Sauce Pocket & Dionysus: Dynamic Duo
Every now and again, two bands discover that playing shows together creates a whole new amazing dynamic. In May, Sauce Pocket (from Jacksonville) and Dionysus (from Gainesville) found that they were indeed like-minded in their approach to the jam. Both bands thrive on the jazz-funk fusion formula, and when they play together it is simply amazing.
The two groups recently had a two-night run, first in Gainesville at The Wooly August 16 and then at New World Tampa the next night. We were fortunate to catch the Tampa show (but lacked the stamina for the afterparty!).
Dionysus are: Ivan Padilla, drums, hat; Jose Piñeiro, tenor saxophone; Sebastian Sayavedra (Seb Saya), bass; and David Wells, keyboards, synths. For this show, the quartet were joined by percussionist Austin Divito from Sooza, an amazing brass band from Gainesville.
Dionysus has been skyrocketing over the past two years since we encountered them. This was a brilliant, wonderful set, starting with several favorites, especially “Koi Pond.” Everything was on the one. Piñeiro in particular has been blowing some incredible sax and did exactly that all night long.
Padilla introduced Freddie Hubbard’s “Red Clay,” a superb and important tune. Piñeiro honored Joe Henderson’s playing from that 1970 album, and Wells did the same honoring Herbie Hancock’s piano work. “Calipygian” was a smokin’ tune, with leader Padilla constantly pushing the pace. Piñeiro took a moment to quote a Star Wars theme here.
Seb Saya was dynamite all set but really blew it out on “Mr. Muster” and “Dub ’n Bass.” I failed to recognize the great cover they performed of Ghost-Note’s “Swagism,” but I did absolutely DID recognize the next tune about five seconds in: a stunning cover of The Magic Way” from the 2004 masterpiece by The Motet Music for Life. Everything — EVERYTHING — about this was perfection, especially Wells’ magnificent use of keyboards and synths.
[Padilla later told me that they were playing an afterparty following The Motet’s Jannus Live show in March. They were in the middle of “The Magic Way” when Dave Watts, founder and drummer for The Motet, walked in to hear Dionysus playing his composition! Nice!]
[DIONYSUS: For My Ladies, Ionize, Koi Pond, Red Clay (Freddie Hubbard), Calipygian, Mr. Muster, Dub ’n Bass, Swagism (Ghost-Note), The Magic Way (The Motet)]
Sauce Pocket are: Matt Horhota, tenor saxophone; Riley O’Brien, drums; Taylor Ivie, bass; Steven Rose, guitar; Aaron Thorla, keyboards; and Jessica Jones, vocals.
Sauce Pocket are an outstanding instrumental band, but last April at Resonate Suwannee they also debuted their collaboration with sonic vocalist Jessica Jones; they perform together when schedules and geography match, as was the case for these two shows.
The funk was deep on “Goober Express,” dressed up with Thorla’s clavinet, and Jones joined them mid-tune. The sound in the music hall was very good all evening — except that Jones’ vocals were muddy in the mix. “Drunk Dial” featured solos from Horhota, Rose, and Thorla (keyboards and synths). They dove into a fast, deep groove on “Run Away,” a fine showcase for Rose’s stunning guitar work. There were some sultry vocals from Jones before the band slammed into “Big Chungus (Bricked Up, Gettin’ Sturdy).” Ivie and O’Brien direct the traffic flow superbly.
I’m hoping that “Tiddies & Trucks” appears on the upcoming studio album so that we can dive deeper into those lyrics! “Dirty Bird” and “Noodle Brain” are both excellent jams, and sandwiched in between them was “Glow,” the song Jones sang at that first collaboration at Resonate Suwannee where drummer O’Brien proposed to his muse, Cass Andra (hell, yes, we were bawling our eyes out then). They closed out a perfect night with a huge kick-ass song called “Rocket,” allowing everybody to show out, most specially “Sparkly Steve” Rose.
[SAUCE: Goober Express, Drunk Dial, Run Away, Laser Bean, Big Chungus (Bricked Up, Gettin’ Sturdy), Tiddies & Trucks, Dirty Bird, Glow, Noodle Brain, Rocket]
What a fabulous night!