Steve Gadd Band: 70 Strong

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Walt Fowler (t, flhn)
Steve Gadd (d)
Jimmy Johnson (b)
Michael Landau (g)
Larry Goldings (p, org)

Label:

BFM Jazz

June/2015

Catalogue Number:

302 062 492 2

RecordDate:

3-9 April 2014

Yup, you read it right, Steve Gadd is now into his eighth decade. But if anyone can keep the tyranny of time at bay, it's this master timekeeper. Employing the same splendid band that graced the highly enjoyable Gadditude, 70 Strong shares many of the same strengths: sophisticated grooves, organic shared interplay, an intimate knowledge of each other's virtues and a sheer joy in playing. Contrary to misjudged stereotypes, this band doesn't revel in velocity or volume. Instead, space and intimacy are the keynotes. Goldings' keys lace the vibe together, his organ swelling subtly beneath the tight urgency of ‘Sly Boots’, or glistening beneath the Steely Dan vibe of ‘Foam Home’. But each constituent part has its funksome virtue: be it the barely noticeable bottleneck on the Miles-inflected ‘Freedom Jazz Dance’ or the moody accordion on ‘Written In Stone’. The more this band takes it down, the tighter they get. Here's to the next eight decades.

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