Steve Gadd Band Captured Live "At Blue Note Tokyo"

According to Modern Drummer Magazine, “Steve Gadd is one of the very few drummers whose innovations changed the way other musicians heard music.” For the Rochester native, who turned 75 last year, it’s all about making the music feel good. And though Gadd has played his share of super-intricate, challenging music throughout his illustrious career spanning five decades, he’s strictly laying in the pocket with that signature organic feel throughout At Blue Note Tokyo, his latest recording on BFM Jazz and a follow-up to 2018’s Grammy-winning Steve Gadd Band. The great drummer is joined by longtime Steve Gadd Band members Jimmy Johnson on bass and Walt Fowler on trumpet along with newer member Kevin Hays on keyboards and vocals on two tracks. Guitarist David Spinozza, an associate of Gadd’s from the ‘70s, replaces guitarist Michael Landau in the lineup for this Tokyo engagement. “Michael wasn’t able to do the tour,” Gadd explained, “so I was glad that David could do it.”  The tracks on At Blue Note Tokyo were hand-picked and mixed by Gadd and his son, Giancarlo, from the two sets the band played at the legendary club on one magical night during their 4-night run in December of 2019. Three of the nine tracks are original compositions which have never been recorded or released by this band (“Doesn’t She Know by Now,” “Hidden Drive,” and “Walk with Me”). At Blue Note Tokyo proves in no uncertain terms, Gadd is still grooving after all these years.