Music
Press
Soul-Patrol.com, October 2, 2006-Bob Davis, Owner
Very good CD!...Soothing, yet still funky right from the start..Excellent quality that features REAL singing with REAL instruments.."
- Soul-Patrol.net (Internet Soul Music Site)
The evening was a well needed and relaxed, and as Ms. Lisa said, "an evening of release". The band was incredible and the atmosphere reflected the hype, and phat vibes collectively. Ms. Lisa thrilled everyone in attendance with a voice so powerful, all of Hollywood Boulevard vibrated. I also enjoyed the invitation to start a little trouble, by instigating the ongoing solos by the incredible musicians. What more can I add, (I showed up and witnessed what happens) when Lisa Gay and Thrill throw a party. I witness a crowd so mesmerized and intoxicated by truly one of the most exciting sounds to rock the Knitting Factory. Good Lookin and than you for a great show!
A fan for life!!!!!
Tommy Kennedy
President
Kennedy Concepts - Tommy Kennedy (Kennedy Concept)
Recording with Lisa was simply a pleasure on the title cut of "Watch What Happens". Lisa's voice reminds me of working with "Ella" in her early days. She a great singer with a heavy group of guys backing her....Everyone needs to her them and buy this CD.
Peace,
Paul Humphrey
"Drummer in the Smithsonian"
- Paul Humphrey (Legendary Drummer for Ella Fitzgerald, Lawrence Welk, Marvin Gaye and others)
The night had another great thing in the music with a Soul type of band headed by Lisa Gay that was Funky and Hot.... - LA WEEKLY
So on to the show...
The Band (Gentlemen of Thrill) hit the stage and the close to 2,000 plus people came alive as they broke into a smokin version of "What's Going On"...they looked like they were having such a good time and all the folks present were dancing and singing right along with them. looked like they wanted to jump up there with them. It was great to be able to experience and appreciate the talent of each musician on stage as they traded solos back & forth....
And then Ms. Lisa Gay hit the stage and let me tell you this is a lady knows how to make an entrance! She looked stunning and looked like a true Diva as she opened with "Watch What Happens"....
Lisa and her band flowed effortlessly through such great songs as Let's Stay Together, The Nearness of You, Sunshine of My Life, Could It Be I'm Falling in Love and she even did one of my favorite Phyllis Hyman classics, "Somewhere In My Lifetime"..that did it for me and sealed the night for the crowd!
Lisa Gay and The Gentlemen of Thrill put on a great performance and the crowd was having a fantastic time. They did not fail to entertain, uplift. and remind us sll thati it is "All About The Music"!!
WOW!! What an incredible evening for a great cause.
Barrington S. Tate
Contemporary Media Introspectives
Email:Lexuses71@yahoo.com - Barrington S. Tate Jr. (Contemporary Media Introspectives)
In welcoming featured artist Rick DellaRatta, nationally renowed jazz pianist and vocalist, founder of www.JazzforPeace.org, our special invited guest also received a special treat from special guest vocalist Lisa Gay and members from "Thrill". Lisa is a supremely talented vocalist with a capturing style all her own. She also one of the many sponsers who supports Pawprints' mission to enhance the awareness of the importance of kindness to animals, build literacy skills among young people and enrich the lives of seniors through creative writing. Her mother, Cullie Gay, was an educator at Lencia B. Weeems Elementary School (USC Magnet) here in Los Angeles. Myself and Actor/Activist Ed Begley, Jr. thought Lisa and her crew were just terrific!!
Ina Hillebrandt
Founder
Pawprints Literacy Plus Foundation
www.InaPawprints.com
Email: InaH@InaPawprints.com - jazzreview.com/Ina Hillebrandt
"I thought Lisa and her crew did a fantastic job on this project. Their homage to my Dad's with their version of "The Christmas Song" was just great as they captured the musical essence...The stellar opening of Lisa's voice accompanied by Tony Drake's L5 Guitar and Mark Cargill's violin work that "swings"!!! "Favorite Things" is in rotation on our CD player every Christmas season and my hats off to Lisa Gay and Thrill!!"
Carole Cole
(Daughter of Nat King Cole) - Carole Cole
Lisa Gay & Thrill are a LA based group composed of Lisa Gay (vocals), Tony Drake (guitars), Greg Cook (keyboards) and Mark Cargill (violin) and more. It's a refreshing and unique group with a lot of style, sensitivity and pure groove. They do it ALL here! Phyllis Hyman, Patti Austin, Barbara Striesand and Sarah Vaughan heavily influence Lisa's soprano vocal style. She has toured with Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis (of Fifth Dimension fame) and performed studio background vocals for many well-known recording artists. There is obviously a ton of musical experience with these players. Nice, very well done covers, and a few very good originals. A great late night "groove" CD but also has some infectious up-tempo surprising "killer" tracks included. Standouts are "Day by Day", a very soulful and funky gospel-tinged original; "Why Did I Choose You?" a stunning and haunting ballad; a slow burn version of "Feel Like Makin Love" (the Roberta Flack classic); an "Urban Groove" track called "I Believe In Love" and a pleasantly surprising, jamming and infectious update of the Spinners' classic "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love?" (a REAL crowd-pleaser LIVE!).
This is truly a breath of fresh air for the MATURE listener who recalls a time when music was performed in intimate "Supper Clubs" with panache, soul and a lot of heart. The musicians never overpower Lisa's sultry but heartfelt soprano voice; in fact, they wrap her like a custom blanket complimenting her excellently. This group executes these tracks with simultaneous warmth, precision and a lot of Classic Soul.
This CD will assuredly grow on you with repeated listenings. I wholeheartedly recommend it! They just don't have music like this available anymore! Take a "memory Lane" stroll with an Adult Contemporary edge with a great new singer!
John Moore
JMoore and Associates
Torrance, California
- John Moore
Discography
This incredible group has several CD offerings featuring tasty Classic Soul favorites that also includes the originals “Carousel” and “Believe In Love” on the CD entitled, “Watch What Happens”, the hauntingly stunning version of “Somewhere In My Lifetime” (available as a CD single), and the wonderful LIVE recording Christmas CD, “Favorite Things”, "Your Love" by Mark Cargill,& "Let's Play" by Andrew Carney.(All CD’s are available at:
http://www.lisagayandthrill.com / LGT Videos-www.youtube.com (Lisa Gay and The Gentlemen of Thrill)
RADIO- JAZZ & BLUES TOUR (INTERNET)-THE NETHERLANDS
JOOST VAN STEEN-DJ
WRCT 88.3 (INTERNET)-KEVIN AMOS- DJ
WEBB RADIO NEW YORK(INTERNET)-KEN WEBB-DJ
SOUL-PATROL.COM-(INTERNET) BOB DAVIS-DJ
88.1 KKJZ (Mark Cargill & Andrew Carney)
Photos
Bio
Lisa Gay and The Gentlemen of Thrill is a “musical gumbo” with a new twist of Classic Soul/R&B/Jazz, Pop and Funk which was true to form as they will be headlining their own 2nd annual event,"The Real Jazz n'Soul Festival" in September 2008 along with special guests. The new CD "Love, Life and Music", is scheduled later on this year for release under the Independent Label, Clemenza Records.
The group based in the Los Angeles area is lead by the sultry vocal styling of consummate pro Lisa Gay who has performed over the years with many recording and touring artists such as Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., Joe Cocker, Chuck Rainey, Letta Mbulu and others. Lisa is a unique song stylist like no other and her sweet, flowing, yet powerful voice mesmerizes audiences every time she steps to the microphone with fever! The Gentlemen of Thrill band grooves, swings, funks, and percolates under the Musical Direction of legendary Rhythm and Blues Guitarist Tony Drake (Lou Rawls, Barry White, Della Reese) also the original player on such hits as "Mr. Big Stuff, Bad Mamma Jamma, Part-Time Love. "LGT" features some of the most stellar recording & live concert musicians such as Grammy Award winning Concert Master Violinist Mark Cargill (Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Natalie Cole, Barbara Streisand), The Cal-State LA's Luckman Jazz Orchestra’s Arranger and fomer musical director for Miss Della Reese and Lou Rawls, Lanny Hartley on Acoustic Piano & B3Organ, plus, Tony Campodonico (Englebert Humperdinck) on Electric keyboards and Synthesizers, Vocal and Bass player extrodonaire, Ricky “Wally” Taylor, Legendary Session Recording Artist, Saxophonist Louis Van Taylor(Teena Marie,O'Jays,Ray Charles,Michael Bolton), Superb Trumpet and Flugelhorn Artist Andrew Carney(Larry Carlton, Michael Bolton), David Patterson also on Saxophone (Rose Royce Band),and formerly with Mr. Lou Rawls (16 years), Rance Allen and more, Kenny Elliott on Drums.
This high caliber of musicianship has developed a following from the band's first CD release, "Watch What Happens", via the internet and locally from their LIVE performances at the Knitting Factory and Gardenia Room both in Hollywood along with many music festivals (Sherman Oaks Street Festival, Simi Valley Vino Jazz, Gardena Jazzfest, Real Jazz n' Soul, Worldfest), special events (environmental, non-profit, political, music industry, AIDS, Education) and self-produced charitable events such as “The Teacher Honors” event held at the former The Conga Room on Wilshire. "LGT" headlined the 2005 primary musical line up for now Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa along with numerous events for celebrities and corportate groups. All the members of the band actually played and recorded in the 60's and 70's exclusively to the present day delivering authenticity then and now the "Real Old School" with showmanship,musicality and funk that lights up and delivers "smiles' throughout as diverse audiences of everywhere get up on their feet, sing, dance and groove to the sounds of LGT.
Appearances for 2008 include "The Dolo Coker Jazz Scholarship Awards" on April 27th, Holly Street Bar & Grill in Pasadena, CA on May 17th, Sherman Oaks Jazz Festival, Simi Valley Vino Jazz Festival and more that may be found by going to Lisa Gay and Thrill's Website: http://www.lisagayandhrill.com
We like to call it “Sophisticated Music in a Class by Itself”
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