Andy Vargas, Slight Return and their new release of a Rock version of the great Marvin Gaye’s anthem “What’s Going on” pare down to just Andy Vargas’ unique soulful voice and signature guitar riff and voicings that are unique to Slight Return’s sound. Many protest songs are historical artefacts. They are about a specific time, event, movement or person, often without longevity, and make sense only within a specific context. There are a few exceptions. American soul singer Marvin Gaye’s title track from his 1971 album “What’s Going on” is a glowing example.
Although "What’s Going on" was written at the height of the Vietnam and Cold Wars and ultimately viewed as an American social anthem of the time, it does not detract from the fact that the issues underlying it remain as relevant today as they were back in the time Gaye, and Motown colleagues Renaldo “Obie” Benson and Al Cleveland, wrote the song. It is perhaps as relevant today as the time it was released on January 20, 1971.
Not only is “What’s Going on” a universal anthem about the state of the world, it has also inspired a number of popular, mainstream artists to use their music as social commentary. Among them are contemporary popular artists like Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z.
Slight Return is a dynamic 5 piece band led by Mark Kassa, with William Pope, Tony Mitchel, Ronnie Karmo, and featuring Andy Vargas, who has performed as lead singer with the legendary Santana band since 1999. In teaming up with Mark Kassa, (lead guitar and song writer), Andy Vargas now adds his California soulfulness to the Detroit-based band’s gritty power. As lead vocalist to the iconic Woodstock rock band Santana, Andy has performed in twenty tours with his musical hero, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist and bandleader Carlos Santana. During the global stadium tours, Andy worked on a range of projects with such legendary performers, including Yanni, Taboo (of the Black-Eyed Peas), Enrique Iglesias, and Patti Labelle.
As someone who rose to stardom from modest means, Andy has committed himself to “paying it forward.” His nonprofit, Andy Vargas Foundation, provides at-risk youths with life-changing opportunities to study and work in the music industry.
For Andy, music itself has provided the means to overcome, represent, and uplift: “Carlos is for us and the Latino culture, an icon, and to be able to work with him on a personal level for me is a dream.”
Long before the music genre now known as “World Music” would become recognized as the force it is, Santana’s ever-evolving sound helped create the category, not only achieving near universal appeal, but also playing a crucial role ushering in 21st century’s pan-cultural, multiracial social identity and cultural landscape. Vargas has been inspired by and shares Carlos Santana’s dedication to humanitarian outreach and social activism, which parallels the guitarist’s lifelong relationship with the healing and uplifting power of music. Vargas is proud to continue his work with Carlos Santana, a guitar legend, exemplar of multiculturalism, and global musical icon.
Slight Return exudes the grit and soul of its hometown, Detroit, MI, the Motor City. The band represents groove, funk, soul, and psychedelic, kick-out-the-jam Motor City rock, capturing Detroit in all of its sounds and rhythms. Slight Return melds its powerhouse influences—Jimi Hendrix, Rage Against The Machine, Santana, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Robin Trower—into a powerful alchemy: cutting-edge World Music and Classic Rock roots.
Mark Kassa, Guitar/Vocals—Voting Member of the Grammy Awards (The Recording Academy), graduate of Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA—has written and recorded with George Clinton (Parliament/Funkadelic, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member), Billy Cox (bassist for Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys), Dennis Coffey (guitarist from the Motown label’s house band, the Funk Brothers), Tony “T Money” Green (bassist for Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, The Dramatics, and Death Row Records), Davey Pattison (vocalist for Robin Trower, Montrose, and Gamma), Pat Lewis (vocalist with Aretha Franklin and P-Funk), and legendary drummer Dennis Chambers (Santana, Steely Dan, P-Funk, Jackson 5).
Lead guitarist, vocalist, writer, music producer, executive producer, and manager of Slight Return, Kassa also owns several federally registered trademarks. He has produced albums with master studio artists and recording engineers Jack Endino and Chris Hanzsek in Seattle, WA (Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, and the famed “Sub Pop” label out of Seattle), Jim Diamond in Detroit, MI (Jack White and The White Stripes), Alan Sanderson, San Diego, CA (Elton John and The Rolling Stones), and Frank Jamal (Aretha Franklin).
