Soul Purpose

With a distinctive take on New Orleans Funk, classic and contemporary Soul and Swing, Soul Purpose is a “smokin’ band whose joyous renditions of R&B, Soul and Swing will lift your heart, gathering the boisterous energy of a dancing crowd and channeling it into a melodic explosion.” – The Huguenot Herald.
Soul Purpose enthralls from the first note with powerhouse vocals, bold horns, lush keyboards, and blistering guitarwork with the rhythmic reference and underlying pulse for the band provided by expertly played bass and percussion. Formed in New Paltz, New York over two decades ago and recently named “Best Local Band” by the readers of Hudson Valley Magazine, the band has played at numerous venues from intimate concerts, larger festival stages and benefits. Soul Purpose has headlined at the famed Daryl’s House Club, Pawling, NY, iconic Towne Crier Cafe, Beacon, NY, historic Colony, Woodstock, NY and renowned Falcon, Marlboro, NY. The band has opened for such prominent artists as Grammy Award Nominee and Blues Music Award Nominee, Shemekia Copeland; Grammy Award Nominee Singer/Songwriter Blues album, Slam Allen and the Chris O’Leary Band.
Lead singer Sara Espinosa is joined by Dr. Lori Morris, alto and tenor saxophone, percussion and vocals; Rich De Crosta, trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion and vocals; Cue Gerhards, guitar and vocals; Francis Ralston, bass and background vocals, and Jerry Teters, drums and vocals. Together, they create a vibe that is described by a recent concertgoer as, “Needle pushing the end & bouncing – a 10 +on a scale of 10 with the poor needle trying to break the stopper!”