Yes, true, modern medicine and healthier lifestyles are ensuring that we’re living longer on average and as a result 60 is the new 40, 70 is the new 50, 80 is the new 60, et al. But even for those whose bodies are in great shape for their age, whoever heard of an 85-year-old whose mission for his life is not only to keep doing what he loves but continuing to Dance on Through?
That’s the motion filled, ultra-optimistic title of legendary session drummer James Gadson’s latest gift to our musical culture, as well as one of the most irresistible tracks on his debut EP as a vocalist, a buoyant, gritty and brassy, blues-fired, tension and release filled barn burner which pretty much screams, in great defiance, “Retire? Me? For What?”
Say the “r word” and Gadson’s likely to give you that harsh, “You Kidding?” look. Decades after first laying down the grooves on the soundtrack songs of our lives by Bill Withers (“Use Me,” “Lean On Me”), Diana Ross (“Love Hangover”), The Jackson 5 (“Dancing Machine”), Marvin Gaye (“I Want You”), Cheryl Lynn (“Got to Be Real”) and literally hundreds of others, he’s not only still grooving it up, he’s singing mightily and grittily and ever on these five infectious, tasty and yeah, funky as all get out tunes.
While reminding old school R&B fans he was also a damn good singer when he contributed vocals with Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band, Gadson is also bound to gain younger soul and Americana enthusiasts with a hip, energized project that belies the legend’s chronological age and reminds us that once music is in the blood, it’s there for as long as life and health endures. In recent years, that’s allowed his power as a drummer to be part of three Beck albums, two Mindi Abair projects and the D’Angelo song “Sugah Daddy” in 2014.
The fact that fellow veteran sideman, guitarist and bassist Jerry Stucker, produced the EP is beautiful payback. Back in 2007, Gadson was one of the drummers on Stucker’s album It’s All A Groove. Stucker also plays electric bass as part of a hard driving ensemble featuring Neil Larsen on organ, Ron Romero on guitar, Reggie McBride on upright bass, Karl Perazzo on congas and Bill Summers on percussion.
In addition to the aforementioned title track, Dance on Through thrives from the get-go with the hypnotic percussion/bass slap intro to House Jack, which allows Gadson’s colorful, conversational vocals and whimsical storytelling skills to shine without much adornment. One of the verses kind of says it all about the collection and what the drummer and singer bring to it: “a little bit of rhythm, a little bit of sweet soul blues. . .sweet satisfaction, he’s got nothing to prove!” As Gadson gets into the character, his lead vocals are enhanced by some subtle doo-wop harmonies. Next, “Swamp Town” is perfectly named, a dark-tinged, snappy steel guitar rock edged R&B/blues romp with a relentless Gadson groove surrounded by front porch ambiences.
On the moody, bluesy, tightly grooving mid-tempo ballad “Yes Sir,” the singer relates to others who have been through the dark, lonely places after a seemingly perfect woman turns out to be a game player and deserter. The closer “Work What You Got,” is a propulsive, furious bass, drum and organ driven jam which offers advice to folks who feel they’ve gotten something of a raw deal in life when others are born with a silver spoon: “Shoot your best shot” and do the best you can with what fate gives you. Needless to say, lovers of funk, blues and soul will be blessed by the fact that James Gadson is still working his multitudes of magic with what he’s got at the ripe young age of 85!
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