, Music from the Sole made a refreshing and breezy entrance from the wings of the intimate theatre and moving through the crowd, the group encouraged the audience to respond to what they saw in any way that moved them. Music from the Sole’s compelling performance made moving in some way to the beat irresistible. The show’s mesmerizing and skittering tap dancing resembled a rollicking train as their soles hit the floor and also featured the graceful pitter patter of bare feet that slid and glided in an array of intricate maneuvers. One notable performance featured Ana Tomioshi’s swift footwork enhanced by a radiant smile as her shadow lit up against what resembled a glowing orange sun before the other dancers joined in a drum-laden beat.

When the dancers composed of dance captain Ana Tomioshi, Naomi Funaki, Orlando Hernandez, Roxy King, Gerson Lanza, Leonardo Sandoval, Lucas Santana, and Gisele Silva collectively took the stage, it was an effervescent and energetic excursion. Their collective enthusiasm was contagious and a joy to watch. If only every job could be met with such zeal.

Kathy Kaufmann’s integral lighting set the excitement and warmth of each performance in a varying array of purples, pinks, greens, oranges, blues and reds while Dede Ayite’s bright and multicolored costume design lent to the festive nature and depicted the culture in lime green pants, pastels, bright island-inspired patterns, feathers, and stripes. The crackling and smooth sounds of the five piece band composed of Josh Davis, Magela Herrera, Noe Kains, Gregory Richardson, and Jennifer Vincent melded together seamlessly as the dancers moved in harp, guitar, and bass-infused rhythms creating their own unique expressions as they clapped, leapt and stomped to the beat. Some members of Music from the Sole are both instrumentalists and dancers and it was exciting to see what combination of dancers and musicians would take the stage next.

With captivating choreography by Leonardo Sandoval combined with the dancers’ skillful improvisation, Celebrity Series of Boston presented Music From the Sole: I Didn’t Come to Stay from Thursday, January 11 through Saturday, January 13 live and in person at New England Conservatory’s Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre. Music from the Sole is currently on tour. This semi-immersive dance celebration is approximately an hour with no intermission. Click here for more information, click here for Music from the Sole’s upcoming events, and here for what is next for Celebrity Series of Boston.

REVIEW: Despite boat’s limited view of the band, sold-out 70s funk and disco ‘Booty Vortex’ boat cruise still made waves

Posted on September 2, 2018 by The Sleepless Critic

Taking off from Boston Harbor to Gilligan’s Island and Hawaii Five-O’s adventurous theme songs, this was one three hour tour that kept party cruisers on their feet. Plenty of sun poured into the boat as fans wore their shiny, disco best boarding the Mass Bay Lines off of Rowes Wharf boat to witness the annual return of the nine piece 70s Funk and Disco band, Booty Vortex on their sold-out 21+ Booty Boat cruise Sunday, August 26 at 4 p.m. The cruise offered a cash bar and various concessions. Click here to find out Booty Vortex’s full schedule as well as a closer look at their talented band members.

This particular Mass Bay Lines boat was not ideal for a concert cruise. The roof where the band played was completely covered and attendance at full capacity, which offered limited ways to see the band perform up close. Booty Vortex’s past performance on the Provincetown II provided an open floor plan and dance floor so attendees had more room to move and witness the band take the stage. However, the band’s upbeat tunes provided plenty of reasons why Booty Vortex has developed such a strong following.

Past performance on Provincetown II for Rock and Blues concert cruises.

Calling themselves Boston’s finest funk and disco band, Booty Vortex is indeed unconventional, full of character, and possesses a bit of a wild side. Their enthusiasm is infectious, their voices powerful, and their music, a collection of mostly 70s disco cover songs, are tailored for a truly devoted 70s and retro dance crowd.

From saxophone to keyboard player, Booty Vortex delivers a full retro, big band sound. Some of their lively sense of humor is found in their self-proclaimed group member names composed of Huggy Bear Jeremy D. Valadez on saxophone, Brass Tornado Mark Coronado as Manager and Trumpet player, Gold Fingah James Tootle as MD/Keys and Vocals, Minty Fresh Dave Burnett on Bass, E-Bop Erik Barnes on Guitar, Tiger Lily Eva Davenport as Media and Vocals, Pixie Stix Maureen Medieros on Percussion, Rufus Russell Bogartz on Trombone, and Papi Erick B. Cifuentes on Drums.

Full Booty Vortex band on Mass Bay Lines boat Photo credit Erin Frawley/Booty Vortex

The nine piece extravaganza has a unique style, their music not too hard or loud and songs range from danceable to at times, mellow. They charmed audiences with pop tunes and disco hits such as Hues Corporation’s Rock the Boat, Lakeside’s Fantastic Voyage, Patti Labelle’s Lady Marmalade, Alicia Bridges’ I Love the Night Life, Tavares’s Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel, A Taste of Honey’s Boogie Oogie Oogie, George Benson’s Give Me the Night, Donna Summer’s Bad Girls, The Trammps’s Disco Inferno, Rose Royce’s Car Wash, Bee Gees’s You Should Be Dancing, Hot Chocolate’s You Sexy Thing, Chic’s Freak Out, Dee-lite’s Groove is in the Heart, KC and the Sunshine Band’s Get Down Tonight and Shake Your Booty, prompting the crowd to sing along.

Photo courtesy of Jeanne Denizard

Under sunny skies with no need for a jacket, the Booty Boat cruise provided some of Boston’s most beautiful sights including the Boston Harbor Islands and a lovely and hazy view of the city. It was primarily a smooth ride, with just a few instances of rockiness.

Booty Vortex will next appear at the C-Note in Hull on September 8. Photo credit to Erin Frawley/Booty Vortex

Easing their way back to Rowe’s Wharf, Booty Vortex closed out the evening with Sister Sledge and Jade’s We are Family and Journey’s hit Don’t Stop Believing. Booty Vortex next takes the C-Note stage in Hull on September 8. Click here for more of their future tour dates around Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter.