JT and the Agnostics – Auckland Jazz and Blues Club 3-10-23

John Thomson bass and vocals.

Bill Forrest saxophone

Ben Gilgen keyboards

Freddie Limbert drums

Maceik Hrybowicz guitar.

This was the last night at the Point Chev RSA ….which is closing down. The Jazz and Blues club is moving to the Birkenhead RSA.

The concert opened with funky guitar and saxophone…then the keyboards came in…funky like Jimmy Smith, deep blue notes…the guitarist…playing like Kenny Burrell…walking the line between jazz and the Blues…drums crisp over the upper range ..bass big and full.

This band writes a lot of their own songs…”Going out and doing it once more” featuring a saxophone fusion of blues and Charlie Parker improvisation.

One and one and one do not make two’…featuring a soulful gospel improvisation from the sax and keyboards.

A Jimmy Rogers song ”When I am walking”…drums in a good rhythm…bass leading the band like a number ten in a rugby team…a slow blues.. explosive organ slides.

“In and out”…..while the guitar solo soars…showing a strong Stevie Ray Vaughan influence,

“It is a strange thing”featured a powerful drum solo…musical over the whole range.

A Sleepy John Estes song ”Making a change” the sax explodes into blue tones…guitar solos reaching from Auckland to Missisippi.

“I have the nobody blues” a song with modern references to social media…and about isolation…featuring an outstanding keyboard solo…guitar commentating on the theme.

The second set opens with a funky instrumental…a Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine influence.

“You have a way with words”… a song about politics…you can hear all the instruments clearly,,, a better quality of music.

A Mose Ellison song…. ,a soaring sax solo…blues touching on Parker…keyboards like a river of blues…guitar solo like a colour carpet…the drummer does everything over the range of the drums…a Gene Krupa feel…I love what is happening on the fender bass.

The Bobby Charles song”The Jealous Kind”..country meeting blues.

“I am nobody today but I was somebody last night” country exploding into Ray Charles blues. Spike sitting in on keyboards pulling out all stops.

GT

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