It was a beautiful setting yesterday afternoon in Salem, MA for the Salem Jazz & Soul Fest. A cool little band shell/stage was outdoors, nestled beside the harbor where sail boats rocked lazily to the music. The sun was shining through a few clouds and all was well because when we arrived, Charles Neville, the soulful sax player who is one of the Neville Brothers, was playing with his band. As they were swinging out on some wonderful jazz tunes the people were really listening. It was quite nice, but every one was sitting down in their chairs. After Charles it was our turn to play, but jazz wasn’t in our vocabulary. Brass funk rock was, and it turned out just like we like it. People on their feet moving and grooving in front of the band, communicating with us in a non-verbal way. Yea you right!
It was fun having Michael League playing bass with us. Check out his band Snarky Puppy. Of course the young powerhouse drummer, Alvin Ford, was bam bamming with us. “It wasn’t nuthin nice,” as they say in N.O. and that’s a good thing. -ck
One Set:
By Athenish
Bap Bap
Shake Your Rugalator
I’m In Love Again
Baronne
Funky Brown Shorts
Big Fine Woman
What You See
Soul On Fire
Whipping Post
Down By The Riverside
Encore:
The Ocean
Credits: Photo 1 – @AdamIcculus via Twitter; Photo 2 – @SoozyGreenberg via Twitter
