Concert Review: Morningside Philharmonic, Ponsonby Social Club, 23 July 2020

Heart and Soul food for the mind with social commentary there in the back of the room. Morningside Philharmonic are Jason Herbert on guitar, leading the band tonight. Guy Harrison on keyboards and also a member of Latinaotearoa. The engine room is Cam Sangster on drums and Cam McArthur on electric bass.

A tribute night to Gangsta Funk and the deep roots of the music it was stitched together from. From a quartet of highly talented young Kiwi jazz musicians.

The night opens with a song possibly titled Cream. A Soul with a Blues edge melodic guitar leads off, similar to Robert Cray. The keyboards overlay some sparkling ambient rain and then the drums kick in. Guitar comes back in with spare, restrained riffs.

The sound in the Social Club superb again tonight. Each of the four musicians and their interplay clearly heard. A hand for the Soundman.

G-Funk is the sound of West Coast Rap and Hip-Hop as it developed in the late Eighties from seminal bands like NWA and particularly one of its members Dr Dre.

Draws heavily on George Clinton and Parliament/ Funkadelic and of course originator James Brown. Sixties influences are also brought up front tonight, especially the great Stax sound of Booker T and the MGs.

Second number is a workout around the styles of the Doggs, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg. A Funk rhythm base. Keyboards lay an early Seventies Stevie Wonder style blanket. The guitar picks out a Soul Jazz riff and winds up the tension, resolved by the keyboard on the finish.

I Should Never Have Taken the Other Half is one of a brace of original tunes tonight. Jason says he is not approving of recreational drugs but periodically needs to check why. Not an unreasonable attitude. Starts with a slow louche keyboard melody, placid and dreamy until it takes flight. The rhythm section staying solid and grounded. Guitar then lays out a melodic and spare Soul Jazz solo, which eventually inspires the drummer to lay into it as the song ascends into the stratosphere. Brought back to a soft and pacifying landing by the keyboards to bring the trip to an end.

A lot of ParliaFunkadelicMent was inspired by psychedelics and extended workouts. This tastefully keeps it within a tight frame.

Stay Chipper also an own composition. Intended to be relentlessly upbeat and cheerful and it is. Showcases the guitar, and is played with a beautiful melodic Soul Jazz touch reminiscent of Marvin Gaye.

Revolution is a Rap Poem taken from Gil Scott-Heron’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. The rhythm section carries this one while the keyboard swirls around. Jason fashions the words into the current topical issues here, undercut with some humour.

The revolution will not be on the Internet/ The revolution will not be live-streamed/ The revolution will not be…/ The revolution WILL be televised.

A highlight of the set tonight is Apache. Begins with a cinematic entrance. Keyboards washes over a solid Funk bass. Then surf guitar comes in with the familiar melody line. Everyone rides along on the wave and resolved at the end by a terrific drum solo. Great appreciation from the full room.

Another highlight. FTP. Showcasing NWA and The Payback and also referencing the state of police tension in America, as well as what is happening with our own police force here. Begins with some DJ scratching. Keyboards enter and guitar lays out a spare rhythmic Chanks drone. The drums keep time and drive this one along. At the back end the music is broken up and spaced out, bringing to mind the classic Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel.

For The Kids melds a fantastic solid James Brown rhythm groove to a Telstar sounding space-race era keyboard. Going back even further in this musical journey to the Joe Meek sound.

The whole show tonight was of the highest standard. Improvised and disciplined. These are four top-notch musicians and I will be keen to catch them again in whatever grouping they appear.

Rev Orange Peel