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Funk and jazz ensemble the Third Stream Giants will play at The Loft in Fredericksburg tomorrow night. Anthony Campbell, who won the 'Today' show 'Superstar' contest, will sing with the band. |
BY MICHAEL ZITZ
There are people whose lives consist of cranking things out. They get the job done. But they lack passion.
And then there are those who live for their work.
Fredericksburg guitarist and songwriter Matt Montoro is a member of the second group.
Opening the local Third Stream Music recording studio and composing house three years ago was a labor of love for Montoro. In the process, he's found a handful of like-minded musicians and formed the Third Stream Giants, a funk and jazz ensemble he calls "a little big band." It'll play The Loft in Fredericksburg tomorrow night with Anthony Campbell.
"Our music relates back to the big-band jazz groups," Montoro said. But "the arrangements, choice of music and original compositions definitely fit into a more modern classification."
He said the band tends to work best with music aficionados, not casual bar crowds, but when people pay attention, their reaction is, "I haven't heard anything like that before."
The Giants' influences include Maroon 5, the Flecktones, John Mayer and Charlie Hunter.
Their lineup includes Lars Holmstrom on trumpet, Mike Smith on drums, Jeremy Wall on trombone, Aaron Fast on bass, Justin Duff on alto/tenor sax and Montoro on guitar.
Until now, the Giants had been purely an instrumental group, but tomorrow the Giants will mix in Campbell's vocals. He's the local singer who won the NBC "Today" show's "Superstar" contest a few years ago.
Montoro said that together they will perform a mix of R&B originals and funk covers.
In the coming months, he said, the Giants will back up Campbell on some of his projects, Campbell will support some of theirs with vocals and they may form a group together.
Kate Hohman, a promising vocalist recording at the Third Stream Music studio, will also sit in with the Giants for a few songs tomorrow.
Michael Zitz: 540/374-5408| What: The Third Stream Giants jazz, funk and R&B band, with vocalist Kate Hohman and special guest Anthony Campbell Where: The Loft, 1005 Princess Anne St., downtown Fredericksburg When: Tomorrow night at 9:30 Cost: $8, 21 and over Info: 540/ 654-5855, theloft-fredericks.com |
