You know that the evening at the Sun Rose is going to take music to its root when co-leader and drummer Marcus Baylor started and concluded the 90 minute set by asking the packed house “Let the church say ‘what’”? and the response was an enthusiastic “Amen”.
Husband Marcus and wife Jean Baylor put back the true meaning of “inspiring” music, with an evening that focused on the gospel roots of all meaningful music, in this case jazz. No, it wasn’t a Salvation Army street corner event, with someone passing the plate. Rather the husband/wife team brought fellow congregants Terry Brewer/p-key, Brandon Rose/b, Keith Loftis/ts-ss and Darren Barrett/tp up to the pulpit and collectively brought real “soul” to soul music.
The evening, part revival and part reflection, started rolling with the Jean as smooth as silk, weaving through the gospel shuffle of “We Swing”, with the horns responding like a choir to give the congregation, excuse me, the audience in ‘the mood’. While you can detect a hint of Aretha Franklin’s inflection, Sara Vaughan’s range and Nancy Wilson’s serenity, her voice and delivery is all her own, sweet, smooth and filling like peach kefir, and it’s a perfect combination of Presbyterian style and Pentecostal passion.
Brewer’s glassy ivories gave a Sunday morning feel as he strode through the supporting horns before a voice as luminescent as a church stained glass window glowed out through a serenely impassioned take of the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”, giving a modern feel to a timeless tune. Hubby Marcus then got things rolling down the aisles with a drum solo that slid into a slinky “Tell Me A Story” with the horns used as frames to Jean’s tapestry. Barrett’s trumpet built up the tune, taking Brewer’s soft keys and bringing it to a glorious climax.
Loftis then brought his tenor sax up front and delivered a solo on “Tenderly” that flickered like a candle in the narthex, while Mrs B teamed up with Brewer to unwind the melody like a cat toying with a ball of yarn. Even more entrancing was when the two took on “Praise Song”, with Jean wafting out the simple lyrics that were so embarrassingly intimate that the audience felt like they were intruding on someone’s private prayer time in a closet.
Marcus then felt the spirit moving and teamed with Rose for a bluesy cadence on “2020” that mixed voice and horns like a modern spiritual juxtaposing with late period John Coltrane, with Loftis tearing out sheets of passionate sound and Jean testifying like Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
The evening ended with some fun husband and wife bantering, showing a love for each other that only God can bring together, with Jean encouraging the house with prophetic voice of encouragement on “Only Believe”. This was the first time that The Baylor Project has come to Los Angeles, and already the congregation is ready for double services! And maybe something Wednesday night!
Upcoming shows at The Sun Rose include Lady Blackbird 07/27, 08/03 and 08/09, Chaz Shepherd 08/10