Club Red: The Motet

10 Jan Club Red: The Motet

Dave Watts, credit, Cameron Field Photography

With major support from the Telluride Ski Resort, Denise Mongan’s Beyond the Groove is pleased to announce its first concert of the winter 2016 season. Funk+ machine, The Motet, performs Thursday, January 14 at Club Red in the Telluride Conference Center, Mountain Village. Doors, 7:30 p.m. Show, 8 p.m. Tickets, $22; reserved $35, here. For information on upcoming January concerts at Club Red go here. Please scroll down to the bottom of the story to listen to my podcast featuring Motet founder/drummer Dave Watts.

Motet. The word is derived from the French “mot,” meaning, well, “word” and refers to a style of composition, both religious and secular, that has undergone numerous transformations.

Like the world-class progressive funk collective of the same name, now a powerful force on the national live music scene.

The Motet’s signature sound is an infectious combination of funk, Afrobeat (West Africa, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban) and soul-fueled grooves, with hints of rock and Latin styles that pay homage to dance-infused genres throughout the musical spectrum, including disco and electronic music. Influences include covered bands Stevie Wonder, Parliament-Funkadelic,Talking Heads, and the Grateful Dead.

The Motet is scheduled to launch its winter tour in Telluride on Thursday, January 14, opening at Denise Mongan’s Club Red in Mountain Village.

In its early years, The Motet was a revolving door of musicians, however, like the legendary Phoenix, subsequent incarnations of the group have proven to be bigger, bolder, brighter, in other words, pure booty-shaking joy.

Founded in 1998 in Colorado by drummer and bandleader Dave Watts, today The Motet is Joey Porter (keys), Garrett Sayers (bass) and Ryan Jalbert (guitar), the core rhythm section, whose time-tested musical bonds established the group’s deep rhythmic pocket and continue to allow the threesome to take their collective improvisations to heights bordering on precognition. Though deeply rooted in jazz, Matt Pitts (sax) and Gabriel Mervine (trumpet) have emerged to become one of the funkiest horn sections on the circuit.

In all, The Motet is a cohesive whole that is greater than the sum of its singular parts.

Until last month, when band mate and forever brother Jans Ingber announced his departure, The Motet was a tight septet. However, a selection of vocalist friends, old and new, are joining the band for the winter tour dates, including Telluride. The list of special guests includes Tanya Shylock, LaDamion Massey, and Paul Creighton, familiar voices to Motet fans because of appearances at Mixtape” performances over the past couple of years. New to The Motet stage for select dates, Mr. Lyle Divinsky.

For more on The Motet, check out my interview with Dave Watts.

About Beyond the Groove:

Beyond the Groove is Denise Mongan’s music production company. Its goal: bringing quality live music to Telluride, Colorado, primarily at the new Club Red at Telluride Conference Center. Past successes include Blitzen Trapper, Deer Tick, Matisyahu, Cash’d Out, Justin Townes Earle, Dirty Dozen brass Band, Lettuce, Dawes, Jenny Lewis, The Motet, and Elephant Revival. Upcoming shows include Keller Williams and The Jeff Austin Band. Denise has worked in the music business for 30 years and is thrilled to now have the opportunity to be living her passion producing live shows.

www.facebook.com/BeyondTheGroove

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About Club Red:

With a history of sold-out shows in its first two years, Club Red transforms the Telluride Conference Center into an intimate venue showcasing national touring acts. Plush decor, ambient lighting, and VIP seating make this venue unique to the destination.

About Telluride Ski Resort:

Stashed among the highest concentration of 13,000- and 14,000-foot peaks in North America, Telluride offers some of the most spectacular skiing and riding on the planet. Unique culinary experiences on the mountain blend with the world-class restaurants, sophisticated shops, luxury hotels, and great spas. Plus, getting here is easier than ever with non-stop flights from eight major hubs; getting around is a breeze with the free gondola transportation system. Discover why Telluride is “The Most Beautiful Place You’ll Ever Ski.”

For more info visit: www.tellurideskiresort.com.