With four weeks of top-performances already in the books at the Zittel Family Amphitheatre in Historic Folsom, the 2023 Summer Twilight Concert Series continues this Thursday evening with Hipnosis taking the stage for the fifth segment of the 14-week series of free outdoor concerts.
Fronted by a tight, powerful horn section and soaring, soulful vocals. Driven by an edgy rhythm section that lays down an irresistible groove, Hipnosis delivers a polished performance that ranges from Funky Jazz and Soul through Blues and Rock with a bit of Gospel thrown in for good measure.
The original arrangements, soloists and top tier musicianship keep the sound fresh and compelling, according to the band’s bio.
Meet the band members of Hipnosis:
Deb Smith, Lead and Backing Vocals
Deb Smith takes the lead on vocals, using the depth and range of her voice to deliver passion and raw emotion. When Deb sings a song, she owns it, communicating her joy in singing and love of music. Her decades of experience as a musician, vocalist and entertainer and evident, and her thriving career stretches through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, winding through the Seattle area and dipping into the gambling centers of Nevada. Become swept up in her exuberance and authentic passion for storytelling. She has a voice like no other.
Martin Beal, Lead and Backing Vocals
Martin has been performing and teaching for more than 40years! He has a Bachelor in Music from CSU Sacramento and a Master in Music from University of Southern California. The variety of stage work he has enjoyed includessingingin a gospel group as back up to Earth, Wind, and Fire, singing with the Los Angeles Jazz Choir backing up Rosemary Clooneyandsinging with theLos Angeles Chamber Singers.
Martin has 3 albums available on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon. “My Iris Eyes”, “Martin Bealwith a Touch of Brass”and “Smile”. Songs from “Smile”hit number one on several Jazz stations around the world.Heis working on his fourthalbum ofBroadway Tunesdueto be released Spring of 2023.
Aaron Gayden, Lead, Backing Vocals, and Keys
Singer and keyboardist Aaron Gayden brings the groove, playing not only with HipNosisbut his own, self-named every occasion band. This multi-instrumentalist has composed music for an amusement park, TV and film and worked with Grammy winning songwriter-producer Kuk Harrell (Beyonce, Usher, Mary J. Blige). Touring with Latin Music Hall of Fame artist, Juan Gabriel, Gayden has performed across the US and in Mexico, Japan and the Bahamas. A very diverse performer, Gayden is comfortable playing R&B, jazz and gospel, folk, country rock, dance and far beyond. His versatile voice may even be partof some of your favorite Roland Keyboard sounds.
Bill Vallaire, Guitar and Backing vocals
Bill Vallaire brings the heat and fire on guitar and vocals as a 40-year veteran of San Francisco Bay area bands, including touring with blues singer Sista Monica and Blues at Eleven. Originally from Monterey, he studied under the late jazz composer-arranger Don Schamber and guitarist Craig Callas. Centered in Cameron Park, Vallaire has a recording studio at the ready, using his wealth of experience to produce danceable grooves and soulful sounds for upcoming artists in the Sacramento area.
Peter Mancina,Bass
Want to get funky? Call on bass player Peter Mancini, an eclectic musician and high school band director for Mesa Verde High Schoolin Citrus Heights, who also plays in the Sac City Little Big Band. Mancini got the music bug early, playing bass for a punk garage band in middle school, but it was meeting Jaco Pastorius when he was in high school that sealed his fate. Even though Mancinihas a graduate degree in chemistry, he learned his true formula was funk. In addition to his share of gigging in the Sacramento area, he also inspires his students in jazz band, concert band, chorus and other ensembles. One thing you can be certain about Mancini, he’s got the funk.
Rob Ringger, Drums and Backing Vocals
Rob Ringger wields the sticks, keeping a propulsive beat on the drums that pulls dancers out of their seats. A multi-instrumentalist, recording engineer and music teacher, Ringger operates Ringgerstudios with his wife Brooke, a vocalist. A sly sense of humor keeps his five kids, and the HipNosis band, all in perspective.
Gerald Jonutz, Alto and Tenor Saxophone
Saxophonist Gerald Jonutz has the finest pedigree a horn player in this state can carry. An original member of Cold Blood, with Tower of Power connections, Jonutz has toured with Lydia Penseand shared the stage with Elvin Bishop, Santana, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Blood, Sweat and Tears, the Who and the list goes on and on. When Jonutz hits the stage, his horn play sets the tempo and his melodies energize the room with an excitement that makes you want to move and groove with the music.
Dave Johnson, Trumpet and Trombone
Dave Johnson keeps his trumpet and trombone in tune with some of the top bands in the Sacramento area, in addition to his gig teaching music for Woodland Joint Unified School District. A sought-after player, you can see Johnson with Au Brothers Aucestra, Mike Torres Band, Mick Martin Big Blues Band and Blind Lemon Peel. He’s also played with some pretty famous horn sections including those for the Coasters, The Temptations, The Drifters, Heart, Frankie Avalon and Lydia Pense and Cold Blood. An in-demand session man, you can hear Johnson playing for the San Francisco Forty Niners professional football team, Blue Gaucho Project, Jessica Malone, Gordon Groft, Johnny Guitar Knox, Sister Swing, Creole Jazz Kings and the Wooden Nickel Jazz Band, to name a few.
Paul Simmons,Trumpet, Flugelhorn, and Backing Vocals
You could say Paul Simmons does it all. Playing trumpet, flugelhorn and singing backup for Hipnosis, Simmons also writes some of the band’s brass arrangements. Straddling genre –from classical to jazz, rock, soul and funk –and performing in a myriad of ensembles, Simmons is on just about every stage in the region. And California isn’t his only venue, Simmons has played with bands in the Philadelphia area, Las Vegas and Manhattan, putting his master’s degree in music to work. When Simmons isn’t crafting tasty horn fills, or playing with a symphony, you might find him on the long-distance running path.
Bob Hansen,Tenor and Baritone Saxophone, Backing Vocals, and Musical Director
As the vision of multi-instrumentalist Bob Hansen, HipNosisis the culmination of 45 years of music, realizing his dream of pulling together the best artists and using his artistic vision to guide and provide arrangements for the band. He’s appeared in Late for Dinner, Aftershock, The Pickups, After Hoursand the Deb Smith Band on sax and backing vocals.
(Bios courtesy of www.Hipnosis.Band)
Taking place at the Zittel Family Amphitheater in the heart of the Historic Folsom Plaza the Historic Folsom Summer Twilight Concert Series is free to the public, thanks to a number of generous sponsors which help fund event. The 2023 line-up includes a variety of genres including a little bit of county, a little bit of rock and roll and a dose of hip hop, 80’s, pop, jazz and more in between.
Each Thursday night the music begins at 7:30p.m. and concludes at 9:30 p.m. spectators are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs for event. Parking is free in the Historic District Parking Garage at 905 Leidesdorff Street, which is right next to the concert venue for a dance across the walkway to grab your seat for some great entertainment.
Historic Folsom Summer Concert Twilight Series Remaining Schedule
June 29 – Hipnosis
July 6 – The Golden Cadillacs
July 13 – FBI
July 20 – Old Mule
July 27 – AKA Band
August 3 – Jax Hammer
August 10 – Tom Rigney and Flambeau
August 17 – APPLE Z
August 24 – Bear Whiskey
August 31 – Two Step
Sponsors for the 2023 include Historic Folsom Station, the Folsom Historic District Association, Snook’s Chocolate Factory, Ruby’s Books, Shoop’s Photography, J. Wild’s Burgers and BBQ, Gaslight Company, SMUD and Folsom Times.
