City Beat returns to the Idyllwild Summer Concert Series to enforce the laws of pop, rock, rhythm and blues.
City Beat, a hard-hitting horn band composed of serving and retired law enforcement personnel, bullhorns its percussively persuasive arrangements of Chicago, Tower of Power and other brass-heavy pop bands to the far reaches of the Community Center site. “We patrol the streets and bring everyone the basic beat,” said Ed Riojos, Burbank Airport police officer and guitarist with the 11-piece ensemble.
The City Beat lineup (with a nod to their day jobs) includes Riojos on guitar; Paul Orlowski (Burbank Police Department) on bass; Johnny Martinez (retired California Highway Patrol) on drums; Jonny Walker (Los Angeles Police Department) on lead vocals; Michelle Moratinos (civilian friend) on Etta James and other bluesy vocals; Bob Binder (LAPD) on tenor sax; Dan Glass (retired El Monte Police Department) on trombone; Jack Poster (Redlands Police Department) on trumpet; Ryan Clarke (civilian with the Drug Enforcement Agency) on baritone sax; and civilians Chuck Paul (lawyer) on keyboard and Kevin Kline (teacher, not actor) on trumpet.
City Beat’s front man Jonny Walker keeps the audience engaged and the action intense. Last summer, City Beat’s pulse and drive had local dancers out of their chairs and swarming the dance floor. So if dancing is your thing, and a solid horn section gets your rhythm machine moving, make sure to be there for City Beat’s downbeat at 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 2.
Opening for City Beat at 6:30 is local group Hot Flash.
All summer concert series performances are free to the public.
ISCS budget for the series is $23,860 of which $17,000 has been raised to date. Series producers welcome additional sponsors and contributors.
