YOUR AD HERE »

Nocentelli to rock mind, body and soul

Staff ReportGlenwood Springs, CO Colorado
Submitted Photo
ALL |

CARBONDALE – With a reputation as one of the “funkiest, fast-fingered” guitarists in the music industry, legendary guitarist Leo Nocentelli will keep the grooves coming at a free concert Sunday at Sopris Park.Nocentelli performs as part of the Carbondale Council on Arts and Humanities (CCAH) “Summer of Music” series, with Phunky Monkey opening at 5:30 p.m. Nocentelli plays at 7 p.m.

Nocentelli was known by many as the lead guitarist, composer, innovator and the musical originator of The Meters, a band often referred to as the “Pioneers of Funk.” The band’s syncopated funk-style won international acclaim, and in 2001 received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.The Meters created a distinctive sound that lasted through the ’60s and ’70s and was reborn in the late ’80s. The band’s trademark sound blends funk, blues and dance grooves with a New Orleans vibe. Between 1967 and 1969, The Meters recorded four consecutive hit singles, “Sophisticated Cissy,” “Cissy Strut,” “Ease Back,” and “Look a Py Py,” which all reached the Top 10 on the R&B charts. Among other songs, Nocentelli wrote “Cissy Strut” and “Look a Py Py.”In addition to touring with the original members of The Meters in 2005 and 2006, Nocentelli often performs with Meters’ drummer Zigaboo Modeliste. They perform together on Nocentelli’s latest CD, a recording of a live concert in San Francisco.

Described as a musician who can control the listener’s mind, body and soul with his experience, superior talent, musical mastery and inimitable style, he has recorded with numerous Grammy Award winners such as Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, The Supremes, The Temptations, Paul McCartney, Sting, Peter Gabriel and the late Robert Palmer.”I just want to continue to contribute to music, to contribute what I’ve been contributing all these years, and hopefully I’ll continue to make a good living at doing it, and everybody will remember me as that dude who could play,” Nocentelli says on his Web site.



A review on jambands.com described Nocentelli during a recent performance as cranking out “scorching, soaring leads.””He attacked the defenseless instrument and out flew thick, metallic swamp funk and strutting syncopated rhythms. Leo was quite impressive because he is a funk guitarist and a lead guitarist all rolled into one,” the critic writes.For more information about Nocentelli go to http://www.leonocentelli.com. For additional details about the summer concert series, contact CCAH at 963-1680 or http://www.carbondalearts.com.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Glenwood Springs and Garfield County make the Post Independent’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.