Calgary based jazz and roll band the Bluesland Horn Band reminded an attentive audience just how much fun they had at last year’s Lethbridge Jazz Festival was by returning to the Slice, April 2 for a superb horn heavy show.
While there was riveting raspy, belted out vocals some hot harp playing and tasteful guitar playing, this show was all about the brass.
They reminded me a lot of bands like Blood, Sweat and Tears and Downchild Blues band and indeed even played Downchild’s “I’ve Got Everything I Need (Almost).
They whole band was totally into their energetic and very tight set, which had people dancing in the aisles. They played jazz influenced classics and a few tracks from the excellent new CD “ Radio Waves” including one of my favourites “Ragtime Willie,” which lead singer/ harp player Marty Cochrane described as “a song about a place like this.”
The horn section switched between several different horns, but concentrated on saxophones.
Fluid basslines locked in with the drums flowed throughout the set which got those toes tapping.
A hot version of blues classic“ I’m Tore Down” was a highlight as was Boz Scaggs’ “Runnin’ Blue.”
There were a lot of hot blues numbers including Albert Collins “ Honey Hush.”
Throughout their set they had a steady, sexy ’60s blues boogie feel exemplified by “I Love You, I Need You , I Want You.”
They wound down their second set with “Bad Business,” from their third CD and took a break to the tune of the gutsy blues of “Hey Bartender.”
Their third set was heavy on the funk and rhythm and blues music.
They began it with a upbeat “ Happy Hop” and tackled James Brown‘s “ Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” and the slower soulful Curtis Mayfield hit “People Get Ready.”
