Photos: Rudy Lu

The title of Gary Clark Jr’s latest release JPEG/RAW, holds a specific meaning to those familiar with digital photography. Jpeg is a photo that is rendered by the camera you are using by capturing light. RAW is the data captured by the camera you are using, it is rendered into an image that is then refined by the photographer to a final product. Like almost all contemporary musicians, Gary’s music is influenced by many sources (RAW). However, his roots are Texas blues. The evening’s performance had all of America’s roots music along with other influences on display (JPEG).

There were blazing guitar leads and hung and bent notes played by Gary and his other guitarist Zapata. Snippets of Malian Blues are heard as Gary and Zapata clash in “Maktub”. Hiphop influences were heard in many of the vocals as well as There were times that Gary left his large collection of guitars behind him to sing soulful love songs reminiscent of George Benson and Curtis Mayfield. Stevie Wonder’s progressive music and spirit was present in the song “What About the Children”, even though Stevie wasn’t.Jackson 5 and Thelonius Monk are heard in some music. “This is Who We Are” is a proud declaration of Gary’s blues.

Elijah Ford held down the fort on bass. J.J Johnson on drums and percussion kept the train moving even with its many stops at America’s music. John Deas contributed atmospherics to the overall sound and made it contemporary. The back up singers Savanah Allen, Shannon Ashlee and Shawn Aleesha added to a spiritual fee no matter what song was played.

Opening was Amherst based Mal Devisa. This is a Solo project by 18 year old Deja Carr. She had a beautiful voice and took the unique step of accompanying herself on electric bass,and or bass drum. The songs were of love, life, the world and recited her poetry. She is certainly talented and should have a solo performance at a more intimate space like Caffe Lena.

Overall there was approximately 3 hours of diverse music including a wild light show that left the concert goers satiated and exhausted.

Setlist:

Intro, Maktub, When My Train Pulls In, Hyperwave, Hearts in Retrograde, JPEG RAW, This Is Who We Are, The Healing, To the End of the Earth, Alone Together, Feed the Babies, What About The Children, Our Love, Blak and Blu, Bright Lights, Habits

Encore: Funk Witch U

 

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