Straight, No Chaser: Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio Plays Jazz Standards
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing and hearing Bobby Lee Rodgers more than 40 times, the most recent at Orange Blossom Jamboree in May. He is one of the greatest and most underrated guitarist on the scene, a machine-gun version of Wes Montgomery and Alvin Lee. Most often he has appeared in a trio setting, occasionally with guests. He is a tremendous singer/songwriter as well, was a member of The Codetalkers with Col. Bruce Hampton (Ret.), and has shared the stage with many notables including Jimmy Herring, Jeff Sipe (Apt. Q258), Widespread Panic, Shak Nasti, Warren Haynes, Vassar Clements and dozens more. He is a regular at Wanee Music Festival and Peach Music Festival and plays lots of others.
Rodgers can do anything, but normally it has been his rock set with superb originals such as “Outer Space” and “When the World Comes Tumbling Down.” Regardless of the set, his jazz side shines through. He has occasionally played jazz sets, including shows of all John Coltrane, all Miles Davis, and more, but those have been on Florida’s East Coast and in New York City. The only time I caught a real glimpse was a half-dozen years ago, where Rodgers and trio came out for a short third set, which turned out to be a spectacular 25-minute version of “Song for My Father.”
Until Saturday (September 1st). On the way out the door to another venue, I discovered that Rodgers would be playing at 3 Daughters Brewing in St. Petersburg with an incomparable band: Matt Lapham on bass and Anthony ‘AC’ Cole on drums. I immediately headed that way, expecting the usual great rock set.
The band was finishing “Summertime” and immediately headed into “All Blues.” I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. I’d been waiting six years to catch this night, and suddenly it was here in all its radiant glory.
A word about Lapham and Cole. Both have extensive resumes, and both have played with Roosevelt Collier. Lapham, a member of brilliant Orlando band Shak Nasti, is also a member of Con Leche and The Absinthe Trio. Not coincidentally my favorite bass guitarist anywhere. Cole was a member of The Legendary JCs from Orlando and was also drummer for a time with JJ Grey and Mofro. He also played with jazz legend Sam Rivers for a number of years. He is also an accomplished alto saxophone player and a very funny man to boot.
In other words, this was a world-class event in a small St. Pete brewery, and those paying attention were treated to three stunning sets of music. Given that I arrived late, I discovered I had missed “Jan Jan” (Grant Green) and “Song for My Father” (Horace Silver). At break, Rodgers excitedly explained that they would be doing a lot more of these jazz gigs in the near future.
As they opened the second set, Cole was demonstrating just how amazing two drums and three cymbals could sound. The first tune featured Cole spending a lot of time playing the rims — superbly. Lapham was all over the place, incredible runs spilling out one after the other while Rodgers was comping underneath. Cole had some beautiful stick play in the second tune.
“Straight, No Chaser” unfolded next, that unmistakeable Monk sound carrying us away. As is his wont, Rodgers encourages his bandmates to solo almost every song. For my money, the solos weren’t better than what each player did throughout to enhance each song. A very uptempo “Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise” was next, followed by a slower tempo piece before one more short set break.
The last set was only 20 minutes, but it was stuffed full of “Well, You Needn’t” and then “Naima,” Coltrane’s ballad to his first wife. There was rousing applause after each song in all three sets, deservedly so. Rodgers’ magical playing incorporates Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, George Benson, and a whole lot of Bobby Lee. No wonder he was a jazz instructor at Berklee College of Music.
There’s no telling which trio Rodgers will have with him at any time — he’s a modern-day Art Blakey — but regardless of who is playing with him or whether he rocks or lovingly caresses jazz standards, you owe it to yourself to hear what Bobby Lee Rodgers has to say with his guitar.
BOBBY LEE RODGERS TRIO
09/08 Blue Jay | Jacksonville Beach FL
09/14 Lagniappe | Miami FL
09/15 The Fillmore Beach | Miami Beach FL
09/21 Guanabanas | Jupiter FL
09/22 CWS | Lake Worth FL
09/28 The Fillmore Beach | Miami Beach FL
09/29 The Fillmore Beach | Miami Beach FL
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