Robben Ford and his band mates Michael Landau, Gary Novak and Jimmy Haslip blew the roof off of Jazz Alley Friday night in a pair of sets that had everybody in the joint talking. The energy on stage flowed over into the audience and right back up to the musicians as all members delivered jaw-dropping high-energy and technically staggering solo after solo.
Both Ford and Landau were on it vocally on the tunes with lyrics, and there are some great vocal tunes on this upcoming CD, but the solos on this evening were the kind that wreck your brain in a most delightful way. Each of this guitarists is a monster player. Each has a unique style. Together on the same stage playing with a rhythm section comprised of jazz legend drummer Gary Novak and fusion bassist Jimmy Haslip, these guys were on fire!
None of the musicians in this line-up ever let their individual technical virtuosity get in the way of laying down some serious groove permeated and driven forward with intense enegry and a sense of expectation that had the audience spellbound and caught in the moment at a place witnessing an event that will likely stick with them for some time. Landau can shred with the best of them, but showed over these two shows just how sweetly he can handle a blues ballad. Ford has always been about note selection as opposed to flat-out speed, but showed that he can take it there too. Haslip's final solo of the night was likewise inpsired and energetic. This was absolutely one of those nights.
You know it's been a special night when people you've never met turn to you and simply cannot contain themselves and have to express their amazement and astonishment. On this night, this happened in the venue, outside in the parking lot, and on the street on my way back to the hotel. Thank you Robben, Michael, Jimmy and Gary.
These guys are at Jazz Alley for three more shows, two on Saturday and one to close out their stand on Sunday. If you already have plans to be somewhere else, change them. You will be glad you did.
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