The SoTight Band

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Clifford Dunn on Guitar;

I left my hometown of San Francisco in 1982 to do a 6 month tour of B.C. with the Kenny Wayne Band; to this day I’m still here.
In 1983 we formed the Ron Haywood and Stripes Band. We played R&B, top 40 and funk. We were a high energy dance and show band. We played most of the Vancouver Venues, being regulars at Richards on Richards. We continued to play throughout B.C. and Alberta for 9 years. 1987 included a 3 week tour in Singapore and a Nike gig in Atlanta Georgia where we were the opening act for the Temptations.

During my music career I have also done various projects such as the Jim Byrnes Show, various movie parts, commercial jingles and studio work on a Doug and the Slugs album.

In 1992 I moved with my family to Vernon B.C. I continued with music as a freelance musician doing various projects including work with Henry Piovesan and one of his projects which was the Punch and Judy Band. I moved back to Vancouver in 1997 and continue to play with such bands as Funkdelicious, H.B. Concept, the R&B Icons, the Billy Dixon Band and now the SoTight Band. My music ranges from R&B to Old School, Funk, Reggae, Blues and Jazz.

Peter Dalzell on Keys;

I was born and raised in Victoria and loved music as far back as I can remember. We always had a piano and I was drawn to the keyboard at a very early age. I started playing in Victoria bands at age 15, continued throughout high school and university, followed by a couple of tours of duty on the western Canada club circuit before settling again in beautiful Victoria. One day in Victoria I was approached by a couple of musicians from a Vancouver band called New Breed saying that they needed a keyboard player, that “they regularly played in Victoria” and asked me to try out. This worked for me. I joined the band and they never returned to Victoria again. The New Breed of that time featured the talented Joani Bye. In the late seventies I played in various bands in Vancouver ranging diverse styles including R&B, funk, show lounge and even some country. In the early eighties I had the good fortune to be part of the dynamic funk band, Incognito, featuring Rosalind Keene and Joe Chapel.

I then took a sharp turn in the road (for about 20 years), stopped playing music professionally and settled down, married with two children and got a straight job. Late in 2003, serendipity brought me out of hibernation to play with Billy Dixon and the boys and now the SoTight Band. I am enjoying the gift of playing with outstanding musicians who are all great people. I love the chemistry and energy and the way the band connects with the audience. Everyone has a great time! We always get people up dancing. Check it out.

Billy Mendoza on Bass;

Billy Mendoza (aka. Billy T Schmidt) is from Oahu Hawaii and has lived in Canada since 1992. Billy plays bass guitar and sings lead and harmony to make him a perfect fit for the SoTight band. He has over 30 years experience in the business playing clubs, concerts and theatre productions. Billy has produced and recorded a number of independent artists and has performed extensively throughout the Mid-Western United States, Europe, and coast to coast in Canada.

JT Platt on Sax;

Being from Louisiana, that great Southern music…Blues, soul, funk, gospel and jazz were all around me. Eager to be a part, I was very lucky to be accepted by the Masters surrounding me and taking me under their wings. In a band in Texas with Dan Del Santo and the Professors of Pleasure…was where I met and was smiled upon by the biggest influences on my saxophone growth, one of my mentors, Tomas Ramirez. The original Jazzimanian Devil…the way every note was important, to play from the heart, to open up and not be afraid to fall, go for that note and sing, sing through the horn. Even to this day, as I’m improvising, I think to myself…what would Tomas play here.

Got my first chance playing soul and Motown with Blue Mist, another band in Austin, and some of these guys are still together. Then a door opened, and I got an opportunity to move to San Francisco where I met and still thank, The Blues Boss Kenny Wayne, who brought me to Canada with Cliff Dunn for what was supposed to be a 6 month tour, turned out to be a career and life choice. That band quickly developed into that long standing week to week workaholic machine known as Ron Haywood and Stripes. I’m sure many of you remember those marathon gigs at Richard on Richards, The Big Bamboo, The Soft Rock and places all over B.C. and Alberta. Man did we work!! From there, I saxed up lots of bands in Vancouver, Solcola, Mike Henry’s Funkdelicious, H.B. Concept, U Tek Tik (a rock fusion project that performs crazy and frantic originals and covers), I got to play with the great Kim Kuzma quartet, and the Billy Dixon band…to name a few. Along the way, I met another huge influence on my sax playing…Stan Karp and got to take lessons. Oh, that’s how ya do it!!

And now I’m really happy to work with Jena and the rest of the boys. We always have a great time performing and it’s like old friends getting together when we play. Come see us at Rossini’s and you’ll see what I mean. Always a packed house, the crowd is great and so is the food. See you soon.

Rob Neumann on Drums;

I started my professional drumming career in the mid 70’s, traveling across Canada until 1978 with “TKO”, a 7 piece funk band. In the late 70’s I joined rock band with a Chicago style horn section called "The Visitors". Then in the early 80’s I worked with an original rock band called "Brooklyn", spending lots of time in the studio recording its original works. "Brooklyn" started experimenting with electronic music and I therefore switched over to electronic drums during that period of time.

In the mid 80’s I performed in a rock band called "Bermuda", was on the club circuit and we also recorded an LP. In the late 80’s I decided to change directions and go with one of my loves – jazz! Throughout the 90’s I performed with a fusion band called "Melting Point" and was in a number of casual gigs with various bands in B.C., always finding time to play swing, Latin and funk-style jazz.

In 2001 I met J.T. Platt and we performed together in a jazz group called “U Tek Tik”. Through J.T. I had the pleasure of being introduced to Billy Dixon in 2003 and became a member of "Billy Dixon’s Soul Train Express". We are now The SoTight Band and working with these talented musicians is a real pleasure.

Jena Fair Vocals;

Born and raised in Vancouver BC, Jena has been singing ever since she could talk. Her father had always been heavily involved in local theatre and the R&B circuit so being surrounded by musicality was something Jena was always familiar with.

During her high school years Jena would sing every opportunity she was given. She fell into the world of musical theatre and starred in various productions both in and outside of school. At the age of 17 she was honoured by the Black Cultural Society of BC and received the top Jr. Black Achievement Award for her contribution to the arts, one of various awards Jena has received honouring her for her work.

Upon graduating high school, Jena received a full scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music's Performance Program in Boston Massachusetts. During her studies there Jena furthered her musical capabilities focusing less on theatre and developing more of a taste for music production and song writing. She received top marks in all her studies and also received a scholarship to attend school full-time there. Upon her return home she met and found her niche3 at the time in Omar Khan and David Morin, when they formed an R&B trio called Shades of Soul. It was with Shades of Soul that Jena really developed her song writing, producing, managerial and entrepreneurial skills. It wasn't long before the group developed a following and was soon offered a record deal with a small up and coming local independent label called Faze 1 Entertainment. Jena saw a greater opportunity, decided to quit her steady retail position and started working for the label full-time with Shades of Soul as the 1st artists on their roster. They released their 1st single to radio early in 2003. The single "Get with you" quickly fell into heavy rotation on the urban station in Vancouver (The Beat 94.5) even claiming the No. 2 spot on the "Blazin Seven @ 7" show for the most requested songs of the day. The single managed to hold a spot in the top seven for over a month and all without radio promotion. To her dismay after the video was shot for their second single the label dissolved and the group also shortly after.

Currently Jena is writing, collaborating, performing & auditioning every chance she gets. More recently she just finished overseas tours in Singapore and China. Her sound and writing style is one that carries with her all of her musical influences from R&B, pop. hip hop, jazz and country. On all facets, Jena considers herself very fortunate to be doing something she has loved an nurtured all her life.