Tower of Power – What is Hip?

Tower Of Power Pala Casino 2023

For over half a century, Tower of Power has been recording and performing their unparalleled style of “funkifized” R&B soul. Whether you’re listening through your home sound system or seeing them live in concert, there’s no denying this band has serious chops. In fact, it is the opinion of many, myself included, that TOP’s horn and sax quintet is the best in the biz.

They got their start back in 1968 when 19-year-old singer/saxophonist Emilio Castillo put together a band called Motown in Oakland, California. When Baritone saxophonist Stephen “Doc” Kupka saw them perform at a local fair, he approached Castillo and told him the band needed a horn section. Kupka later auditioned and joined the band. They added horns to the ensemble and changed their name to the befitting Tower of Power.

In 1970 they signed a recording contract with San Francisco Records and released their first album, East Bay Grease. Under a new contract with Warner Bros. Records, in 1972, they released their second album Bump City. The L.P. had a hit single with “You’re Still a Young Man” that reached #29 on Billboard Hot 100. Their most successful single, “So Very Hard to Go,” was from their 1973 album Tower Of Power. The song charted at #17 and, in later years, was featured on the soundtracks of the 2002 film City of God and Will Ferrells 2008 film Semi-Pro. Two other singles from the same album, “This Time It’s Real” and “What Is Hip?” also charted. 1974 saw the release of their fourth album, Back to Oakland, which spawned two more chart hits, “Don’t Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream),” reaching #26, and “Time Will Tell,” which charted at #69.

Tower Of Power Pala Casino 2023

Now fast forward to summertime 2023 at the Starlight Theatre in Pala, California. With at least 20 studio albums and nearly as many live albums under their belt, TOP was about to take the stage for yet another live show. I waited in anticipation with my fellow concertgoers for what would prove to be a great show with top-notch musicians.

At 8 o’clock, Tower of Power stepped on stage and opened the show with “We Came to Play” off their 1978 album of the same name. By the end of the high-octane bouncy soul song, it was clear they didn’t just come to play; they came to P L A Y!!!

The second song, “Soul With a Capital “S,” featured on their 1993 T.O.P. album, showcased bassist Marc van Wageningen’s dizzying grove-based lines that held me in awe as his fingers moved up and down his fretboard like butter.

Third in the line-up was “You Ought to be Havin’ Fun.” The mid-tempo soulful rhythm coupled with the background vocals gave the song a Motown flavor. The piece concluded with singer Mike Jerel giving the audience a taste of his scatting style. Jerel introduced the next song by announcing, “We like to get funky like a bow-legged monkey.” They delivered a truckload of FUNK with their 1972 song “You Got to Funkifize.” The snappy syncopated harmonies of Mike Bogart and Adolfo Acosta’s trumpets blended with the Hammond organ impeccably. But how can you go wrong with a Hammond, especially with a guy like Roger Smith at the helm. (Smith has performed with Gladys Knight and Jeff Beck and was a member of Sunbear, the house band for Soul Train.)

Jerel jumped on the keyboards for “Don’t Change Horses (In the Middle of a Stream).” He not only tickled the ivories but showed off his staggering range and remarkable vocal depth. He added a little of James Brown’s “It’s Man’s Man’s World,” elevating his cadence to a gospel-like intonation. Equally as impressive as Jerel’s voice were the horns on this song. The abrupt note changes, along with the sustained notes, were not only complex but profoundly tight. The entire saxophone and brass ensemble sparkled on this one, at times powerful and punchy, then shifting to smooth and cascading. Unsurprisingly, this song is a fan favorite that they always include on their setlist.

Tower Of Power Pala Casino 2023

As a prelude to their next song, Castillo reminisced with the audience about days gone by and the 1970s clubbing scene. “Down to the Nightclub” was featured on their 1972 album Bump City. The title was inspired by the 70’s dance fad ‘the bump”. (I’ll admit I’ve done a little “bumpty bumpty bump” myself in the past) Lead sax tenor Tom Politzer stood out, delivering some richly textured tremolo with plenty of jazzy trills.

Next up was TOP’s first hit song and, incidentally, the first song they wrote in 1968. The audience immediately recognized the horn intro to “Your Still a Young Man,” which hit the Billboard chart in 1972. Looking around, I saw many people swaying back and forth to the soulful rhythm. The vocal harmonies were spot on, and Jerel nailed the lead with his note-perfect falsetto. I closed my eyes and got lost in each note’s smooth movement and soulful articulation as I swayed along with the crowd.

Sticking with the 70’s era, “This Time It’s Real” from their 1973 self-titled album shifted the mood from soul to Be-Bop Jazz. Drummer David Garibaldi showed off his precision with lofty rolls and snappy snare work. The breezy rhythm floated above the mercurial bassline that was accentuated by the bright sound of the horns. Jerel wrapped things up with some supreme scatting reminiscent of “The Queen of Jazz” Ella Fitzgerald.

Tower Of Power Pala Casino 2023

The audience was on their feet for the crème de la crème of TOP songs. The quintessential instrumental “Squib Cakes” was a popular track on their 1974 Back to Oakland LP that illustrates the band’s extraordinary musicianship. A few bars of a solo brisk drum shuffle jump-started the song. The horns and saxophones joined in with hair-trigger rhythm tics accompanied by Hammond’s funky articulation. Guitarist Jerry Cortez took the reins and dished out some effervescent guitar licks. The piece progressed with increasing complexity and then suddenly descended into a slow free-jazz murmur setting the tone for a breathtaking trumpet solo. The trumpet handed off to the tenor sax, who moved from low b flat to a screaming F sharp twirling the notes in between. Then came the defining moment for me. The Hammond B3 organ’s ethereal electrifying solo that I can best describe as a kaleidoscope of sonic seduction. The drum followed with a sweeping solo of intricate patterns and rolls. The rest of the band exited the stage leaving only Smith and Garibaldi to play off each other. The Hammond and drums brought it to another level of intertwined lavishly textured rhythms and funk-infused excitement. The band returned and brought the magnum opus to its conclusion.

The show went on to feature yet more gems from the TOP arsenal. A medley tribute to the “Godfather of Soul” was composed of the songs ” Diggin’ on James Brown” and “Star Time.” Castillo commenced on lead vocals accompanied by the deep scoop of Kupka’s baritone sax. Jerel took over on vocals as they melded seamlessly into “Star Time,” loaded with several tempo and rhythm changes. The atmosphere mellowed, and I saw couples slow dancing to their highest charting single, “So Very Hard to Go.” Lead singer Jerel nailed some seriously high notes matching the trumpet’s altissimo pitch. They brought on stage an additional horn player, Dave Richardson, to crank up the volume for their trademark song “What Is Hip?” The horns were searing above the funky guitar lines and rousing drumbeats. Jerel engaged the audience in a call and answer of “Soul Power” while Politzer blew up the stage with a free-flowing jazz-improv tenor solo. The song reached a frenzied crescendo and ended with an eruption of audience appreciation. They left the stage but, with the coaxing from the crowd, returned for an encore. “Souled Out,” off their 1995 album of the same name, delved out one more short but sweet helping of Tower of Power’s indelible superior soul sound.

Tower Of Power Pala Casino 2023

BackStage360 again would like to thank Pala Casino and their excellent event staff for welcoming us and hosting great concerts. Thank you to Tower of Power for continuing to cultivate your exceptional music and share it with your fans throughout the decades.