The Velvet Playboys/ The Soul Playboys
Astor Theatre
reviewed by Neville Cohn
When, at a concert, a significant number of the audience spontaneously get up and dance, it’s fair to say the musicians have got it right – and at the Astor Theatre on Friday, that’s an understatement. Adam Hall and The Soul Playboys performed as if their lives depended on it – and the same could certainly be said of vocalist Richard Jackson whose significant physical presence is more than matched by his vocal skills. Here was soul singing from a son of Cincinnati, well able, surely, to melt the heart of even the chilliest listener. Tireless, laidback – frankly magical – Jackson sounded in his element as he reached for, and touched, the stars.
There wasn’t a dull moment here with Hall that ace and tireless trumpeter, bobbing and weaving to rhythms that were clearly an invitation to everyone else in the theatre to rise from their seats and surrender to the Muse. Initially, the dancers were mostly women – but the gents, too, got into the act.
Here was an environment of almost palpable and abundant good humour, lofty musical standards – and unambiguous audience approval. Onstage and off, with much wizardry on keyboards, and an abundance of lavishly stylish work on trombones – the latter including Marques Young, principal trombone with the Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra (who trained at New York’s Juilliard School of Music) – everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives – and that is a rare state of affairs.
If you weren’t at this event, you can still experience a good deal of its magic via “Satisfied”, a newly released compact disc that brims with good things. If you were present at this event, though, you won’t need me to tell you about it – it makes you feel close to New Orleans. For those who are aficionados of the Blues circa the 1940s, this would have been like coming home.
