Under the Musical Direction of Michael Bland. Funky, Electrifying and Soulful Under the visionary musical direction of Michael Bland, Urban Classic is proud to present PURE FUNK, a high-energy celebration of the legendary sounds that shaped funk music and genre. Paying homage to icons like Ohio Players, Sly Stone, James Brown, Average White Band, Stevie Wonder, Funkadelic, and many more, this show promises to deliver an unforgettable musical experience. Michael has carefully handpicked a dynamic ensemble of national and international touring musicians to join the band, ensuring a performance that’s as electrifying as it is soulful. Get ready for a night of pure rhythm, groove, and passion—PURE FUNK is a show you definitely won’t want to miss. Michael Bland: Drums, Musical Director (from NPG, Soul Asylum, Sounds of Blackness) Tommy Barbarella: Keys (NPG, Greazy Meal) G Sharp: Vocals (Maserati) Jay Bee: Vocals (Westside, The Routine) Mark Lickteig: Vocals (The Combo) Bobby G: Guitar (The Time, Sheila E, EWF) Yohannes Tona: Bass (Cory Wong, Stokley) Scott Agster: Trombone John Bertsch: Sax Riley Helgeson: Trumpet Michael Bland – is an American musician best known as a drummer for Prince starting in 1989. He was with Prince during The New Power Generation era and played with him live and on albums for seven years. From 1995 to 1997, Bland, along with Sonny Thompson, recorded and played live with French pop star France Gall—they appear on one studio album and two live albums. In 2010, Bland became a member of Nick Jonas & the Administration (a side project of Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers) along with other former members of The New Power Generation and keyboardist Tommy Barbarella. He worked with Vulfpeck playing drums on “Hero Town,” which was released October 2017. Michael is also the current Drummer for Soul Asylum.