After a 20-year absence Uptown Shuffle reunites with one of the first venues that gave them a break in the early days.
On Friday, Feb. 3 the three-piece returns to LB’s Pub & Grill for three sets of music that will make people want to dance and feel good.
“Uptown Shuffle is a country band that crosses into the blues,” says bandleader Jeari Czapla. Joining him is Ryan Ebbinghoff (drums) and Bernie Riegger (bass/vocals).
Initially Uptown Shuffle played the local country scene with a great deal of success. Inspired by the late Lenny Breau, the late jazz fingerstyle master, Czapla made a sideways turn into jazz.
“It wasn’t a big shift. We just added jazz to the equation,” Czapla said.
And the success was immediate. Their first jazz album For Ella reached No. 1 on the Canadian jazz charts and continues to be played in 21 countries.
And their second album Dolce, debuted at No. 1 and stayed there for six weeks.
Needing a change, Czapla moved to Winnipeg in 2007 and continued using the moniker Uptown Shuffle to front a saloon rock band.
“I picked up players as I needed them.”
Now that he’s back in Edmonton, Czapla returns to his roots – a country band that rocks the blues away.
Similar to Breau, Czapla plays a finger style guitar and he’s planning a set of songs that are familiar yet challenging.
“The set list is danceable. We’re the type of band that we play what people want. We cater to the patrons.”
The band starts at 9 p.m. No cover.
