Joe Marcinek’s Jazz Funk Summit Relocated to L.A.

Joe Marcinek has relocated his Dead Funk Summit entourage to Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach April 28. The relo came as a result of the unfortunate cancellation of Skull & Roses. Marcinek has been getting this band together for years with many of his outstanding interchangeable parts. The 2024 lineup might be the most impressive one yet.

Joe Marcinek – Brain Emoji – Dunedin Brewery. 📸: Funk Eye Media

One part missing will be Hammond B3 master Melvin Seals, for years a member of the Jerry Garcia Band and then Melvin Seals and JGB; he is not available for this show. And up pops keyboard wizard Steve Molitz, founder of Particle, superb composer of video game music, vocalist, member of Phil and Friends, and regular collaborator with Marcinek.

Steve Molitz – Brain Emoji – Dunedin Brewery. 📸: Funk Eye Media

If you’re looking for a rhythm section, you’d have to look long and hard to find one to top this one: Tony Hall (Dumpstaphunk) on bass and vocals, Stanton Moore (Galactic) on drums, and Jason Hann (The String Cheese Incident). Hall and Hann are also Marcinek regulars.

6 dfs Stanton Moore Dave Vann
Stanton Moore - Jam Cruise 24. 📸: Dave Vann

6 dfs Jason Hann Pam Seidenman
Jason Hann. 📸: Pam Seidenman

Also joining Marcinek on the front line is Nate LaPointe, lead singer and guitarist for Cubensis- Grateful Dead Music Experience; he also plays in Barley and works with Bobby Womack.

6 dfs Tony Hall Staged Right
Tony Hall. 📸: Staged Right (in honor of Joey Pye)

6 dfs Nate LaPointe Scott Tuchman Photography
Nate LaPointe. 📸: Scott Tuchman Photography

THAT’S TIGHT!

Shambala will open the show at Saint Rocke.

During Jazz Fest, Marcinek will transport Dead Funk Summit to the Toulouse Theatre April 30 with Tony Hall as Joe rounds up more of the usual suspects: JoJo Hermann (Widespread Panic), keyboards; George Porter Jr. (George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners), bass; Maggie Rose, guitar, vocals; Big Sam (Big Sam’s Funky Nation), trombone, vocals, DANCING; Calvin Rodgers, drums; Michael Lemmler (George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners), keyboards; Brad Walker, tenor saxophone; Terrence Houston (Toubab Krewe, George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners), drums; Deven Trusclair, drums; Andriu Yanovski, keyboards; Reilly Comisar, vocals; and more suspects to be named at a later date.