Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont Block Party
Grippo Funk Band
- Friday, June 6, 5 pm – 8 pm
- Church Street Marketplace Fountain Stage
- Free Event
Dave Grippo, alto saxophone, vocals; Bruce Sklar, keyboards; Aaron Hersey, lead vocals, bass; Dave Diamond, guitar; Kenny Gulfield, drums; Russ Lawton, drums; Jennifer Hartswick, trumpet, vocals; Brian McCarthy, tenor saxophone; A-Dog, turntables
Join WPTZ NewsChannel 5 in celebrating 25 years of Discover Jazz as they broadcast live from the top block of Church Street Marketplace for one of the Festival’s most popular events. Local institution The Grippo Funk Band (GFB) pulls out all the stops to create an unforgettable evening featuring some of the region’s best musicians. Alto saxophonist Dave Grippo and keyboardist Bruce Sklar lead local luminaries like lead singer and bass player Aaron Hersey and drummer Kenny Gulfield. For this special Discover Jazz show favorites like drummer Russ Lawton and guitarist Dave Diamond round out GFB's rhythm section. Trumpeter and vocalist Jennifer Hartswick is back from Chicago for the performance and tenor saxophonist and arranger Brian McCarthy, MC/rappers Manus and Fattie B and DJ A-Dog join in—drawing on hip-hop elements has been key to keeping GFB's sound fresh and engaging for lucky audiences as well as musically challenging and fulfilling for all musicians involved. Get ready to dance!
