Joe Sample – acoustic piano
Lalah Hathaway – vocals
Nick Sample – acoustic bass
Xavier Breaker – drums

Where were you in October 1999 when Joe Sample and Lalah Hathaway appeared together at Yoshi’s Oakland performing song from their The Song Lives On album?

I was there in the crowded audience sitting really close to the stage. It was an excellent concert. Fast forward 10 years to November 2009 and Joe and Lalah were back again bringing their magic.

Joe opened the set with “The Freedom Sound” which he originally recorded with the Jazz Crusaders in 1961. He followed with the title track from his 1988 Spellbound album. Joe tells such great stories about the music. He told us how “Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You” was a classic blues versus a rural blues where you moan your troubles away. The rendition he played was inspired by Nat King Cole’s 1940 rendition of this gem. It was riveting. The rhythm section included Nick Sample on bass and Xavier Breaker on drums. Lalah joined the trio and swung on “It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie” and she did some wonderful runs on “Fever.” They slowed the world down on “When Your Life Was Low” and “For All We Know” and warmed our souls with “Street Life.” Lalah playfully reminded us that name of the song was “Street Life” not “Street Lights.” They closed out their set with “When The World Turns Blue” with Joe on solo piano and Lalah laying down beautiful vocals. This was a special night that was definitely worth the wait. We just hope we do not have to wait another 10 years to see them together again.

A few days after their concert, I got to interview Lalah. We talked about music, her Grammy nomination, new projects, and even Shirley Horn. Please listen.

Concert photos by James Knox. Additional photos can be seen here.

Last month, I attended the Berkeley Jazz Festival sponsored by KBLX and Cadillac at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley. It was a day of great music featuring the Unwrapped All-Stars, Lalah Hathaway, Ray Obiedo, Rachelle Ferrell, Bobby Caldwell, Boney James, and Kem. Just as exciting was the DJ Russell Gatewood, who played old school jazz and R&B grooves between the acts. He even gave away a couple copies of Coltrane’s Love Supreme on vinyl. People danced in their seats and there was even a group of folks doing the electric slide. I even learned that Stevie Wonder recorded a jazz album called Eivets Rednow (Stevie Wonder spelled backward.)
Here are some of the festival highlights.

Unwrapped All-Stars

The Unwrapped All Stars featuring Dennis Nelson turned current hip-hop tunes into soulful jazz grooves. Their set included “Candyshop” and Earth, Wind and Fire’s “Fantasy.” I wish I could name more of their songs but all of them were tight.

Bobby Caldwell

Smooth jazz/R&B crooner Bobby Caldwell performed Ruby and the Romantics’ classic gem “Our Day Will Come” and the funky/soulful “Call Me Up” from his new album, Perfect Island Nights. The high point of his set was his R&B classic hit “What You Won’t Do for Love.” The crowd loved it and all sang along. He also included “Walk On By” and “Where is Love.” He closed with another hit, “All or Nothing at All”, which was also a hit song for Al Jarreau.

Lalah Hathaway

Soulful vocalist Lalah Hathaway opened with her soulful ballad “We Were Two” and just got “Better and Better” from her latest album, Outrun the Sky. She said her remake of Luther’s classic “Forever, For Always, For Love” was “her first major hit in a career of over 15 years.” As soon as her band played the opening notes, the audience went wild with applause. People swayed and sang along while Lalah put down a serious groove. Her set also included “How Many Times”, a beautiful rendition of the classic gem “Summertime” and two Randy Crawford timeless tunes, “One Day I’ll Fly Away” and “Streetlife.” It was also very exciting watching Rachelle Ferrell standing on the sidelines cheering for Lalah. Nothing but love.

Lalah will be playing the SFJAZZ Festival Fall Season with Marcus Miller on October 21.

Rachelle Ferrell

Dynamic vocalist Rachelle Ferrell came onstage wearing a fringed halter and white pants that made everyone take notice. She opened with “So Satisfied.” She had Lalah come out and join her on “Sistah.” It was so magnificent when they harmonized together, a hush fell over the crowd. It was magical. She sat down at the piano for “I Forgive You” and “Run to Me.” She puts so much energy into her music whether she is singing or playing. She performed a medley of her early hits “‘Til You Come Back to Me”, a chill out version of “I’m Special”, “With Open Arms”, “Sentimental”, and “Waiting.” We, the audience, were her faithful background singers. She closed with “Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This”, demonstrating her multi-octave abilities as she sung the low and high parts of this duet. The time moved too swiftly as Rachelle always she leaves you wanting more.

Boney James

As the evening the began to cool smooth jazz saxman Boney James set the audience on fire with his soulful grooves. Speaking of fire, he featured a sensational male vocalist on the song “Fire.” I will definitely have to check out more of Boney’s music. He performed Bill Wither’s classic “Ain’t No Sunshine” and he came back for an encore with Chaka’s “Sweet Thang.” He definitely gave us some sweet sounds.

Kem

Just as the sun was setting on a hot day of music at the Greek Theatre, Kem came onstage like a cool breeze in the desert. His latest album, Kem Album II, was burning up the airwaves even before it was released. He blends his gospel roots with jazz, soul, and sensuality to deliver a sound that is very personal. His ballads minister to the soul while his mid-tempo grooves make you want to get up and dance or at least nod your head to the rhythm. His set included “Find Your Way”, “I’m Into You”, and “Heaven.” He definitely puts on a great live performance.

Make your own candy heart!! Thanks Gwen!!

New vocalist Lizz Wright has tour dates listed now on her Verve site. She will be playing the House of Blues in Chicago with Al Green on April 13 and the Cerritos Center in Cerritos, California on April 14. She is definitely a must see. You can hear a couple of her sample tracks on her Simblist Group webpage.

Jazz singer/pianist Shirley Horn is touring and will be coming to Yoshi’s June from 5- 8. She also has a new album coming out later this year. Stay tuned!!

Vocalist Carla Cook has an updated website with new information and tour dates.

Legendary singer Roberta Flack, who turns 64 tomorrow, is working on a new album. More details as they become available.

Check out soul music ambassabor David Nathan’s recent exclusive interview with Dionne Warwick and her website, www.dionnewarwick.com.

Vocalist René Marie has a new Maxjazz release “Live At Jazz Standard” coming out on April 22.

Vibraphonist Stefon Harris has a new Blue Note release “The Grand Unification Theory” coming out this week.

Vocalist Dianne Reeves is wrapping up work on her upcoming Blue Note release “A Little Moonlight” which is scheduled to be released on August 5. It will includes 11 tunes that range from standards like “Skylark,” “Darn that Dream” and “You Go to My Head” to more modern songs like Stevie Wonder’s “Make Sure You’re Sure.”

Legendary saxaphonist Wayne Shorter has a new Verve release “Alegria” coming out on March 25.

Verve Records will release “Paganini: After a Dream“, a landmark album from the acclaimed violinist Regina Carter on April 22. This album was insprired from a December 2001 concert in Genoa, Italy on the 200 year old Guarneri violin belonging to classical violinist Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840). Regina is the first jazz musician and African-American to lay hands on this classic instrument. She said in a recent San Francisco concert that she played the violin with a room full of armed guards.

Hey!! Singer Lalah Hathaway has a website!! Hopefully, we will hear some new music from her soon.