Gallo Center for the Arts

Kool & The Gang

CelloVoci is a newly formed classical-crossover group starring internationally renowned cello and vocal duo Branden & James, along with powerhouse singer/songwriter (and Modesto native) Effie Passero from American Idol and Postmodern Jukebox. With “dazzling cello and soaring tenor vocals“ (NPR Music) from Branden & James, and Ms. Passero's “insanely powerful voice,“ (Entertainment Weekly), the trio presents a tour-de force of epic musical collaborations and lighthearted stories that will make you both laugh and cry. They recently recorded their first collaborative album entitled Happy Days, and made their solo concert debut at New York City's Carnegie Hall in October 2024.

CelloVoci with Effie Passero

Kool & the Gang are true recording industry legends thanks to iconic songs like “Celebration,” “Get Down On It,” “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Summer Madness,” “Open Sesame,” and more. The band has influenced the music of three generations and, along the way, they've earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums.

From Nairobi to Newark, Kool & the Gang has performed continuously longer than any R&B group in history and their bulletproof funk and jazzy arrangements have also made them the most sampled R&B band of all time. A reviewer recently called their performance “a 24-karat show” and every year, even after a half-century on the road, yields a non-stop schedule of shows across the globe.