KG in the house once again! This time with an all new band and the precision and speed are still up to par. “3rd Quadrant is on hit and the set is off and flowin’ at top speed. It was fire from the start, just like a race driver punching fifth gear right off the bat. Rocking, rolling, swaying and spittin’ all kinds of notes, Kenny is known for his high power intensity. The wall of fire is electrifying!
On piano, Carlton King was tearing it up. The tune was in eight and his fingers were splayed like Sphere and bangin’ like Chuch! A man I have seen before, Kris Funn, on bass was moving up and down the neck with ease. Thumping and plucking and keeping the bottom tight!
Kenny seems to find
the most remarkable drummers. Each different, but all with the most
intense energy that you have not seen in a very long time. That
intensity is not a prerequisite but a given when it comes to a Kenny
Garrett quartet. The word that best describes this band is FIERCE! On
fire from the start. If you were a novice, you would have been blown
out the back of the club with only your silhouette left in the wall. I
guess that it is good that all of those who dawn upon
The band is working
hard but, having fun at the same time. I heard KG with a little “Oh Do
Da Daa” quote that made some of us smile from ear to ear. This band is
cohesive and they all feel and are a part of the music, they came to
play. Kenny runs a tight ship and his team is lookin’ like Shaq,
“GTDS” Kenny is
always giving the drummer some freedom to do his thing as they exchange
phrases in a language many understand but only few can speak. It was
like looking back and watching two cats on the corner of
Circular breathing, echoing screams of beauty. Kenny constantly maintains to be the driving force exuding wisdom, knowledge and power. I can imagine that his presence amongst his peers causes those who can to step up and those who can’t to head back to the shed.
There are no breaks with this band. One tune ends and the other begins. Straight into a funky groove. My man on bass is all over it. One cat in the audience is moving around so much I can see the puppet strings. KG’s horn is like KRS One on the mic. Rappin’ like we were at a hip-hop concert. He tunes it down into a mellow solo and his alto sounds lovely. The encore was hot! That horn was screamin’ so much you would think that
S.W.A.T was going to show up! All in all it is certainly a performance not to miss.
I’m out. I need a neck massage!
LeRoy Downs
