Jason Elmore and the Hoodoo Witch at The Kessler

Jim Suhler, Jason Elmore, Brandon Katona. Photo: John MacDonald

Jason Elmore and the Hoodoo Witch
The Kessler
Dallas, TX
July 11, 2015

Jason Elmore and the Hoodoo Witch normally performs as a trio with Jason Elmore on vocals and guitar, Mike Talbot on drums and Brandon Katona bass. But for this special show at The Kessler, the group did one set as a trio and in another set Tommy Young was added on B3 organ and Larry White on pedal steel guitar.

Throughout the night Jason Elmore showed his prowess as a virtuoso guitar player and a talented singer. He was backed up nicely by his veteran drummer Mike Talbot and the younger bass player Brandon Katona who made the transition from guitar to bass with some success.

Mike Morgan and the Crawl opened the show.

In their first set, as a trio, Jason Elmore and the band played original songs like The Cross-eyed Woman and Midnight in Memphis. Each song ended in louder and louder applause.

Jason Elmore was dressed in denim with silver studs down the seams of his pants and a kind of orange-brown designs on his shoulders and his trademark long, curly hair. In addition to his guitar playing and singing, the show highlighted his skill as a songwriter. He is often described as a blues guy, but he is more a student of music with influences from the Memphis sound, rock and roll, classic country and even funk. He likes to call his music American music.

Jason Elmore came out with full band for the second set: Tommy Young’s B3 organ and Larry White’s pedal steel guitar added texture and color to the band’s sound on songs like When the Sun Goes Down, Elvis Presley’s Suspicious Minds, Your Cheating Heart, Back to Louisiana, I Can See Clearly Now; and what Jason Elmore calls his favorite song of all time, Glen Campbell’s Wichita Lineman.

Hanging out in the lobby of The Kessler was Jim Suhler, guitarist of George Thorogood and the Destroyers. As visitors walked up to greet him he told stories about how Jason Elmore started to come to his shows as a 15-year-old and that he recorded a song at the hideaway Compass Studios in Nassau, Bahamas. (The studio was owned by producer and entrepreneur Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records and champion of the career of Bob Marley.)

Jim Suhler came on stage for one song, Gypsey Woman, and his slide guitar accompaniment made for an even more memorable night.

Shaun Martin: Seven Summers (2015)

Over the past seven years, Shaun Martin has been so busy and successful collaborating, writing and producing for other artists that he could not find time to put out his own album. Finally, his highly-anticipated first album Seven Summers (Ropeadope, 2015) is here.

The same care and professionalism he brought to projects for Kirk Franklin, Erykah Badu, Snarky Puppy and others, he has brought to his own work. Over the years, he has won four Grammy awards so although this is his debut album, he is by no means a rookie.

After brief introductory prelude, he opens the album with the song One Big Party, an excursion into New Orleans: the listener can imagine dancers twirling umbrellas and stepping out. The song has a fabulous horn section with Quamon Fowler and Chris Bullock, both on tenor sax, Jarriel Carter trumpet, and Gaika James on trombone.

The song Yellow Jacket displays Shaun’s piano playing with some fine drumming by Robert ‘Sput’ Searight and percussions by Frank Moka; with Keith Taylor holding it down on bass.

Shaun slows down the pace with song Lotus with yet another fine horn section but Alcedrick Taylor on trumpet nearly steals the show.

The preceding songs were all instrumental but the next few songs introduce vocals beginning Nikki Ross encouraging you to Have your Chance at Love.

In Love Don’t let me Down, he turns to the always-dependable Claudia Melton. It is a song that would fit in nicely on any of the many Quiet Storms shows around the country.

Long Gone with Adrian Hulet on vocals and Mark Letierri on guitar is like a slow Bruce Springstein anthem.

Also included is All in a Day’s Work with Geno Young on vocals; and Madiba, a tribute to Nelson Mandela.

Seven Summers is the kind of work that propels an artist to stardom. But in today’s musical landscape where major labels no longer throw big money after artists, it is going take the shoe-leather of all of Shaun Martin's fans and foot soldiers to get the word out on this remarkable album.

Track Listing and Personnel

Introduction: Robert ‘Sput’ Searight, drums; Keith Taylor bass; Frank Moka percussions; Shaun Martin all other instruments.

One Big Party: Shaun Martin, piano, keyboard; Bobby Sparks organ; Jamil Byrom drums; Michael League acoustic bass; Nate Werth percussion; Quamon Fowler tenor sax; Chris Bullock tenor sax; Jarriel Carter trumpet, Gaika James trombone.

The Yellow Jacket: Robert ‘Sput’ Searight, drums; Keith Taylor bass; Frank Moka percussions; Shaun Martin all other instruments.

Lotus: Robert ‘Sput’ Searight, drums; Keith Taylor bass; Frank Moka percussions; Jason Davis, tenor sax, Alcdedrick Todd trumpet.

Have Your Chance at Love: Jamil Byrom drums; Michael League bass; Maurice ‘Piranhahead’ Herd and Soulchestra strings; Nikki Ross vocals; Shaun Martin all other instruments.

Love Don’t Let Me Down: Claudia Melton vocals; Shaun Martin all other instruments, programming.

Long Gone: Shaun Martin piano, keyboard, percussion; Jamil Byrom drums; Michael League bass; Mark Letierri guitar; Nate Werth percussion, Maurice ‘Piranhahead’ Herd and Soulchestra strings.

The Torrent: Shaun Martin piano; Michael League upright bass; Jamil Byrom drums.

Madiba: Shaun Martin piano, Keith Taylor bass, Robert ‘Sput’ Searight drums; Frank Moka percussion; Jason ‘Da Mayor’ Davis tenor sax, Alcedrick Todd trumpet; Maurice ‘Piranhahead’ Herd and Soulchestra strings.

All in a Day’s Work: Geno Young vocals; R.C. Williams, Rhodes; Ernest Green scratches; Shaun Martin all other instruments, programming.

Closing Credits: Matt Butler cello; Shaun Martin all other instruments.