BluesWax Spotlight On

Dr. John and The Blind Boys of Alabama

Spirituals to Funk Tour

November 8, 2012

Fine Arts Center at UMASS

Amherst, Massachusetts

By Eric Sutter

Two icons of American music collaborated on the first ever “Spirituals To Funk” concert that is touring America this Autumn. Dr. John is an ambassador of of all things New Orleans as his music testifies flawlessly. The swampy gris gris of “Iko, Iko” revved up the Lower 911 Band he tours with. He showcased music from his latest CD, Locked Down, due out this April. “Revolution” and “Big Shot” had a slight departure from style with a hip R&B sound geared up with a younger set of musicians. Trombone solos by Sarah Morrow were hot. Dressed in a purple suit and fancy hat, Dr. John pounded the funky strutter “Right Place, Wrong Time” with it’s throbbed rhythms of funk ecstasy which plunged the audience over the edge. “Such A Night” delivered a smooth blues-streaked soul sound with solid piano intro and outros by Dr. John.

Photo by Michael Wilson

The tone was set as the gold-suited Blind Boys of Alabama shuffled into their sacred ground and sang the spiritual “People Get Ready” with a sweet slide guitar solo by John Fohl. Their pure-hearted harmonies humbled and moved the audience to sing and sway. “Spirit In The Sky” had everbody rockin’ true. Dr. John backed them on keyboards for the fantastic dazzle of “There Will Be A Light.” The gospel rave-up “Free At Last” percolated to a vibrant zenith with group member Jimmy Carter‘s highmark vocals… musical pairings don’t come more inspired. This integrated show explored the connections between jazz, blues, and gospel. As the opening chords to “House Of The Rising Sun” began, the Blind Boys sang America’s favorite hymn “Amazing Grace” to it with Dr. John’s triumphant keyboard solo adding dimension.

The folk standard “If I Had A Hammer” turned into a glorious gospel jazz-handed stomper. Dr. John soloed rock ‘n’ roll guitar on “Let The Good Times Roll”… talk about punch! Bass player David Barard jazzed a funky bass solo. He sang lead on a bluesy spirited “When The Saints Go Marching In” with Blind Boy harmony. They encored with the gospel standard “Since I Laid My Burdens Down” for the send off.

Simply Glorious!

Eric Sutter is a contributing writer at BluesWax.