By: Rudy Lu
Note the title of this recap is album release. This album has been released on vinyl only. The first venture in this media by Jay Collins.
Jay is a veteran musician. He migrated from Portland, OR’s Jazz scene to the NYC Jazz scene in the 90s. He released three CDs in this genre. He gradually branched out to Rhythm & Blues, Blues and Americana . He toured with Little Feat, Greg Allman & Donald Fagan. He became a staple with Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble, Donald Fagen and Scott Sharrard. He is well known as a player with the Woodstock Scene.
He gathered his neighbors and long term colleagues to produce this LP and perform as his band. Club owner and colleague Lee Falco introduced the band.
The band opened with “Three Days In Paris”. Jay performing on keys, saxophone and vocals. Jay’s gruff vocals give the personal lyrics credibility and sincerity.
“Cradle of Civilization” is a rerecording of an instrumental from Jay’s long unavailable Jazz recordings. It has exotic Latin influence, the percussion section of Carlos Valdez & Manuel Quintero played a major role.
“Caffe Black Rose” was covered from David Sanborn and Joe Beck
“Top of the Town” was done with Jay playing alone on piano.
“Not My Cross To Bear” from the Allman Brothers debut album in 1969 was sung with great respect to Jay’s former boss Greg Allman and stinging guitar work from Peter Dougan.
“When You’ve Got A Good Friend” was one of Robert Johnson’s 41 and had an authentic Missisippi shuffle but featured a saxophone solo.
The only cover that was not from the American catalog was a rendition of Stevie Winwood’s moving “Can’t Find My Way Home”.
He will be reprising this show at the Colony in Woodstock, N.Y. on May 1st.
If you are in the 518 and missed this concert, you will be able to catch this band at Caffe Lena on May 29th.
For further band listings click here.
Musicians:
Jay Collins- tenor saxophone, flute
Ross Rice- B3, electric piano
Peter Dougan- acoustic & electric guitar
Kyle Esposito- bass
Carlos Valdez- percussion
Manuel Quintana- drums
Setlist:
Three Days in Paris
Till You’re Ready
Cradle of Civilization
Porch Light Blues
Top Of The Town
More Than Enough
Why Are People Like That? (Bobby Charles)
Poem For You Today
Not My Cross To Bear ( Allman Brothers)
Cafe’ Black Rose (David Sanborn)
Keep Moving Along
When You’ve Got A Good Friend (Robert Johnson)
