A Kool night for Newport Beach

Young Chang

Of course the first question Robert “Kool” Bell had to field was,

why’s he “Kool?”

It’s a nickname from his childhood days in New Jersey, he said.

When he first formed his band decades ago, they were a jazz quartet

called the Jazziacs. As their sound grew more into funk and R&B;, they

tried the name Kool and the Flames. They settled into Kool and the

Gang.

The veteran ‘70s and ‘80s band, best known for tracks including

“Celebration” and “Summer Madness,” will settle into the Taste of

Newport for its second time as members take the stage tonight.

Kimberlee, a rock, folk and R&B; artist who goes by just the one

name, will open for Kool the same night.

“Two years ago we had Kool and the Gang on the weekend and we set

a new record at the Taste,” said Jeff Parker, vice president and

director of operations for Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, which

presents the annual food and wine festival. “I think from start to

finish it’s just going to be hit after hit. I’m sure it’s going to be

another record breaker.”

Parker is most looking forward to “Celebration” because it’ll set

a party mood.

The 51-year-old Bell agrees that his festive ‘80s track never

fails.

“It’s an all-time hit whenever there’s something to celebrate,” he

said. “Whether it’s winning the Super Bowl or winning the World

Series or people getting married and having a good time, it’s a type

of record we cannot take out of the set. That has to be our closing

number.”

This weekend the cause for celebration is simply good eats and

good drinks.

Bell said the band agreed to the encore performance because the

Newport Beach crowd was so receptive the first time.

“And it’s a nice area, right on the water there,” the New Jersey

resident said.

After 10 Top Ten hits, two Grammy Awards and about two decades in

the spotlight with major tours everywhere, Kool and the Gang does a

lot of collaborating today and in August put out the hip-hop album

“Gangland.”

The group is looking forward to a new album coming out next year

and is also working on a movie about how they came to be, the “weird”

things they’ve done and their success.

“People were talking about our career and the fact that we’ve been

around for over 35 years and we’re one of the bands that have stood

the test of time,” said the bassist and keyboardist. “But we don’t

want just a regular story... more of a human story.”

Bell cited “Remember the Titans” as being about football, but more

about humanity.

“It’s about people living together and working together,” he said.

“We’re trying to get with a story that is more than just music.”