2020.11.30 Souljazz Orchestra at Velvet underground, Toronto


Souljazz Orchestra Live at Velvet Underground

The Ottawa based Souljazz Orchestra made their way back to town for a rare appearance. Over the last two decades, the band has become a tight funk unit and one of Canada’s better known funk exports.
Hot off a successful European tour for their newest offering on British label Strut, “Chaos Theories,” the band kept the crowd on their feet. 
The band’s sound is pre-fattened by the punchy horn section of Zakari Frantz, Ray Murray and Steve Patterson. They all join the rhythm section of Philippe LaFreniere and Marielle Rivard with extra percussion as needed. Pierre Chretien leads the charge, with keyboards.
The band slid into their set with a brooding instrumental and got right to some Afrobeat vibes with “Slumlord” and “Boat Rockers,” a celebration of activism. Political awareness has been a recurring theme with Souljazz Orchestra’s music through the years.
Solid funk jams followed alongside the occasional slow burner and some Latin flavoured jams. Tonight’s repertoire covered the band’s entire career, and was naturally heavy on new songs.
Most of the new album was played and the material continues the Souljazz blend of keyboard and horn driven Afrobeat laden funk. Guitars are seldom heard at Souljazz Orchestra shows, although Pierre Chretien has been known to play one occasionally.
Older songs like “Greet the Dawn” from 2015 were mixed in the set and the encore was from “Freedom No Go Die,” released in 2007. Chretien politely declined a request for a Fela Kuti song, saying they didn’t play covers, but closed the show with the Fela drenched “Mista President.” It’s always a reliable funk party with Souljazz Orchestra, and as they celebrate the Afrobeat that first inspired them, other dance-friendly music styles have broadened their base. Chretien thought it was 2 years since Souljazz Orchestra last passed through these parts; maybe tonight’s enthusiastic crowd response will shorten that gap next time.

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