FRIDAY May 24th, I’ll be performing with my blues band, Kat and the Blues Hounds from 9:00 pm until 12:30 am at Sonny McLean’s, located at 2615 Wilshire Blvd., in Santa Monica…Come on out and party with us!!! It’s FREE!

Remember we are now playing every 4th Friday at Sonny McLean’s!

Wait till you here these veteran blues players rock out with the classics. Enjoy a hoppin’ night of classic blues plus west coast swing and of some of my original strong woman blues.

Kat and the Blues Hounds includes musicians Nick Henry, Jon Derienzo, Tim McKean and Mitch Montrose. All the photos are shot by Steve DePena.

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.

Tim McKean (Keyboards), grew up in rural Illinois, playing in rock and country bands at an early age. His music education included some formal training, as well as studying with folk and blues masters from Chicago and St. Louis, with the obligatory nights at the turntable, absorbing traditional jazz, British Isles folk music, Appalachian music and anything else he considered interesting.

Coming to Southern California in the late 1970’s, Tim has performed with many LA and Orange County bands as well as a solo act, playing a diversity of styles- folk, blues, jazz, country, reggae, Tex-Mex,world, etc.

His playing reflects these diverse influences and brings a unique color to the ensemble.

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

What: Live Music
Where: Sonnys McLean’s, 2615 Wilshire Blvd., in Santa Monica
When: 9:30 pm – 12:30 pm
Phone: 310 449-1811
Website: http://www.sonnymcleans.com/