Steve Gadd Band - At Blue Note Tokyo

Steve Gadd Band - At Blue Note Tokyo - BFM Jazz

This 2019 live recording from the Blue Note in Tokyo showcases the groove-master Steve Gadd. Gadd is, of course, well-known for his presence on many well-known recordings by the likes of Chick Corea, Chuck Mangione, Al Di Meola, and Paul Simon. While Gadd has produced his share of super-intricate, challenging music throughout his five-decade career, on this live date, he was strictly laying a groove in the pocket. He says, "I just love to groove. It's all about just sharing something that feels good." On this recording, he is joined by his band of Walt Fowler on trumpet and flugelhorn, Kevin Hayes on keyboards and vocals, Jimmy Johnson on bass. David Spinozza replaced Gadd's regular guitarist Michael Landau during the Tokyo engagement. 

One should not be surprised that this is a well-played fusion-tinged recording with some feet tapping music starting with "Where's Earth?" from Hays, Landau, and Duke Gadd. It showcases Fowler's evocative muted trumpet, Hays keyboards, and Spinozza's thoughtful guitar playing. Spinozza contributed a lovely Caribbean-laced ballad which Fowler's lyrical trumpet while Hays contributes a vibes-sounding background. There is more Latin flavor on Fowler's "Timpanogos," which is followed by Spinozza's blues "Hidden Drive," a moody performance benefiting from the unhurried, thoughtful playing from the band members. There is also a marvelously atmospheric rendition of the Crusaders' "Way Back Home," which may be the high point of this recording.

Jimmy Johnson's Latin-jazz composition "One Point Five," is the only performance on which Gadd takes a solo, following solid playing from Fowler and Hays. Hays sings on two songs, including a rollicking treatment of Bob Dylan's "Watching the River Flow," that closes this tasteful and very appealing recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist.com. Here is an earlier performance of "Way Back Home" by the Steve Gadd Band.

Wee Willie Walker & The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra - Not In My Lifetime -

Wee Willie Walker & The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra - Not In My Lifetime - Blue Dot Records

Listening to a recording as good as "Not in My Lifetime" is bittersweet, knowing that there will be no more music from this marvelous soul and blues singer. Wee Willie Walker, who recorded for Goldwax Records decades ago, passed away three days after finishing recording this album. As a brief snippet of an interview with Willie that opens this album indicates, Willie went home feeling joyful after the music before dying in his sleep. It is a follow-up to "After A While," also with Anthony Paule leading the backing. I wrote about that album that it was "an imaginatively programmed and arranged recording, that showcases one of the last original soul singers. We should be thankful he is with us and still sings with all his vocal talent intact on a terrific recording." 

Paule on lead guitar and electric sitar leads a backing band consisting of Tony Lufrano on keyboards, Endre Tarczy on bass, Kevin Hayes. On drums, Derek James on trombone, Bill Ortiz on trumpet, Charles McNeal on tenor saxophone, and Rob Sudduth on baritone saxophone. Background vocals are provided by Larry Batiste, Sandy Griffith, and Omega Rae, with The Sons of the Soul Revivers doing the background on one track. Jon Otis adds percussion to four selections, and Curt Ingram adds french horn to one track. There are ten originals, one an instrumental by Tarczy, and nine songs are by Christine Vitale, mostly in collaboration with Paul and Batiste. One of the covers revives one of his Goldwax recordings, and the other two are songs that go back to Little Willie John.

The music here is consistently top-flight soul and blues with a strong dose of Memphis with a touch of the Philly Sound. The Soul orchestra is tight and pushes a strong groove behind Walker's soul-drenched singing, starting with Walker exhorting his women to "Don't Let Me Get In Your Way," as she tells her friends Willie is not satisfying. The Memphis feel of that opening track shifts to the soul ballad, "Over and Over," with the vocal chorus evoking the Philly sound. Then there is a Latin groove for "Real Good Lie," which punchy horns from Tony Lufrano's horn arrangement while Paule musically dancing with his guitar solo.

"Darling Mine" conjures the classic era of deep Memphis soul with a vocal that has some of the power of the legendary Johnny Taylor. The Sons of the Soul Providers provides a gospel feel for the positive message that we are in this together on "I'm Just Like You," and we should try to find common ground. "Make Your Own Good News" has the feel of a classic Curtis Mayfield recording if it had been recorded at Memphis or Muscle Shoals. I am not familiar with the Goldwax original "Warm To Cool To Cold," but Walker was still preaching his soul at these sessions. It is great to hear the covers of Little Willie John's recordings "Heartbreak" and "Suffering With the Blues," sung with such conviction and backed so wonderfully.

Tarczy's "Almost Memphis" is a funky instrumental that allows the band members to stretch out, followed by "'Til You've Walked In My Shoes," a jazzy-flavored and sophisticated performance with Paule's carefully crafted guitar solo along with Walker's outstanding singing. "Not In My Lifetime" is a recording that will stay in the hearts of soul and blues lovers for many, many years. Wee Willie Walker left us with a stellar recording that is sure to be on many Best of 2021 lists.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a performance by Wee Willie Walker & The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra.

Matt Schofield Has Anything But Time

Anything But Time (Nugene Records) is the latest recording by the relatively young Matt Schofield. Schofield is a triple threat as a songwriter, vocalist and guitarist whose blues has strong funk and jazz elements. His latest effort was recorded in New Orleans and produced by John Porter. On this he is backed by his organ trio of Jonny Henderson on keyboards and Kevin Hayes on drums. Jon Cleary guests on several tracks and producer Porter is on one. Eight of the ten tracks are Schofield originals, with the neither of two covers being over recorded numbers.

With the opening title track it is clear that Schofield has a way with words and how he delivers them as well as fluid guitarist. Henderson’s organ adds another strong instrumental voice on this marvelously paced performance. That pretty much characterizes this entire recording. He may not quite equal Albert King on “Wrapped Up In Love,” but he does place his own spin while displaying some of King’s influence in his tone and playing here. And if Albert King may be a strong influence, the influence has been distilled by Schofield in his own style and approach. The rest of this album is on the same level.

This writer was impressed when seeing Schofield at the 2007 Montreal International Jazz Festival, and that impression is reinforced by this excellent recording. Schofield is a strong convincing vocalist and an superb, imaginative guitarist backed by an excellent band. The result is this marvelous recording, Anything But Time.

I received a review copy from a publicist. Here is Matt Schofield and trio performing one of the songs on this album, Dreaming of You.