We Went There: Adrian Younge at the Turf Club
I was a bit surprised to walk into the Turf Club Friday night to see a main level bursting at the seams with fans, and from his comments from the stage, it seems like Adrian Younge was pleasantly surprised himself. Throughout the 90 minute set (which included a lot of commentary from Younge), he show gratitude for the loud, warm reception he and his band got from the St. Paul crowd. I didn’t catch the whole exchange, but there may have even been some talk of moving to our Twin Cities based on the love the band was given.
The show was billed as Jazz Is Dead ft. Adrian Younge with a 10 piece orchestra, but confusingly I don’t think there were ever actually 10 people on stage. Maybe it’s a 12th man football stadium style thing, but from my vantage point the group capped at eight people (two horns, two strings, drums, keys, guitar, bass, vocals), but it’s possible my short stature and late arrival meant I missed something.
No matter how many people were on stage, when they hit their groove it was a funky set that hit many of the marks around why I’ve found Younge’s Jazz is Dead label/brand with Ali Shaheed Muhammad (and others) to be so entertaining. At moments there were Blaxploitation soundtracks, jazzy interludes, groovy library music and songs that sounded like they were tailor made for hip hop samples (which many of them were).
Younge was quite the raconteur throughout, telling stories and spinning yarns while the band vamped behind him, and he was generous giving space to his group to flex their muscles throughout the set with solos and shoutouts. Playing a mix of older music, “covers” of other Jazz is Dead albums and songs from a soon-to-be-released LP, the music was as loose and funky as you’d want while still keeping things tight in the pocket.
It seemed to be a mixed crowd of die hard fans and some folks who seemed curious and ready to party on a Friday night, which gave the room the warm feelings Younge and crew soaked in throughout the night.
If you aren’t familiar with the whole Jazz is Dead scene, Friday night’s show highlighted what makes them so good. They’re creating the kind of music that has one foot respectfully in the past, honoring the legends, while keeping an eye on the horizon. In a sweaty Turf Club Friday night, it was both a charming nostalgia trip and a funky party, the kind of night it’s hard to not enjoy.
See Jon’s full photo set from the HERE.
Writer / co-founder
