For the second of its Community Spotlight Concert programs, Copia has invited the popular Napa musical group, Moonlight Dance Band, to perform in concert on Nov. 2, in the venue’s indoor theater.

Next week’s concert is expected to be a sell-out, according to Copia officials, based on the fact that the theater has but 260 seats. When the group performed in the outdoor amphitheater in the summer of 2005, more than 400 fans turned out.

Led by guitarist Leigh Wyckoff, the upcoming Moonlight Dance Band gig will feature a pair of noteworthy Bay Area musicians. “The addition of Mic Gillette on trumpet and trombone at our last concert was a big hit, so Mic is bringing along another of his old Tower of Power buddies, Skip Mesquite,” noted Wyckoff. “Skip was an original Tower of Power member and his tenor sax solo on ‘You’ve Got To Funkifize’ is legendary.”

Gillette still records and performs with Tower of Power and such noted Bay Area artists and bands as Bill Champlin, of Sons of Champlin fame, Lenny Williams and Journey, said the Napa native. “Moonlight Dance Band is very excited to have these two veterans on the bill.”

The core of the Moonlight Dance Band remains. Fronted by guitarist Wyckoff, the band is anchored by pianist and fellow composer Winston Wallace, Kirk Brown on bass, Gary “Doc” Maas on drums and Michael “Alphonse” Meredith on percussion.

Wyckoff said a lot of new original compositions will be showcased at the November Copia concert. He said it will also serve to preview a pair of new CDs currently being recorded — Wyckoff’s “Emerald Mountain” and pianist Wallace’s “Bossa en La Noche.”

Wallace’s songs are reminiscent of the classic jazz of Cannonball Adderly and Antonio Carlos Jobim, with simple melodies and two-part horn harmonies over traditional Latin rhythms, Wyckoff pointed out. “Wallace states emphatically, ‘It’s all about the melody.’”

Wyckoff  said his material is more fusion oriented, combining rhythm and blues with sambas in ornate arrangements. One of the Moonlight Dance Band fans told Wyckoff his style can best be described as “Pat Metheny meets Steely Dan.”

Each new CD has one cover tune — Wallace’s version of Freddie Hubbard’s “Red Clay,” and Wyckoff’s samba-style take-off on the Beatles’ “Mr. Kite” from “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Both songs will be featured at next week’s Copia concert.

Copia officials pointed out the Moonlight Dance Band is full of energy and fun, with the celebrity horn section adding an extra kick.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. concert are $25 and can be ordered by logging onto www.copia.org or phoning 259-1600. For additional band information, call Wine Country Music at 944-0101.