At Blue Note Tokyo
BFM, 2021
8/10
Quite possibly the best session and studio drummer of all time, the legendary Steve Gadd brings David Spinozza, Jimmy Johnson, Kevin Hays and Walt Fowler along for this journey, where 9 tracks are selected over 2 sets played on 1 night at the world renowned Blue Note Tokyo club.
“Where’s Earth” starts the listen with plenty of mystery as Gadd’s proficient drumming anchors the playful bass from Johnson, Hays’ strategic keys and bluesy solos from Spinozza’s guitar, and “Doesn’t She Know By Now” follows with a timeless jazz quality that benefits greatly from Fowler’s soulful trumpet.
Residing near the middle is “One Point Five”, where Gadd’s lone solo lands amid the rhythmic textures and healthy amount of melody, while “Hidden Drive” is not short on grooves and moves with precise interaction on the Spinozza original. “Walk With Me”, a particularly exceptional tune, then finds a funky place to exist where Hays contributes keys and soulful vocals that you can’t help but be in awe of.
The last two tracks don’t disappoint either, as “Rat Race” delivers cautious funk fun and “Watching The River Flow” exits with a frisky, blues version of the Bob Dylan tune that again puts Hays’ strong pipes on display.
If you’re a fan of Gadd, you’ll be happy to know that 3 of the 9 tracks here are originals that have never been released or recorded by this band, and if this is your first experience with the drummer extraordinaire, you’re in luck, cause it’s another very high point in an exceptional catalog of music.
Travels well with: Dan Bonsanti And The 14 Jazz Orchestra- Cartoon Bebop; Jeff Ellwood- The Sounds Around The House