The mood has been dour but there’s no need to cower, because now is the hour for Tower of Power. One of funk’s most storied acts, the Oakland-natives bring their legendary horn ensemble and inspired bass playing to Mountain Winery this Friday. They’ve been in the game for five decades, and though the line up has changed often, they stick to their guns when it comes to delivering the hits. Plus, science says that it is physically impossible to refrain from dancing once these guys get going. This is a show best enjoyed with a glass of wine and good company.

Tower of Power
Fri, 7:30pm, $44
Mountain Winery, Saratoga

This Oakland-based band is known far and wide for its terrific horn section. Tower of Power has been bringing its unique brand of soulful, high-energy music to albums, audiences and collaborations for 50 years. Like so many “legacy” acts of its generation, Tower of Power has seen many players come and go; more than 60 musicians have cycled through the group. But founding members Emilio Castillo (tenor saxophone) and Stephen “Doc” Kupka (baritone sax)—plus longtime bassist Rocco Prestia and drummer David Garibaldi—keep the flame burning. They’ll be joined by a modern-day collection of top-flight players.

Tower of Power
Sun, 7:30pm $60.50+
Mountain Winery, Saratoga

Tower of Power and The Internet are the latest acts to officially join the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest 2015 lineup. The addition of the Oakland-based funk, soul and R&B band, and the Odd Future offshoot was announced today.

Also added to the already overflowing bill: vocalist Storm Large (of Pink Martini), blues artist Selwyn Birchwood, organ trio Clark, Blades & Niswanger, and urban jazz group Times 4.

The dual announcement of the addition of Tower of Power and The Internet serves to highlight San Jose Jazz’s commitment to both veteran acts and boundary-pushing newcomers.

Tower of Power have been kicking out the jams for nearly 50 years. Founded in 1968, the band is recognized for its strong horn section and funky rhythm section. For many years now, they’ve been a regular at festivals around the Bay Area precisely because of their mass appeal.

The Internet, led by former members of the now-disbanded weirdo rap collective Odd Future, play a spacey brand of neo-soul—melding minimalist hip-hop beats with druggy instrumentation and introspective lyrics about love, loss and human condition. They join an already strong lineup of artists who are taking traditional jazz, soul, funk and R&B elements and spinning them forward for a new generation.

On their latest full-length album, Ego Death, released just last month, The Internet tapped their friend and one-time Odd Future ringleader, Tyler, The Creator, as well as Janelle Monae. Watch their video for “Girl” below.

For more than four decades now, Oakland’s Tower of Power has graced stages around the world with a signature blend of R&B, funk and rock & roll, scoring a number of their own hit songs as well as performing with the likes of Santana, Little Feat, Huey Lewis and Elton John.

Originally formed as the Motowns in 1968 by Emilio Castillo and Stephen Kupka, the band quickly changed its name to Tower of Power and began making a reputation gigging around the Bay Area, eventually getting the attention of local concert impresario Bill Graham, who signed the group to his record label.

Throughout the ensuing years, the band, which performs at the San Jose Civic on Dec. 8 with War, became known for a soulful sound that was propelled by an outstanding horn section and earned Tower of Power hit singles such as “So Very Hard to Go,” “Soul With a Capital S” and “What Is Hip?”

“It’s wonderful to play the Bay Area, no matter where it is, it’s always fabulous,” says Castillo, who now resides in Scottsdale, Ariz. “We have a big history in San Jose. We used always go there to buy our equipment and were part of that band circuit before we were famous. We used to the play the Warehouse.” Tower of Power has come a long way since those early days, and recently released a 40th anniversary box set featuring selections spanning the band’s history—an immensely successful run that Castillo says still amazes him.

“When people ask me if I ever had any idea that it would turn out like it has, I say the idea when I started it was to get to Sacramento—to be ‘on the road,’” Castillo says. “It’s gone far beyond my wildest dreams. I’ve traveled the world, and played with great, great musicians. I never imagined it would be like this.”

As with many long-running rock acts, Tower of Power’s success did not come without a few bumps in the road, some of which Castillo says nearly destroyed them. “We made every mistake you could possible make,” he says. “We abused ourselves; we nearly lost our career to drugs and alcohol—but we got clean around ’88 and started taking a spiritual approach.”

In addition to a healthier lifestyle and positive outlook, an ever-present independent attitude seems to be the secret behind the group’s continued inspiration. “We make our music selfishly—we make it to please ourselves, and we’ve noticed that when we do that, our fans dig it,” Castillo says. “By virtue of that fact, it’s easy to go to work every day.”


Tower of Power, WAR
Saturday, Dec. 8; 8pm; $25.50–$65
San Jose Civic

Clifford Coulter was there for San Jose back when mainstream pop culture was still asking for directions. A soul-jazz innovator and multi-instrumentalist, Coulter’s 1970 debut album was the polar opposite of “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?”—funky, rootsy and ahead of its time, it was firmly grounded in the South Bay with tracks like “Alum Rock Park” and “East Side San Jose” (also the name of the album, and surely the first time the East Side was repped on a major-label release).

Four decades later, San Jose is there for him, too, with this benefit show at the Fairmont.

Coulter is currently in intensive care in Thailand, where he suffered a heart attack, and was diagnosed with heart failure, two blocked arteries and kidney failure. He is recovering from angioplasty and requires dialysis treatment every other day. The benefit will raise money for his treatment in Thailand, along with the cost of getting him back to the States and setting up his necessary medical care here.

The long list of musicians who will appear Sunday would make a fascinating “Six Degrees of Clifford Coulter” flow chart, as befits a man whose career stretches back to John Lee Hooker’s 1959 Folk Blues album). Drummer Ron E. Beck, for instance, produced Coulter’s third album, and has played with both Tower of Power and Carlos Santana. Tony Lindsay, Santana’s vocalist for 20 years, will also perform, as will sax player Danny Hull, who plays with Lindsay in Spangalang. And on and on—from Chester Thompson to Tom E. Politzer to Chris Cain to Margo LeDuc and more—in a forcible show of how respected and beloved is Coulter, and how much of a mark he’s made with his music.

The Clifford Coulter benefit will be held Sunday, Feb. 26 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, 6:30pm. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.