lowres KatandtheBluesHounds-noTim-byDePena3FRIDAY…July 26th, Kat and the Blues Hounds will play our monthly gig at Sonny McLean’s on Wilshire in Santa Monica.

Sax man, Lucky Wright is back!!!

Enjoy FREE blues every 4th Friday (NOT last Friday) from 9:15 pm until 12:30 am at Sonny’s, a fun Irish Bar, located at 2615 Wilshire Blvd., in Santa Monica…The Food is really tasty and admission is FREE!

It’s gonn be a hoppin’ night of classic blues plus west coast swing. These musicians are truly incredible players.

Kat and the Blues Hounds includes Kathy Leonardo (me) and musicians Nick Henry (guitar), Jon Derienzo (bass), and Rick Bryan (Drums), with special guest Lucky Wright on sax!

All theKathyLeonardosings bySteveDePena 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).

Lelowres NickHenry bySteveDePenaad 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.

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 hlowres JonDerienzo bySteveDePenaas also played with Nick Henry’s BlueZone from ’94 to ’06 and The Hightoppers ’06 to present.

Rick Bryan (Drummer), was raised by feral cat’s in the Jungles of Chicago. He began playing drums at 13 and was heavily influenced by the blues of Maxwell St. Bryan worked as part of Ray Charles blues lab with Gashouse Dave other Artists including, TW Henderson band, Joe Houston, Chris Bell.

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: Friday, July 26th  9:30 pm – 12:30 pm
Phone: 310 449-1811
Website: http://www.sonnymcleans.com/