Posted by Kamaad Tauhid #blues2jazzguy
Recently in Los Angeles California, Night of the Grassroots Hip-Nosis featuring PLIGHT Jazz Ensemble took the Billy Higgins World Stage’s audience on a “Time machine” ride back to the Jazz scene 1960s style.” according to one audience member. Plight ,a jazz/poetry band led by jazz journalist and producer Robert J. Carmack paid homage to Bobby Hutcherson and Jackie McLean music.
Carmack and his group performed to a very receptive audience as they plumbed through such classics as Jackie McLean’s,Riff Raff, Blues in a Jiff, HipNosis and Plight. In addition to McLean’s compositions, they also tackled some of Bobby Hutcherson’s dynamic tunes from his early Blue Note years like, Slow Change, Nights in Barcelona, and Little B’s Poem. Robert Carmack wrote original poems and performed them along with the band in an orchestrated approach to presenting these classic gems with a new spin.
The evening began with special guest, the award-winning playwright and poet, TU’NOOK, who’s highlight piece of her solo set was a poem about women prostitutes that ply their trade on a fairly infamous street in Los Angeles.
Plight, then opened up their first set with a non-playlist song to warm up the room with an uptempo version of Speak Low. After two blustering solos by Dale Fielder and Bobby West on Speak Low, the group tackled the evening’s playlist.
Busting out of the gate with Hutcherson’s recording penned by Harold Land, Night in Barcelona. the cut featured eclectic solos by Dale Fielder on soprano sax and Derf Reklaw on Flute while Bobby West stunned the audience with a piano accompaniment and Synth “Vibes” on electronic keyboards. The versatile band was able to pivot all evening with McLean’s hip and bluesy tunes balanced with Hutcherson’s complex harmonic and melodic treasures. One of the more exploratory tunes of the night was Slow Change a harmonic rich minor piece in 3/4 Sus. Carmack’s intertwining of the original lyrics and the new spoken word content sent the audience over the top. Hipnosis from the album with same title by Jackie McLean. It was presented in a unique ensemble-like statement of melody without a bridge. a haunting bass line with the vamping of the solo parts in a minor blues form that sets-up inside-out improvisations by pianist Bobby West and flautist Derf Reklaw. After his solo on Baritone sax, Fielder joins the bass line on the melody parts. followed by Carmack’s spoken word to take the song home.
PLight Band consisted of Bobby West on piano, Reggie Carson bass, Derf Reklaw percussion & flute, Cornell Fouler drums with special guest saxophonist,Dale Fielder. Robert J. Carmack Poet.
Hipster Sanctuary.com is happy and excited that we had great sponsors on our project look forward to their participation in our upcoming Pocket Jazz series in the coming months.
our sponsors:
Levias & Associates Attorney Referral services
Taco Pete take-out & catering 
Russell Harrison Master Herbalist 
http://www.royallionbotanicals.com
Hipster Sanctuary 