Toph-E & the Pussycats Hit The Canal Room, 3/31

Toph-E & the Pussycats will play the famed Canal Room on March 31st. The band features Clifford Carter on keys, Will Lee on bass and vocal, David Mann on tenor and soprano, Ralph MacDonald on percussion, and Chris Parker on drums.

Founded in 2000, Toph-E & The Pussycats is a group of wellrespected and professional musicians who share a great love for rhythm and blues-and play it in an experimental jazz context. Based in New York City, they share an impressive list of credits and career connections.

Chris Parker, drums, has been a member of The Brecker Brothers, Stuff, Joe Cool, and NBC's Saturday Night Live. He has toured with Bob Dylan, Bette Midler, Joe Cocker, and Paul Simon. He has recorded with Donald Fagen, Ashford and Simpson, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, James Brown, Salt ‘n' Pepa, Miles Davis and Cher.

Will Lee, on bass and vocals, hails from The Late Show with David Letterman on CBS, and The Fab Faux. He has performed and appeared on numerous recordings with Frank Sinatra, Bette Midler, Barbara Streisand, Mick Jagger, Steely Dan, and James Brown.

Ralph MacDonald, percussionist and Grammy winning songwriter, started with Harry Belafonte when he was only 16 years old and went on to have Grammy winning hit records of his songs recorded by Bill Withers, (Just the Two of Us), Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack, (Where is the Love), and Grover Washington, (Mister Magic). Since then, he has performed on countless recordings with artists George Benson, Tom Scott, and Jimmy Buffett.

Clifford Carter, on piano and keyboards, has been the pianist with Patti Scialfa, recorded and toured with James Taylor, Bryan Ferry, Betty Buckley, Melissa Errico and Brethren Crazed Man and the Wildlife Ensemble.

David Mann, tenor and soprano saxophones, has released solo albums, most recently, "Touch," on N-Coded Music, as well as producing many other artists, like Wayman Tisdale, Nelson Rangell and Rachel Z. His recording credits are extensive including, Tower of Power, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Queen Latifah, Madonna, Bob James and Sting.

The bill also features the John Tropea Band consisting of John Tropea on guitar with Anthony Jackson on bass, Clint DeGanon on drums, Chris Palmaro on keys, and Lou Marini, tenor and soprano.

John Tropea is one of the most admired and highly regarded guitar players of his generation. His playing shows a vast knowledge and respect for the tradition of the instrument as well as an original style that continues to define how the guitar best serves a wide variety of musical styles. He is a musician's musician who attracts the finest players for his own projects.

Tickets for the event are $15 and may be purchased online at www.canalroom.com or by calling the box office at 212-941-8100.

For more information, visit www.canalroom.com.