Lettuce Cook World Tour

Thursday 05 Feb
/ 07:00PM
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LETTUCE

Adam Deitch: drums, percussion
Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff: guitar
Erick “Jesus” Coomes: bass
Ryan “Zoid” Zoidis: alto, baritone and tenor sax, synths
Eric “Benny” Bloom: trumpet, horns
Nigel Hall: vocals, Hammond B-3, Rhodes, clavinet, keyboards

The album, Cook, isn’t just a nod to Lettuce’s musical heat; it’s an invitation to join the band at the table, where funk, soul, jazz, rock, and hip-hop come together in one rich, flavorful dish.

Released on their own Lettuce Records label, the band’s next studio album offers a menu of delights that marks a band exploring new sonic territory. For these six life-long partners, the new songs feel like a nourishing meal that entices all of your senses. 

Like 2019’s Elevate, 2020’s Resonate and 2022’s Unify, before it, Cook was recorded at Colorado Sound just outside East Coast transplants Deitch, Smirnoff, and Bloom’s adopted home of Denver, where they gathered in one room to work on the new material.  Ryan Zoidis did a masterful job mixing the final results with longtime Grammy-nominated engineer Jesse O’Brien. 

On the new album, Lettuce has expanded its ever-widening musical palette again. Coming off  tours with both rap icon GZA of Wu-Tang Clan and and reggae legend Ziggy Marley while earlier in this year releasing the live album and concert film ‘Lettuce with the Colorado Symphony’ capturing over 90 minutes of collaborative symphonic arrangements with the Colorado Symphony

“This record is a little more three-dimensional than our past albums,” added Deitch. “It shows a lot more sides to the band, exploring further depths of production and arrangements.”

One can hear the Wu-Tang Clan vibe on “Storm’s Coming,” which could well be a lost track from (36 Chambers), while working with an orchestra can be traced in the epic cinematic score of the closing “Ghost of Yest,” which Deitch terms, “a cool tune that has symphonic influences.” 

Listening to hard-to-categorize, multi-genre bands from around the world also impacted the sessions for Cook, which reflects the global outreach that led Lettuce to put out the recently re-released Live in Tokyo back in 2004. Touring plans for Cook include a return trip to Japan as well as dates in Europe and Australia. “Hearing music from different countries has broadened our creative outlook,” admitted Deitch.

Still, there’s a generous dose of Lettuce’s patented funk, paying tribute to the great James Brown and his JB’s on the slow-heater groove, “Clav It Your Way,” marked by composer Ryan “Zoid” Zoidis’ cool, laid-back but funky saxophone, the classic Lettuce tune of “Gold Tooth” and a pair of spirited homages to mentors like Tower of Power (“Keep On,” with a co-writing credit for the band leader and original member of TOP, Emilio Castillo). On “The Mac,” the band pays tribute to the great JB sax player Maceo Parker, with whom the band had the honor of collaborating with several years back. 

Ace bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes describes the theme of his opening, “fresh, super-vibey” “Grewt Up” as “Now is the time to be good to each other without the need to be recognized for it.” New York Knicks fan Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff’s dramatic,  “The Matador” combines the drama of the bullring with legendary announcer Walt Frazier’s patented call of “Matador defense” – letting someone attack the hoop with no resistance – boasting an urban feel harking back to Creed Taylor’s CTI and the ‘70s New York-based salsa label Fania. 

“It’s like something that should be the soundtrack to a ‘70s cop show,” says Nigel Hall, who takes center stage with vocals and organ on the band’s cover of one-time Five Stairsteps member Keni Burke’s 1982 R&B hit, “Risin’ to the Top.” 

“I first heard that song as a kid,” explained Hall. “I learned about the original through hip-hop.  I always wanted to sing it, and now I get the chance.”

“Breathe” is described by Deitch as “a chill, hip-hop-flavored joint,” which begins with the sound of crickets, while horn player Eric “Benny” Bloom credited the song for allowing him “to think of all the possibilities my future holds if I just listen to myself and… BREATHE.” The title track is “a wild and crazy funk tune written at a party in Denver,” according to Deitch, while Bloom called it, “a hip little banger of a song to put a stank face on.”

The band also recently announced the launch of Lettuce Red Crush and Orange Crush wine brands with Aquila Cellars, as well as a recipe book of pairings to be included with the vinyl album and in digital form. The wine was brought to life by Bloom and Zoidis’ wine distribution company, Benny & Zoid Selections who made it accessible to purchase nationwide online.

“Music and food are very related,” said Deitch. “Use the wrong ingredients in either and you can ruin the sound and the meal.”

With Cook, it appears Lettuce has the right recipe for success… both musically and organizationally. 

“This is the best team we’ve ever had,” said Deitch of his current management. “We feel like the world is our oyster. Our concepts and ideas can really come to fruition now with our infrastructure. It’s beautiful to be in a headspace of feeling this fresh. It’s the start of a brand-new era for us.” 

JannusLive is an outdoor, STANDING ROOM ONLY venue that is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for our guests. Please review our safety and security information below PRIOR to arriving at the venue.

  • All ticket prices are subject to increase on the day the of event.
  • Please arrive early to the venue to allow enough time for you and your guests to move through the queue and enter the venue.
  • Prior to entering the venue, guests will be searched (wand and/or pat-downs) to ensure that none of the restricted items enters the courtyard
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  • You may be asked to empty your pockets of all items so that they can be examined.
  • All alcohol and narcotic laws will be strictly enforced.
  • All bags will be searched, and no large bags or backpacks will be allowed (larger than a standard sheet of paper).

We reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone. If you see something that concerns you, please say something to our management or security so we can ensure the best experience possible

Restricted Items:

Considering recent events, the following items are strictly prohibited

  • No guns, knives, weapons, pepper spray, projectiles of any kind, or any other item that could be used to inflict harm.
  • Replicas of weapons are also NOT permitted
  • No large purses, bags or backpacks will be allowed (larger than a standard sheet of paper).
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  • No outside food or drinks
  • No blankets, lawn chairs and/or any other personal furniture, please see FAQs for email info@jannuslive.com or questions regarding ADA
  • No umbrellas, Jannus Live is an outdoor venue, so please plan accordingly
  • No personal video cameras, Go-Pros, selfie sticks, drones, masks or laser pointers.
  • No professional audio, video, or audio recording equipment – (including detachable lenses, tripods, zooms or commercial use rigs) For press pass access, please contact the artist or their management directly.
  • No pet, please see our FAQs or email info@jannuslive.com for questions regarding service animals

This list of prohibited items is subject to change at the discretion of venue management

Other Important Rules for our Venue

  • We are an outdoor, STANDING ROOM ONLY venue
  • All tickets are considered General Admission, unless specifically noted VIP. If your ticket was purchased from either Ticketmaster or AXS.com, they may print with a seat number. This is something we cannot control on their printed tickets and is not a real seat. Jannus Live does not have seating of any kind.
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