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Article on Larry's and GCS performance at the Hollywood Bowl |
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playbassnow.com/Newsletters/mayjune10.htm Bluesandsoul.com 4/25/2010 www.bluesandsoul.com/live_item/149/larry_graham_and_the_graham_central_station_koko__250410/ Thanks to Kris Keijser and The A-List PRESS MAP LARRY GRAHAM def.pdf Review from Denmark - gaffa.dk/anmeldelse/38846 - with google english translation. Years concert. Graham's bass blasted Amager Bio in the air. Funkers grand man, the god pardoned bassist Larry Graham, is not without reason been called the Jimi Hendrix bass. The man who, as former drummer invented slap bass and formed the school for many of the world's most famous bassists. What he can do with the bass is pure magic, and all who had come to the now 64-year-olds second visit on Danish soil, got a decent game magic-funk and a huge experience of a lifetime. Did set the tone right from the start After an exhilarating different hall in a procession with his white-clad band through the crowd struck Graham and the new Graham Central Station a back hair travelers delicious funk-groove depends on just the right kind. The hall was filled by a mature audience, as you could see was not alien to what they had in store. What they actually got, surpassed all expectations. not least this notification. I'm still shocked. Set-DP was a super tight drummer (Brian Rio Brazil), two keys (including Jimmy Jay), an accomplished guitarist (Zynamite), a percussionist / singer (Ashling called Bisquit, the only woman) and of course LG even in its space-bass with attached microphone. Larry's bass was not run through the audio system, I was later told. He went on "behind-gear" through two giant speakers right behind him, and his bass sounded fantastic. The small ensemble delivered an astonishingly robust sound. Graham's extremely crisp voice is a chapter in itself. One of the most original and authentic funk-vowels and had not changed one iota. It was a party right from the start and was playing crazy loud, but the sound was good and the show was mesmerizing from start to finish, so you forgot to stick in the ears. It still rings in my ears the following day. Rock'n'Roll or more suitable Funk'n'Soul. A parade of hits Graham had plenty of funk classics to offer. Not least because he has been the bassist for Sly & The Family Stone. We came with a funky-train ride to Graham Central Station with hits including Hair. Then came a version of I Can not Stand The Rain, where the female singer called Bisquit impressed to such an extent that we came to think of Chaka Khan and Tina Turner. She stood on the whole not return for the men on stage in funkyness and was a major driving force throughout. Then they played Stevie Higher Ground, which is made for Graham, followed by a trip back in time when Larry challenged the Danish fans to name a Sly & The Family Stone number, he could not play. Then they would: Family Affair, Hot Fun In The Summertime, Everyday People, If You wan't Me Higher. Especially drummer was impressive clever. He sacked by in a solo, so one would think he had eight arms and three feet. There was only one bass drum pedal. Australia's got talent When they came to Dance To The Music, there was something really wacky. Graham asked if there was anyone in the audience who would be up on stage and give it gas. Anybody want to com get some? The first who showed up were Al Campos, the super-talented American soul singer, who lives in Denmark. He fired a couple of well-lirede stanzas of which made us all proud. A guy came up and asked for permission to play a little keyboard, they made room for him and so he fired it off, so we thought it was a lie. He was followed by a guy who asked for permission to play on bass master, and again it was impressively well. There was a young kid who made human beat-box. OK courageously passed and a guy on something scatsang. But it was two white-guys on sax and trumpet, as so delivered something the band was lacking to make this trip back to the original sound complete, as a horn section. Graham was so happy and impressed that he simply insisted that the boys went and played with the rest of the concert. I came to Denmark and got myself a hornsection! proclaimed Graham happy. So cool. Well done, Denmark. Those who saw him live at the Park in 1998 and incidentally has followed him, must have known that this moment would come in concert. The party was not over. Already halfway through the two and a half hour long concert told Graham that the band had been looking forward to partying with the Danish audience, and was laid up for a long night, so we might well call babysitters now. He liked what he promised. After the wonderful performance with the audience, fired the Sly Stone Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf agin) by. How Graham, among other things took off his bass down amidst the audience and played one of his numerous slammin 'bass solos. At times when the music was hardest and most pointed on a hard rock concert, Graham went completely berserk and Hendrix-bass rubbed up the speakers and stands. It was crazy how much noise he can do. Boring, he was not. When the concert ended, walked Graham and band in procession through the audience, the same way they had entered. Of course, they were folded and pep back of a mega-enthusiastic audience. The concert was fortunately not close to a go-home soul. No way. The band kicked once in a crazy funky-synth-groove, which was a hit. It was not hard to see how, for example, Prince got his inspiration. So were all those who wanted, invited up on stage to dance, and Graham made his hallmark countdown from four and then fired the I Want To Take You Higher by an Amager Bio in complete ecstasy. Year concert It can not be better. A funk-explosion with a real string of best hits, a variety show in close interaction with the audience, improvised surprises, an unmatched ability to whip up a mood, not least musically talented of all the money. What a showman. This concert will never be forgotten. Larry, come back soon. |
