Mo Pleasure Band

One of the greatest keyboard players and multi-instrumentalists of his generation you may not immediately recognise the name, Morris "Mo" Pleasure, but he has been at the forefront of American popular music for the last 30 years and you will certainly know his playing. A child prodigy, he began on piano at the age of 4 and by his early teens was also performing on bass, trumpet, guitar, drums and violin! After receiving a BA in Music from the University of Connecticut in the mid 80's, Mo began his professional career playing with Ray Charles before moving in to the studios as an extremely successful session musician, including work with the likes of George Duke, Natalie Cole, Dianne Reeves, Christina Aguilera, Michael McDonald, Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack, Marcus Miller and Mary J. Blige amongst many others. In 1993, he became a member of the legendary group Earth, Wind & Fire, ascending to become the band’s musical director from 1994-2001. He was featured playing keyboards, trumpet and guitar with Janet Jackson, played keyboards and trumpet with Boney James and is currently MD for the iconic Bette Midler. Mo was also approached by Michael Jackson to play keyboards in Jackson's touring band that was scheduled to perform in the late superstar’s historic 2009 comeback tour at London’s O2 Arena, which sadly never came to fruition. In addition to performing at worldwide jazz festivals including Montreux, North Sea, St. Lucia and Cancun, Mo has also been a featured concert pianist, performing Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and for the Boston Ballet. And if all that wasn't enough he is also a renowned composer and producer. You get the idea, he's pretty special. Now splitting his time between London and the States Mo has recently been performing with other artists here at the Club on a regular basis, most notably Dan Reinstein and Freddy V (from the Average White Band). In the process he has quickly become part of our 606 musical "family", so it is with enormous pleasure that we welcome him to the Club tonight, performing here as a leader of his own band. He describes the music they will be playing as a selection of originals as well as his favourite classic funk, soul & groove songs and will feature a hand picked band of some of the finest musicians in the UK - and watch out for his Special Guests including upcoming vocalist Acantha Lang and drummer Mark Mondesir (John McLaughlin)! This promises to be a very special gig from a very special musician. Booking advised.

" ...Pleasure proves that jazz can still be made which is smooth yet textured, is varied and interesting and can appeal to wide range of ears...I for one cannot rate it highly enough. Superb and essential." Soul Express