Ray Charles Project takes the stage in Sonoma

In tribute to the genius of Ray Charles, a swinging sextet of outstanding Bay Area musicians is offering their take on some of the highlights from Charles’s songbook in Sonoma on Friday, May 4.

The band is comprised of elite jazz and blues musicians including 11-time Grammy Award winner and Santana vocalist Tony Lindsay and noted Bay Area blues guitarist Chris Cain. A talent-packed rhythm section will back them, including Hammond B-3 player Jim Pugh, bassist DeWayne Pate and drummer Deszon Claiborne.

Cain has played with such greats as Albert King and Albert Collins, Johnny Otis and Junior Wells, Boz Scaggs and Willie Nelson, and recorded 10 solo albums, including his latest, “So Many Miles.”

Pate has worked with Huey Lewis and the News, Boz Scaggs, Maria Muldaur, Robben Ford and Arturo Sandoval and he’s also a columnist for Bassics magazine.

Claiborne has worked with blues great Charles Brown and is the drummer for Clockwork and the Tammy Hall Trio.

Tony Lindsay has 11 Grammy awards on his mantel after spending two decades as lead singer of Santana.

Glenn Walters sang lead for two Bay Area bands, the Hoodoo Rhythm Devils and the Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra. David K. Mathews has been playing keyboards professionally since 1975. After playing with Tower of Power for two years, he toured for a decade with the “Queen of Rhythm and Blues,” Etta James, and is currently the keyboard player for Santana.

The Ray Charles Project will go onstage at the Reel Fish Shop & Grill at 9 p.m. on Friday, May 4. Tickets are $20 – $35 and available at the door.