ELECTRIFYING FUNK WITH MARK KELSO

MARK KELSO’S JAZZ EXILES AT THE REX

Mark Kelso’s Jazz Exiles

Mark (drums), Rich Brown (electric bass), Luis Deniz (sax), Joey Martel (guitar), Robi Botos (keyboards)

I hadn’t planned to come back to The Rex so soon but I really wanted to check out Mark’s band.  Plus I’m a big fan of the band’s keyboardist Robi Botos.

As it turns out Robi had another solo gig across town and another keyboardist had to step in.

I had never seen this band and quite frankly wasn’t sure what to expect.  That question was boldly answered from the start of the first song.  Mark did warn us that it would be loud and loud it was but in a good way.  This group is funky as hell.  The group is tight but yet loose enough to explore during some very hair raising solos.  Saxophonist Luis Deniz is a melodic player with some very good chops. Joey on guitar, brings the funky rhythms you would expect in a group such as this but he also brings the “young spirit” into the group as Mark pointed out. One song even had some metal elements in it.

Replacing Robi on keyboards for this gig was a very talented and versatile Jeremy Ledbetter.  This dude stepped in with little knowledge of the charts and nailed it all.  His (many) solos were strong and inventive.  He played as if he had been in the group for years.

Mark’s quite capable rhythms were punctuated by the very talented bass player Rich Brown (featured in Downbeat Magazine here).  Rich is quite intriguing to watch and mesmerizing to hear (reminiscent of John Patitucci on electric bass).  He sits while playing and he doesn’t move much.  The crowd is boppin and swaying and grooving, while Mark the drummer is almost jumping out of his chair and the rest of the band is equally animated but Rich does’t move.  What is fascinating though is his fingers.  This dudes fingers are flying all over the bass.  His notes are many but precise and always soulful.  Yet all the while very rarely does he look a his instrument or show any sign of strain.  At the brake I commented to him about his calmness, he said “Yes but I’m sweating buckets up there.”

With Mark Kelso

Yes it was hot in the club and I don’t mean heat.  Song after song this group pumped out some great tunes.  All the music played were originals by Mark.  His writing is well influenced by artists like The Crusaders and Chick Corea’s Elektric Band but there is an edginess to the music.  This was full on Fusion Funk and I enjoyed every musical moment.