“I’m thrilled, because for the first time in years, I’m actually the youngest member of the band!”
So joked 75 year old drummer Joe La Barbera between songs during the 90 minute set at the Baked Potato, with brother Pat (79) and lifetime friends Tony Levin (77) and fratello Peter (81).
The four friends have grown up together and shared careers wide and varied, including stints with Bill Evans, Woody Herman, King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, Buddy Rich, Elvin Jones and Gil Evans. “We’ve known each other for over 50 years, but we just started touring last week” added the famous drummer with tongue in cheek.
The opening set consisted of songs and stories from the various parts of each member’s career. Thus, bassist Tony Levin went back into his bebop roots and sizzled with Pat’s tenor on a snappy take of Oscar Pettiford’s “Tricotism”. Throughout the entire evening, the bassist best associated with King Crimson and Peter Gabriel was smiling and inspired, beaming with joy being able to tap into the music of his first love. He also gave a swinging and funky feel to Peter Gabriel’s “Don’t Give Up” with Pat sleekly soloing on the EWI, exchanging ideas and melodies with Peter on the keyboards.
Peter’s own keyboards were soulful and spacey around the deep drum/bass groove laid down for an irresistible “Out of Darkness”, while leading the way through some Bill Evansy soloing on an elegant take of “Scarborough Fair”, with brother Tony bowing and picking out graceful ideas.
Joe took us back to his days with Bill Evans as brother Pat made his EWI sound like a breezy harmonica on a gliding “Kind Of Bill”, while he worked in a drum solo during the angular “Five” that was like listening to silk. A take of “Little Sunflower” had the drum/bass combo created a rivulet of rhythm for expressive solos on piano and EWI, just before Pat switched to tenor and tapped into his days with Elvin J ones on a tropical calypso rumble supplied by his brother on “Island Birdie”.
“We’re learning as we play” confided the younger La Barbera during the celebrated reunion, with older brother Pat admitting, “this band was my excuse to come out to see Joe”. While the packed house seemed most desirous to see the Gabriel/Crimson bassist, everyone in attendance left the Potato realizing that it’s not a single musician that was celebrated, but a style of music that was the marrow of these four longtime and eternal friends that people will remember.
Upcoming shows include Ruggiero Plays Monk 01/10, Bob Reynolds 01/11, Ernie Watts 01/13 and Mike Keneally 01/18-19