Live

Light Of The World: Jazz Café 12/09/08

Certainly these guys would be mentioned on the lips of anyone who knows anything about “Brit-Funk” or even the Jazz Funk Movement at all...

Without a doubt these guys are my favourite UK Funk outfits and I’ve been fortunate to have the acquaintance of Mr. Gee Bello one of the lead voices from LOTW for some years now.

Without giving away my own age I will say I’m old enough to have bopped down to Record Corner in Balham and pick up a copy of 'Round Trip' on Vinyl during my lunch break from School (is that Junior or Senior School Beat?;)). I clearly remember going back to school with it in my bag and getting major props. That was after hearing the track London Town on Radio Invicta in 1980 which sent me mad as I’d never heard a song pay homage to London in this way before that was so relatable.

As I arrive and I work my way through the crowd to find a decent spot, the track 'Time' is thumping away and you can tell that - as the first number, this gig is gonna be a banger. When I go to these type of gigs I like to move around the crowd so I catch the mood and observe the interaction of the artist and crowd. It’s a fair comment that LOTW are seasoned professional musicians who know all too well how to interact and relate to their audience. Gee Bello and Nat Augustine both talk to their audience in a personable manner that provokes a warm response and makes them instantly likeable characters.

The 2nd song we were informed was the title track from the 1982 LP 'Check Us Out' and hadn’t been performed live in 26 years. With trepidation Gee counted it in and the song began... To be honest I don’t know what all the fuss was it sounded like it was a regular play listed track that the band played many times.
By the end of that track the band had well and truly warmed-up, the musicians were working up a sweat and the audience had started dancing which is an unusual sight for me to witness THIS group doing.

Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t all a “Dad’s club” gig, there was some honeys there checking me out checking them out and I went where the dancing was as this is where the best vibes were at. Next up was 'Swinging,' another fabulous track and by now you could see the band and audience had all settled in to the rhythm and both parties were enjoying themselves.

Nat Augustine one of the original members introduces the next track, Bob Marleys’ 'I Shot The Sheriff' "but with a distinct difference – this version got funk!" With that the crowd explode in to a rapturous applause, they obviously love this one. Then they lead on to a very familiar baseline and riff. Both my guest and I who are Breakbeat aficionados and can usually name that tune within the first bar or two clocked this and said that’s what Tupac used then sat there for about a minute before we realized it was Bobby Caldwells’ 'What You Won’t Do For Love.' What a wicked rendition, Nat Augustin delivered an absolutely fantastic vocal on this track that blew my mind. As much as I like LOTW I never knew that they had covered this track let alone owned it - this truly deserved it's standing ovation.

Next up 'Number 1 Girl,' which is a classic. This would have been the extended Maxi 12” mix if it were the Vinyl release. This is the track that rocked it and where the band were introduced to the audience. Gee went through the band and each member done their solo. First up was the Saxophonist Patrick Clahar who had been poached from Incognito, lawd that boy can blow!! Then came the rest of the horn section Colin 'Thunder' Graham & Darren Wiles. Carlton White was on BV’s and support percussion, obviously the ladies like him as there were a few screams when he was introduced. Next up was the bad boy of the Bass Mr Derrick McIntyre formerly of Jamariquai who made my friend very jealous as he’s learning to play bass right now and Derrick made it all look very easy.

The next solo was my personal favourite, Mel Gaynor the drummer from Simple Minds. WOW-O-WOW-WEE!!! What an outstanding drummer. To follow Mel the Keyboard player Mike Tauben was introduced to us with his golden fingers, another gifted individual and you can really begin to see the tightness and camaraderie between these musicians – all excellent in their own rights but when flung together make for an awesome explosive combination of FUNK! Nat Augustine steps up to plate and introduces himself and gives the audience a demonstration as to why he is Co-Lead Vocalist/Guitarist. He starts licking out some sweet soul riffs then goes into the most complicated Jazzy George Benson-esque scat style of singing, by repeating the identical line he’s playing on the guitar with his voice in a guitar solo, I’ve ever heard. These guys really know how to break it down.

Finally the spotlight shines on Gee Bello and his construction of quinto & tumba congas / timbales / bell trees / wind chimes / crash & ride cymbals / cowbells and many other tricks of the percussive trade. This guy must have been a member of The Incredible Bongo Band me thinks? The solo’s end in a crescendo of all players jumping back in to the groove – on point and picking up the song where they were prior to this outburst and with Nat, Gee & Carlton finishing neatly with a warm 3 part vocal harmony to close the song. I want this version on Vinyl!!

Penultimate track, is a cover of Maze’s 'Before I Let Go.' As tight as Maze themselves this was a wonderful rendition of the classic. The finalé track was 'I’m So Happy' which was executed with military fashion - precise, on beat and as warm & funky as you’d expect from a band that are almost 30 years deep.

LOTW return to the stage to tease the crowd by asking “Do wanna hear some more?“ The reply is a roared unison of “LONDON TOWN!” “Well alright then!” says Nat. In comes the familiar bass line then the rest of the guys all jump in as the Anthem of many a Soul weekender kicks off. Gee sings but struggles to be heard over the crowd as they know this one and are all singing verbatim, so he starts to play with the crowd getting the girls to sing "I wanna party in London Town” on the one and the guys coming back and singing “I wanna Parteeee” on the off beat. Did I say these guys know how to rock a crowd?

It takes experience charisma and charm to dazzle an audience and to get them to participate in some vocal banter as a performer, but LOTW made it appear to be easy and seamless. I walked away thinking they were more than capable of performing for another hour. This is my gig of the Month. 9/10

Pictures by Calina. For more of the same go to Calina Photography
Words THE BEAT GENIUS