It may have been a clear night in Agoura Hills, but everything from the Memphis ribs to the boogie-ing blues of Armando Compean’s Texas Brown band was smoking good on Friday night. A one time vocalist for Joe Pass, Compean teamed his bass and voice with some of LA’s best, including Tonight Show alumnus Tom Peterson on tenor sax, CSUN music director Matt Harris on keyboards and drummer Lee Spath who’s added grooves to the likes of Robert Cray. The 80 minute set was filled with dry rubbed flavors from the south, melding a blues sauce and a splash of soul.
The quartet displayed its jazz chops with Peterson tapping into his inner Stanley Turrentine for a gospel drenched “Sugar Man” that let everyone stretch out. After that, Compean gave a hip read of “What’s Goin’ On” with his slick bass line teaming with Harris’ bopping keys for a bouncy “Pennies From Heaven.” A take of “Day By Day” swung with the breeze of a drive down PCH, while Compean’s voice and bas agonized over a drenching “ The Thrill Is Gone.” Peterson blew smoke rings to Spath’s shuffle on Johnny Taylor’s “Somebody’s Got To Pay” with the team taking a trip down t Beale Street for a Ray Charles medley with Harris slinking to Spath’s ride cymbal on “Georgia On My Mind” with the team closing out the first set with a hand clapping “Hallelujah I Love Her So.”
With all of the local talent living in these ‘burbs, it’s nice to see them not driving downtown for a gig. Between Tavern 101 and Bogies Bar, locals need to appreciate the vibes within our own confines.