Lao Tizer at Joe Henderson Lab, June 6, 2024

SFJAZZ presents Lao Tizer Band featuring Gene Coye, Anthony Crawford, & Elliott Yamin
Joe Henderson Lab
SFJAZZ Center, 205 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94102 USA
7:00 PM, Thursday, June 6, 2024

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2024 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2024 event list! ☸ On to the next event!

[7:03 PM] {lights down; House Introduction; band out}

1. [7:04 PM] Carousel
2. [7:10 PM] 16th Heaven
   [7:20 PM] {Greetings from LT; band introduction; back and fore-announcements; add EY}
3. [7:23 PM] Pride (In the Name of Love) (EY)
   [7:30 PM] {EY introduces the next tune while the band vamps a bit}
4. [7:30 PM] Shades of Love (EY)
   [7:39 PM] {EY introduces the next tune while the band vamps a bit}
5. [7:40 PM] Why (EY)
   [7:49 PM] {LT story about his daughter Katya}
6. [7:51 PM] Kat's Groove
   [8:02 PM] {LT: Time for one more‚ right?}
7. [8:03 PM] Down (EY)
   [8:10 PM] {applause at end of show; show ends}

• Gene Coye: drums;
• Anthony Crawford: 6-string bass;
• Lao Tizer: piano, keyboards, Hammond B-3 organ;
• Elliott Yamin: vox.

Not too many folks attending tonight's show at the Henderson Lab: too much competition from other alternatives? Having lots of good things going on to pick from means stiff competition for butts in seats.

Lao Tizer Band started tonight's gig as a trio, slamming through a pair of funky jams that went lots of interesting places. From my spot in the second row it was easy to follow what was going on with 'Muscles' Crawford on bass and Gene Coye on drums, but my view of Lao was more-or-less completely blocked by the Hammond B-3 and the large dude sitting right in front of me. I could see Lao's shiny dome bopping up and down as he played piano, or his head and shoulders if he stood up to play the Nord set atop the piano's music stand, but nothing of his hands. Bummer!

Pride (In the Name of Love) was a huge stylistic departure from the opening tunes. I liked how it was reworked (more Memphis funk!), but I didn't especially appreciate Lao's B-3 playing: it seemed much to white bread to me … kinda surprising after hearing his stinky clavinet-ish keyboard playing on the first pair of tunes. Oh well. Even the best batters whiff more than they connect, right?

I'd criticize the other three tunes with Elliott similarly: they weren't bad, and the lyrics seemed honest and straightforward, but overall, they just didn't connect with me. Maybe I was in the wrong mood?

Kat's Groove was a thumper like the opener: very catchy, with plenty of jamming, and lots of room for the players to show some flair.

It would have been fun to stay for the late show – and tonight was one of the rare times when the house invited us to stay – but I was feeling kinda beat from a hectic work week, so I shuffled off to BART. Sometimes it's nice to be home before 10 PM!

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2024 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2024 event list! ☸ On to the next event!