Meet the Soul City Band
Ten Musicians,
One Sound
Soul City brings together a remarkable group of musicians whose experience extends far beyond the wedding industry.
Great bands are built on more than talent alone. Many of Soul City’s musicians have performed together for years, developing the trust, chemistry, and musical intuition that can only come from sharing hundreds of stages. The result is a performance that feels effortless and connected, with every musician working together to create a seamless experience that keeps guests engaged from the first song to the final encore.
Our band includes performers, educators, recording artists, and festival headliners from some of the most respected institutions and stages in the world. Together, they bring an exceptional level of artistry, versatility, and professionalism to every celebration.
Vocalists
Natalie Antell
Lead Vocalist
Best Live Concert
Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour
Favorite Album
Emotions: Live on MTV by Mariah Carey
This was the first CD my dad ever bought me. I was 11. Those whistle tones, I was hooked! I started practicing to that album non-stop. Mariah is a huge part of why I became a singer.
Natalie Antell is the bandleader, vocalist, and creative force behind Soul City Band, one of New England’s premier live wedding and event bands. Known for her commanding stage presence, sharp attention to detail, and ability to turn events into unforgettable dance parties, Natalie has helped shape Soul City into a sought-after 10-piece powerhouse recognized for its live horns, high-energy performances, and deeply personalized approach to events. Since joining the band, she has played a major role in evolving Soul City from a respected regional act into a luxury entertainment experience serving weddings, private events, and high-profile celebrations throughout New England and beyond.
Completely self-taught as a vocalist, Natalie entered the wedding and live-event industry through persistence, instinct, and a deep love of soul music. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to perform alongside acclaimed artists including Ray Greene of Santana, Grammy Award-winning bassist Oscar Stagnaro, and legendary Afro-Peruvian singer Zambo Cavero. She joined Soul City in the early 2010s and quickly became both a featured frontwoman and one of the driving forces behind the band’s creative direction and client experience. Under her leadership, Soul City became known not only for exceptional musicianship, but for creating immersive, concert-style celebrations where packed dance floors and audience interaction are central to the experience.
Natalie’s philosophy blends old-school soul energy with modern event production. Drawing inspiration from artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, Aretha Franklin, and Tina Turner, she has helped build a show that seamlessly moves between Motown, R&B, funk, classic rock, 90s and 2000s hits, and current dance music while still feeling cohesive and authentic. Soul City’s performances are known for live choreography, horn-driven arrangements, and a strong connection with audiences of all ages.
In addition to performing, Natalie oversees client communication, event coordination, and artistic customization for Soul City’s weddings and private events. Couples and clients frequently praise her professionalism, responsiveness, warmth, and ability to make the planning process feel seamless and personal.
Today, Natalie continues to lead Soul City with a focus on authenticity, energy, and creating events that feel less like traditional receptions and more like once-in-a-lifetime live experiences. Based in Newport, Rhode Island, Soul City performs throughout New England and at destination events nationwide.
John Grant
Lead Vocalist
Best Live Concert
Stevie Wonder
Favorite Album
Everlasting Life by Kim Burrell
John Grant’s relationship with music began in the Pentecostal church his grandfather pastored in San Bernardino, California, where he developed his skills as a singer, songwriter, and choir director. That foundation led to a professional career performing internationally as a background vocalist for Kenny Lattimore and Chanté Moore, as well as recording alongside Christina Aguilera.
A vocalist, songwriter, vocal director, and vocal arranger, John has worked with artists including Karen Clark Sheard, Tonex, Day26, and Marques Houston. His career has taken him to theaters, luxury hotels, theme parks, casinos, cruise ships, recording studios, and concert venues around the world. Today, he brings that experience to Soul City as a lead vocalist while continuing to pursue creative projects through True Pitch Media.
Andrea Capozzoli
Vocalist / Second Trumpet
Hometown
Pittsburgh, PA
Best Live Concert
Barbra Streisand at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY
Favorite Album
Lalah Hathaway Live
Musical Idols
Ella Fitzgerald and Whitney Houston
Favorite Bass Line
Give It To Me Baby by Rick James
Soul, R&B, and jazz powerhouse Andrea Capozzoli is a multi-talented vocalist, trumpet player, pianist, songwriter, producer, and arranger, as well as the recipient of the Female R&B Artist of the Year award from the New York International Music Festival.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Andrea got an early start as a professional musician, studying classical and jazz voice and trumpet. In 2009, she wrote, arranged, and produced her debut album So Real, which spans many genres with its eclectic appeal. After receiving the Berklee College of Music Faculty Recording Grant, she recorded an LP entitled Lessons, featuring her arrangements of songs by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, and Horace Silver. Her travels have included performances at the prestigious Beantown Jazz Festival in Boston, The Blue Note and Iridium in New York, and many festivals and tours throughout the US and Europe.
Andrea has shared the stage with jazz and soul legends Slide Hampton, Bernard Purdie, Ronnie Laws, and Eric Kloss. She also had the distinct honor of performing and arranging her gospel version of “America the Beautiful” for President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., and the privilege of performing for honorary doctorate recipients Steely Dan at the Berklee College of Music Commencement concert.
In addition to being an accomplished performer, Andrea is a faculty member at Berklee as an Assistant Professor in the voice department. Her specialties include jazz and R&B improvisation courses as well as sight-singing. Andrea is also part of the Berklee Presents production team and works as background vocal coordinator for concerts including the Berklee Commencement Concert.
HORN Section
Tucker Antell
Tenor Saxophone, Music Director
Favorite Album
Saxophone Colossus by Sonny Rollins
Musical Idol
Michael Brecker
Favorite Bass Line
Come On, Come Over by Jaco Pastorius
Started Playing
9 years old
Tenor saxophonist Tucker Antell’s virtuosity and captivatingly soulful “voice” have earned him a reputation as a must-see player in the Boston music scene. World-renowned jazz trombonist and educator Hal Crook says Tucker’s playing holds attention from beginning to end, pairing formidable instrumental chops, technique, vocabulary, and knowledge of the tradition with a rare depth of imagination, originality, taste, and creativity.
Heavily influenced by the likes of Michael Brecker and Sonny Rollins, as well as his mentors Jerry Bergonzi and George Garzone, Tucker has been gigging since age 13 and has shared the stage with many heavy hitters, including Larry Goldings, Anthony Wilson, Antonio Sanchez, Esperanza Spalding, Louis Cole, The 8-Bit Big Band, Leo P, and Steve Feifke. He has also taken part in numerous recordings, including Omar Thomas’ We Will Know and I Am, Mehmet Ali Sanlikol’s Resolution, The BTALC Big Band’s The Herd Session vol. 1 & 2 and The Search for Peace, Nando Michelin’s Engenheiros, and The Funkestra.
In 2018, Tucker released his debut album Grime Scene with his B3 Organ Quartet, describing the all-original material as a rich combination of a modern jazz language beating to the pulse of hard-swinging, old-school blues, with some surprises thrown in. Tucker Antell is a rarity, or as master musician and educator Jerry Bergonzi says, one of a new breed of super musicians.
James Clark
Trumpet
Favorite Place to Listen
My office
In front of the vintage stereo equipment I restored. It sounds amazing!
Started Playing
5 years old
My dad is a music teacher and started me early. There’s a picture of me playing a trumpet propped up on the arm of our couch because I was too small to hold it up.
James teaches trumpet at the University of Southern Maine and plays with all types of groups from Maine to Boston, including the Portland Jazz Orchestra, the Seacoast Big Band, the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, and the Portland Ballet. He also plays bass in various jazz ensembles and with his original music trio O’Donnell, Klaxton and Clark.
Christopher Gagne
Trombone
Best Live Concert
Herbie Hancock at the Monterey Jazz Festival (2014)
Favorite Album
The Royal Scam by Steely Dan
Favorite Bass Line
Tell Me Something Good by Rufus and Chaka Khan
Originally hailing from beautiful Southern Maine, Chris Gagne currently resides in Central Massachusetts and maintains a busy performance schedule throughout the Northeast. Specializing primarily in jazz and contemporary music, his playing has been recorded on albums featuring artists such as David Liebman, George Benson, Sean Jones, and George Garzone. In addition to Soul City, Chris can currently be seen performing with the Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra, the Fernando Huergo Big Band, and the New England Jazz Collaborative.
Chris holds degrees from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, the New England Conservatory of Music, and the Berklee College of Music. He has taught music at a variety of institutions, including Tufts University, Merrimack College, Clark University, and Springfield College.
Rhythm Section
Christopher Vaillancourt
Guitar
Hometown
Newport, RI
Favorite Album
A Live One by Phish
I happened upon this album on a cassette at a Savers, got it for a dollar, and it became my favorite driving music.
Favorite Guitar Intro
Spanish Caravan by The Doors
Favorite Bass Line
If You Want Me to Stay by Sly and the Family Stone
Chris Vaillancourt is a full-time guitarist who has been playing with bands and recording artists across New England for more than 19 years. He’s a founding member of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit New England Music Organization (NEMO), the host and music director of Newport’s NEE Jam, and a founding music instructor for the Newport Festivals Foundation’s Met Lab program.
Aaron Seymour
Drums
Hometown
The Bahamas
Musical Idol
Aaron Spears
Favorite Bass Line
Master Blaster by Stevie Wonder
Favorite Music Quote
“That day will come.”
Capleton
The first time I got behind a drum kit on my own, I was two years old. My old man is a drummer as well, so I guess it was only natural for him to place me behind the kit and let me go to town. I caught on quickly and I fell in love with the drums. I learned how to be a professional through him, and I started gigging professionally when I was about 13.
In the Bahamas most musicians stay busy by playing in hotels for the tourists, so I learned to play songs my old man grew up listening to, and I still play a lot of those songs today. It made me musically versatile.
After being on the music scene in the Bahamas for a while, I wanted to continue my education and expand my opportunities, so I moved overseas to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. At Berklee, I was thrown into a diverse musical environment, studying alongside talented musicians from around the world while continuing to develop my craft as a performer. I feel like it made me a better musician and validated some of the personal work I put in over the years.
Today, I try to combine the rhythmic influences of my Bahamian roots with everything I’ve learned along the way. My journey reflects a lifelong commitment to professionalism, creativity, and the power of music to connect people across cultures.
My biggest accomplishment to date is being a father to my son.
Santiago Bosch
Keyboards
Hometown
Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Favorite Album
Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy by Chick Corea
Musical Idol
Chick Corea
Started Playing
Performing professionally at 16
Favorite Place to Listen
At home
Listening to a record from start to finish with my full attention.
Santiago Bosch is a Venezuelan pianist, keyboardist, composer, producer, and educator from Barquisimeto. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music with a bachelor’s degree in piano performance in 2015 and later earned a master’s degree in contemporary jazz performance from the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2017. He received full scholarships for both programs.
As a bandleader, Santiago has released two albums, Guaro Report (2011) and Galactic Warrior (2019), the latter earning three Pepsi Music Award nominations in Venezuela.
He has performed at major venues and festivals including the Barquisimeto International Jazz Festival, Heineken Jazz Festival, Havana International Jazz Festival, Dominican Republic Jazz Festival, Barranquijazz Festival, EFG London Jazz Festival, 55 Bar, Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, and the Newport Jazz Festival.
Santiago has collaborated in performances and recordings with leading jazz artists such as Terri Lyne Carrington, John Patitucci, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Antonio Sánchez, Kenny Garrett, Nate Wood, Tim Miller, Darren Barrett, George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi, and Ari Hoenig.
Notable Credits and Education
Soul City’s musicians represent some of the most accomplished talent in New England and beyond. Our roster includes faculty and alumni from Berklee College of Music, the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, and the New England Conservatory, with performers who have appeared at world-renowned venues and festivals including Newport Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, and The Kennedy Center. Members of Soul City have shared stages and collaborated with artists such as Santana, Christina Aguilera, Esperanza Spalding, George Benson, Kenny Garrett, Antonio Sánchez, and performed for President Barack Obama. That level of musicianship is brought to every wedding we perform, creating an experience that feels both deeply personal and undeniably world-class.