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Steve Gadd's "Live at Voce" (Deluxe Edition)

Source: Chris M. Slawecki
November 7, 2010
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One of the most recorded drummers of all time, Steve Gadd has worked with everyone from

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea to

Paul Simon

composer / conductor
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Simon,

Maynard Ferguson

trumpet
1928 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Maynard Ferguson to

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Clapton. When it comes to his own projects, Gadd loves to play good-time groove music that has the danceable qualities and bluesiness of the best R&B along with the adventurous solos and impeccable musicianship of jazz.

On Live At Voce (Deluxe Edition), Gadd is joined by

Joey DeFrancesco

organ, Hammond B3
1971 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Joey DeFrancesco (arguably the World's greatest organist), the passionate baritone-saxophonist

Ronnie Cuber

saxophone
1941 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Ronnie Cuber, and the versatile guitarist Paul Bollenbeck. Together they create grooves and hard-driving swing that are reminiscent of the best organ groups of the 1960s including an early

George Benson

guitar
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">George Benson band that featured Cuber. The infectious rhythms, catchy material, and colorful ensembles make this band impossible to resist.

For this project the quartet, which has been together since 2007, is heard at a popular club in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Watching The River Flow," which is based on “Swanee River," has exciting solos by all four musicians. The one-chord vamp “Way Back Home" gives Ronnie Cuber a chance to preach on his horn. “Undecided" is taken at a burning tempo that is perfect for the musicians, with DeFrancesco showing why he is considered the master of his instrument. “Bye Bye Blackbird" starts out with a surprising duet between Gadd on brushes and DeFrancesco, who is heard on a muted trumpet a la

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis. “Them Changes" finds the group rocking out on an R&B groove that alternates with some furious straight ahead jamming.

Cuber is featured on a heartfelt rendition of “Georgia On My Mind." “Back At The Chicken Shack" has the Gadd band returning to the blues, really digging into the music. Horace Silver's “Sister Sadie" is given quite a ride by the musicians, with this being the most stirring performance of the heated set.

As a bonus, the deluxe version of Live At Voce concludes with a pair of intriguing duets ("Here I Am Now" and “Down") by Gadd and singer/songwriter Edie Brickell. Gadd and Brickell lead the newly formed band, The Gaddabouts, featuring Andrew Fairweather Low and Pino Palladino.

About The Musicians:

Steve Gadd has had a remarkable career during the past 40 years, and there are no signs that he plans to slow down. He began playing drums when he was three, sat in with

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie at the age of 11, and became a major studio drummer in 1972. Since then his countless number of recordings include important sessions with

Chuck Mangione

flugelhorn
1940 - 2025

" data-original-title="" title="">Chuck Mangione,

Bill Watrous

trombone
1939 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Watrous, Jim Croce,

Joe Farrell

saxophone
1937 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Farrell, Bette Midler,

Chet Baker

trumpet and vocals
1929 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Chet Baker,

Phoebe Snow

vocals
1952 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Phoebe Snow,

Bob James

piano
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob James,

Hubert Laws

woodwinds
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Hubert Laws,

Herbie Mann

flute
1930 - 2003

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Mann,

George Benson

guitar
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">George Benson,

David Sanborn

saxophone
1945 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">David Sanborn,

Paul Simon

composer / conductor
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Simon,

Tom Scott

saxophone, tenor
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Tom Scott,

Chick Corea

piano
1941 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Chick Corea, Grover Washington Jr,

Jim Hall

guitar
1930 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Hall,

Maynard Ferguson

trumpet
1928 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Maynard Ferguson, Al DiMeola,

Carla Bley

piano
1938 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Carla Bley, Judy Collins,

Stanley Clarke

bass
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Stanley Clarke, Stuff,

Joe Cocker

vocals
1944 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Cocker, the

Brecker Brothers

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Brecker Brothers,

Dave Grusin

piano
b.1934

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Grusin,

Charles Mingus

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Mingus,

Eddie Daniels

clarinet
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Eddie Daniels,

Weather Report

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Weather Report,

Lee Ritenour

guitar
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Ritenour,

Michael Franks

vocals
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Franks, Carly Simon,

Steely Dan

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Steely Dan,

Al Jarreau

vocals
1940 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Al Jarreau, Grover Washington Jr, the

The Manhattan Transfer

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">The Manhattan Transfer,

Paul McCartney

bass, electric
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul McCartney,

Frank Sinatra

vocals
1915 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Sinatra,

Diana Ross

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Diana Ross,

James Brown

vocals
1933 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">James Brown, the

Manhattan Jazz Quintet

" data-original-title="" title="">Manhattan Jazz Quintet and

Natalie Cole

vocals
1950 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Natalie Cole plus the

Gadd Gang

" data-original-title="" title="">Gadd Gang. Just in the past year, Gadd has toured and recorded with Eric Clapton,

James Taylor Quartet

organ, Hammond B3

" data-original-title="" title="">James Taylor Quartet, Alain Clark and Edie Brickell.

Joey DeFrancesco is largely responsible for the Hammond B-3 organ making a comeback in the 1990s. The son of organist Papa John DeFrancesco, Joey began sitting in at his father's gigs when he was just six. He learned from the masters, befriended Jimmy Smith, and toured with Miles Davis right after his high school graduation in 1988. His brilliant playing and enthusiasm led to the organ, which had been neglected in favor of electric keyboards, being restored to its former place of prominence. His success has led to many other young organists entering the scene, but Joey DeFrancesco still ranks at the very top.

Baritonist Ronnie Cuber, whose deep guttural tone is influenced by the late

Pepper Adams

saxophone, baritone
1930 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Pepper Adams, has been a major force on his instrument since the 1960s. His stints with the Maynard Ferguson big band and with George Benson made him well known in the jazz world. In recent years he has often been heard with the Mingus Big Band.

Guitarist Paul Bollenback started playing music when he was seven. Originally a rock player, he changed his musical direction after hearing Miles Davis. He has been associated with Joey DeFrancesco off and on since the early 1990s and has also worked with

Mark Murphy

vocals
1932 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Murphy,

Gary Thomas

saxophone
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Thomas,

Ron Holloway

saxophone, tenor
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Holloway,

Joe Locke

vibraphone
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Locke,

Houston Person

saxophone, tenor
b.1934

" data-original-title="" title="">Houston Person, Geoff Keezer,

Jim Snidero

saxophone, alto
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Snidero,

Jack McDuff

organ, Hammond B3
1926 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack McDuff, and

Tony Monaco

organ, Hammond B3
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Monaco.

Steve Gadd's Live At Voce lives up to its great potential, resulting in bluesy music that is both accessible and superbly played by four master musicians.

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