Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Gary Clark, Jr.: Live North America 2016

6

Gary Clark, Jr.: Live North America 2016

By

Sign in to view read count
Gary Clark, Jr.: Live North America 2016
At first glance and upon initial listen, Gary Clark, Jr.'s Live North America 2016 suggests a holding pattern on his rapidly-developing career. More careful perusal, however, reveals the man's second concert release, out in fairly quick succession to both Live (Warner Bros., 2014) and his last studio album, The Story of Sunny Boy Slim (Warner Bros., 2015), is the full and complete personal artistic statement the latter title purported to be, as well as harbinger of future stylistic changes.

In its pure unadulterated emotional and sonic form, sans overdubs of any kind, the honest power of Clark and his band's musicianship sheds a discernibly different light on the polished likes of the aforementioned studio work, During the seven (!) culls from from that aforementioned record, including "Grinder" and "The Healer," the guitarist/vocalist depicts how forcefully he can parlay this music in practiced, natural collaboration with guitarist Eric 'King' Zapata, bassist Johnny Bradley and drummer Johnny Radelat. And while the cacophonous closer, "Numb," is a carryover from the prior double live release, it still sounds so close to the artist's heart and soul; as such, it will be sure to satiate the appetites of the most ravenous guitar hero-worshipers

As world-weary as are Clark's vocals at times-and outright plaintive in his falsetto on "Our Love")-his guitar playing is pointed as it is passionate. He knows how to formulate a thought and state it so forthrightly he neither overextends himself or wastes notes even on "When My Train Pulls In," the longest track here at just shy of ten minutes duration. In compensation for such repeats, the two 'new' numbers on this single, twelve-track CD, covers of Jimmy Reed's "Honest I do" and Elmore James' "My Baby's Gone," reaffirm Clark's blues roots as much as the hypnotic r&b/soul styling of "Down to Ride" broadens the depiction of his stylistic influences.

Meantime, the guest appearances of vocalist Leon Bridges and saxophonist Jeff Dazey on "Shake" suggest an eclectic approach in a different form. While this cut is of a piece with the rest of this record, the continuity enacted by Clark's abrasive slide guitar, the contrast offered by the extra voice and the horn gives a hint about how the Austin native's music would sound with an expanded ensemble. As a result, the intrinsic value of the Live North America 2016 transcends first impressions, reaffirming what fans of Gary Clark Jr. already know so well (and savor) while representing a memorable introduction to the casual listener not so familiar with his work.

Track Listing

Grinder; The Healing; Our Love; Cold Blooded; When My Train Pulls In; Down To Ride; You Saved Me; Shake; Church; Honest I Do; My Baby's Gone; Numb.

Personnel

Gary Clark Jr.: vocals, guitars, harmonica; Eric 'King' Zapata: guitars Johnny Bradley: bass, background vocals; Johnny Radelat: Drums, background vocals Leon Bridges: vocals (track eight only); Jeff Dazey: saxophone (track eight only).

Album information

Title: Live North America 2016 | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Warner Bros.

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.