I was in New Orleans and Houston recently and the music I heard in notional jazz clubs was mainly R&B. Perhaps I had a limited overview but I perused perhaps 20 bands in Bourbon and Frenchmen Streets and I got to 3 gigs at two jazz venues in Houston. Plenty of groove that I loved but limited ragtime or bop or Miles. Luke Sweeting came back to town last night with a fabulously practised, slick and groove-heavy band called Majesty rising: 12 piece soul gospel with slick horns and two keys and rhythm section and a convincing female singer, Eliza Kate, up front and a harmony section of 3 male voices (somewhat unexpected). The grooves were infectious, the skills clear, the solos worthy, the horns nicely arranged, some funk, even a touch of rap. All great and, as I said, infectious and musical. I caught some lyrics "Walking with you, walking with me / I am alive in Him", "You're going to show me / You're not done with me yet", "Praise the Lord (rpt)". The music was wonderful even if the theme was not my thing. So be it. A great listen nonetheless.
Majesty rising performed at Smiths.
