On February 26, Shira Elias hit Cervantes’ Other Side in Denver. The Turkuaz singer was on hand to host Live For Live Music’s second-ever edition of The Funk Sessions, a monthly residency that brings together a superjam featuring high-profile players from the funk and jam scenes. For the Tuesday night program, Elias was joined by her Turkuaz bandmate Michelangelo Carubba as well as Big Gigantic‘s Jeremy Salken, Break Science‘s Borahm Lee, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe‘s DJ Williams, John Brown’s Body‘s Dan Africano, The Motet‘s Parris Fleming and Lyle Divinsky, saxophonist Nick Gerlach and vocalist Jessica Jones.
Throughout the night, the collective offered a crowd-pleasing selection of funk, soul and rock covers, spanning from Janet Jackson to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to Soundgarden and more. With the evening’s host also known as the bandleader for her solo project, Shira Elias’ Soul Tracks, the powerful vocalist predictably shined throughout the soul, funk and R&B numbers, such as Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues,” Janet Jackson’s “What Have You Done For Me Lately,” Marva Whitney’s “What Do I Have To Do To Prove My Love To You” and Chaka Khan’s “I Know You, I Live You.” However, The Funk Sessions defied expectations with a number of setlist choices, with the band offering their own frequently funk- and jazz-influenced takes on rock classics with standout renditions of Beck’s “Nicotine & Gravy,” The Police’s “Message In A Bottle,” Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Woodstock.”
Live For Live Music has released a full pro-shot video of the entire performance below, which was captured by Jack Gould of Ninja Video. Paired with its release, The Funk Sessions have announced the lineup for their next monthly residency on Tuesday, March 26th. Turkuaz drummer Mikey Carubba will return to Denver’s Cervantes’ Other Side to host the session, along with repeating performers Divinsky and Gerlach. Also tapped for the show are RAQ‘s Todd Stoops, Thievery Corporation‘s Jeff Franca and The Motet’s Garrett Sayers, Ryan Jalbert and former trumpeter Gabe Mervine. Tickets are on sale here and watch the full video of February’s residency below:
Setlist (via Live For Live Music)
Set: Inner City Blues, Message In A Bottle, What Have You Done For Me Lately, Nicotine & Gravy, I’ll Stay, Mister Magic, When Doves Cry, Can’t Hide Love, Keep Me In My Mind, Distance, What Do I Have To Do To Prove My Love To You, Woodstock, Human Nature, I Know You, I Live You, Living For The City
Encore: Black Hole Sun
