Soulive/Lettuce

Anyone here into Soulive or Lettuce? Both bands are fronted by legendary guitarist Eric Krasno. Both bands have featured Sam Kininger, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, John Scofield, and others, with Adam Deitch on drums in Lettuce, Alan Evans on drums in Soulive, and brother Neal Evans playing keyboards in both bands.

Lettuce's new album "Fly" is coming out June 5 and I'm pretty excited.

Edited by darkshade - 31 May 2012 at 8:04pm

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Lettuce "Live in Tokyo"

People who like their funky jazz with a lot of pyro-technical fusion type skills and high energy virtuoso solos will find much to like in this live album by Lettuce. Although Lettuce is often grouped with other acid jazz and jam bands that came up through the new century, they are much more skilled than their contemporaries and have more in common with classic funky fusion bands like The Brecker Brothers, early Billy Cobham and Tower of Power. After a brief intro number, second cut “Nyack” establishes what this band is capable of. As the different band members spin off rapid fire solos, the rest of the large ensemble engages in a dense interplay of syncopated figures that sounds like a tornado of interlocking rhythms. This band’s ability to have all members firing at once and not step on each other’s toes is remarkable. Just pick any moment in this song and listen to how busy every member is, its hard not to be impressed that this is the top live funk jazz act today.

Lettuce is a large and loose ensemble made up artists who are often active in other bands including John Scofield’s band and Soulive. For “Live in Tokyo” Lettuce has a three horn frontline backed by a rhythm section that includes two interlocking rhythm guitarists. All of the soloists are great, but alto saxophonist Sam Kininger stands out with his energetic punchy riffs that recall funk saxophone greats like Maceo Parker and Benny Maupin. On “The Dump”, he and tenor player Ryan Zoidis trade short solos that build to a feverish pitch. Lettuce’s use of two rhythm guitarists is very effective, on “Squadlive” they lay down infectious hooks that recall the classic sound of James Brown’s early 70s band.

If you like high energy funky fusion albums like Cobham’s “Shabazz” or Herbie’s “Thrust” album, you will probably enjoy this very remarkable live set.

Sounds good, maybe they'll come to Memphis this time.

If you spot any tour schedules, put em up on the site.

Squadlive on Live In Tokyo is sooooo funky.

Edited by darkshade - 09 Jun 2012 at 12:32pm

My Last.fm

Yes it does.

Nice job Mike. Soulive is great, and for all the people on here who like that sort of high energy fusion-funk, Lettuce's live album ranks with some of the best.

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darkshade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Senior Member Joined: 09 Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 1973	Post Options Post Reply Quote darkshade Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Soulive/Lettuce Posted: 31 May 2012 at 7:54pm
	Anyone here into Soulive or Lettuce? Both bands are fronted by legendary guitarist Eric Krasno. Both bands have featured Sam Kininger, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, John Scofield, and others, with Adam Deitch on drums in Lettuce, Alan Evans on drums in Soulive, and brother Neal Evans playing keyboards in both bands. Lettuce's new album "Fly" is coming out June 5 and I'm pretty excited. Edited by darkshade - 31 May 2012 at 8:04pm
	My Last.fm

js Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 34171	Post Options Post Reply Quote js Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 2012 at 7:59pm
	Yeah, like em both. I just dropped off a review for Lettuce's live album just the other day. Playing Soulive's "Steppin" is kind of a given with funk-jazz bands around here.

js Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 34171	Post Options Post Reply Quote js Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 2012 at 8:01pm
	Lettuce "Live in Tokyo" People who like their funky jazz with a lot of pyro-technical fusion type skills and high energy virtuoso solos will find much to like in this live album by Lettuce. Although Lettuce is often grouped with other acid jazz and jam bands that came up through the new century, they are much more skilled than their contemporaries and have more in common with classic funky fusion bands like The Brecker Brothers, early Billy Cobham and Tower of Power. After a brief intro number, second cut “Nyack” establishes what this band is capable of. As the different band members spin off rapid fire solos, the rest of the large ensemble engages in a dense interplay of syncopated figures that sounds like a tornado of interlocking rhythms. This band’s ability to have all members firing at once and not step on each other’s toes is remarkable. Just pick any moment in this song and listen to how busy every member is, its hard not to be impressed that this is the top live funk jazz act today. Lettuce is a large and loose ensemble made up artists who are often active in other bands including John Scofield’s band and Soulive. For “Live in Tokyo” Lettuce has a three horn frontline backed by a rhythm section that includes two interlocking rhythm guitarists. All of the soloists are great, but alto saxophonist Sam Kininger stands out with his energetic punchy riffs that recall funk saxophone greats like Maceo Parker and Benny Maupin. On “The Dump”, he and tenor player Ryan Zoidis trade short solos that build to a feverish pitch. Lettuce’s use of two rhythm guitarists is very effective, on “Squadlive” they lay down infectious hooks that recall the classic sound of James Brown’s early 70s band. If you like high energy funky fusion albums like Cobham’s “Shabazz” or Herbie’s “Thrust” album, you will probably enjoy this very remarkable live set.

darkshade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Senior Member Joined: 09 Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 1973	Post Options Post Reply Quote darkshade Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 2012 at 8:07pm
	^ Very nice review. I love Live in Tokyo. I hope they release another live album after Fly comes out, since the Tokyo live album only documents songs from their first album (Fly being their third). Their second album Rage is so good, it needs to be represented on a live album. I saw Soulive/Lettuce back in November, and the Rage cuts were so god-damned funky.
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js Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 34171	Post Options Post Reply Quote js Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 2012 at 8:20pm
	Sounds good, maybe they'll come to Memphis this time.

darkshade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Senior Member Joined: 09 Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 1973	Post Options Post Reply Quote darkshade Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 2012 at 8:24pm
	Hope so. I heard from a friend (who's a huge Lettuce fan, and a casual Soulive fan) that they're going to be doing some heavy touring for Fly, and of course Soulive will be there too.
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js Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 34171	Post Options Post Reply Quote js Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 2012 at 8:25pm
	If you spot any tour schedules, put em up on the site.

darkshade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Senior Member Joined: 09 Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 1973	Post Options Post Reply Quote darkshade Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 2012 at 8:32pm
	You got it
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darkshade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Senior Member Joined: 09 Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 1973	Post Options Post Reply Quote darkshade Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jun 2012 at 12:32pm
	Squadlive on Live In Tokyo is sooooo funky. Edited by darkshade - 09 Jun 2012 at 12:32pm
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darkshade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Senior Member Joined: 09 Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 1973	Post Options Post Reply Quote darkshade Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Jun 2012 at 2:56pm
	Soulive are also releasing a new album "Spark" on June 18. It will actually be a quartet recording, the 4th member augmenting the trio will be Karl Denson from The Greyboy Allstars and Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. Sounds like it'll be a cool record.
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js Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 34171	Post Options Post Reply Quote js Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 Jun 2012 at 3:13pm
	Yes it does.

darkshade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Senior Member Joined: 09 Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 1973	Post Options Post Reply Quote darkshade Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Jun 2012 at 9:13pm
	Guys, I reviewed every Soulive and Lettuce album with much detail, here on this great site. I feel like John is the only one here who is familiar with their music. I recommend everyone at least check out an album by them (Soulive is jazzier, Lettuce is funkier, but they both cross over).
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js Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 34171	Post Options Post Reply Quote js Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 Jun 2012 at 9:30pm
	Nice job Mike. Soulive is great, and for all the people on here who like that sort of high energy fusion-funk, Lettuce's live album ranks with some of the best.