FRIDAY….April 26th kicks off a monthly gig for Kat and the Blues Hounds at Sonny McLeans. We will be performing every 4th Friday from 9:00 p.m. until 12:30 am at this fun Irish Bar, located at 2615 Wilshire Blvd., in Santa Monica…The Food is really tasty and admission is FREE!
We were written up in the Santa Monica Mirror back in March. For more info check it out.
At this gig we will be having a special guest and veteran sax player joining us named Lucky Wright. See below for more
All the photos are shot by Steve DePena
Enjoy a hoppin’ night of classic blues plus west coast swing and of some of my original strong woman blues. These musicians are truly incredible players.
Kat and the Blues Hounds includes musicians Nick Henry, Jon Derienzo and Mitch Montrose.
Here’s some info on the band:
Kathy Leonardo, a native New Yorker, relocated to Venice, CA in 1999. A strong singer with a versatile voice she performs all over the Los Angeles area in various bands that feature Jazz, Blues and Country.
For years she worked as an actress on TV shows such as Cosby as well as on the Broadway stage. Leonardo also traveled the country with national touring companies singing and dancing in original musicals and revivals such as “Stop the World, I Want to Get Off” with the renowned actor/singer and composer Anthony Newley and Nightingale by Charles Strouse (Annie, Bye Bye Birdie).
Lead guitarist, Nick Henry is also a music arranger. This blues veteran has played in many bands over the years, doing time with R&B Sax man Chuck Higgins, Lucky Wright, Guitar Shorty, Joe Houston, and the Coasters, just to name a few.
Special guest Lucky Wright Lucky Wright (Saxophonist) played saxophone in the band “The Peppermints.” While on tour, they introduced the “Twist” to the world. He opened for and played behind Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell and Del Shannon when they were American Idols, so to speak.
Wright developed his skills by playing Rhythm and Blues, jump and swing in clubs throughout Southern California during the 50’s and 60’s. He is currently performing with a big band (Bay Cities Swing featuring Lynn McLaughlin) every third Sunday of the month at the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo. The band has been playing this gig for the last four years. Wright is an active member of the South Bay New Orleans Jazz Club that performs every week on Sunday afternoon. He is also a songwriter and a published author.
Bass player, Jon DeRienzo has played with the Porterhouse Bob and Down to the Bone band in the early 90’s.
Jon has also played with Nick Henry’s BlueZone from ’94 to ’06 and The Hightoppers ’06 to present.
Mitch Montrose (drummer), hails from the San Francisco Bay area, where he began drum instruction at the age of 11.
In his teens, Mitch studied with Forrest Elledge, and took an early interest in swing, and R&B. Mitch held the drum chair in the western-swing flavored Cornell Hurd Band at its inception, and the band continues to this day as Austin, Texas legends.
After a move to Southern California in the 90′s, Mitch took a keen interest in New Orleans second line drumming, and began studying with Chris Lacinak, a renown New Orleans drummer and educator.
At this time Mitch, along with Bob Johnson, formed the nucleus of what would become “Porterhouse Bob and Down to the Bone”. 13 years later, Mitch continues to play with the Porterhouse band in between gigs with the Blue Hounds.
Be sure to LIKE our FB Page – Kat and the Blues Hounds https://www.facebook.com/KatandTheBluesHounds?fref=ts
SAVE the Date….Friday April 26th
What: Live Music
Where: Sonnys McLean’s, 2615 Wilshire Blvd., in Santa Monica
When: 9:30 pm – 12:30 pm Every 4th Friday
Phone: 310 449-1811
Website: http://www.sonnymcleans.com/