Celebrating Travis Carlton’s 40th birthday, father/guitarist Larry Carlton and bassist son lit the Baked Potato like a birthday cake with a bluesy wailing 75 minute set of celebration. Both Larry and Travis took turns as emcees, telling stories and reminiscences between songs with a simpatico party members Paulie Cerra/ts-voc, Jeff Babko/key-tb and Gary Novak/dr
Emphasizing the blues side of life, the band took on a funky backbeating read of BB King’s “Never Make Your Move” with Cerra’s vintage earthy vocals matching his smoky tenor along with Papa Carlton’s licks tastier than a Tootsie Roll Pop and Babko’s keys swirling in soulful sweat. Travis and Novak dug a deep shuffle groove as Cerra growled out a searing “Ain’t No Way” before dad turned the lights down low for a smokey and steamy hazed read of John Kay’s “Easy Evil”. Carlton’s strings agonized with each note, while the mix of gospel and Memphis on Ray Charles’ “Hard Times” had dad preaching with six strings and Cerra wailing behind the pulpit.
As far as instrumentals, the rhythm section seared out a rivulet of a relentless groove on the Crusaders’
Nite Crawler that reminded the audience of a time when pop music snapped and rock rolled. Babko pulled out his trombone to ad to the Soul Train factor of “Well’s Gone Dry” as the lead instruments swayed over the boogaloo beat and Cerra’s yackety sax did the funky chicken. Every solo the Larry Carlton did during these tunes sounded just right; each note and line was a perfect mix of logic and surprise.
As the Carlton family and party guests closed out with the swinging and upbeat “335”, the elder Carlton joked “I’m semi-retired and am trying to keep up with these cats” while boasting how proud he was of his son’s playing and character. Judging by the evening of blowing out the b lues candles, I’m not sure who was keeping up with whom!
The Carltons will be at the Baked Potato until 04/-8. After that we get a Jeff Porcaro Tribute 04/10, Chad Wackerman 04/14, Jeff Lorber Fusion 04/15-16, Bob Reynolds 04/21 and Philip Sayce 04/22-23