Geila Zilkha and Super Soul Jazz
Geila Zilkha and Super Soul Jazz
Cotton Club
August 8, 2022
Geila Zilkha ギラ・ジルカ – vocal
Shunji Takenaka 竹中俊二 – guitar
Shinichi Kusama 草間信一 – piano and keyboards
SOKUSAI – bass
Juasa Kanoh 加納樹麻 – drums
Music rarely gets more uplifting than Geila and SSJ. The band is a match made in high-energy heaven. Touring in support of the recent release of not one but two full CDs of recordings, the band was a pure blast of musical pleasure. The audience could hardly stay in their seats through the set. The songs were almost all taken from the most recent releases from Geila and Super Soul Jazz (a fitting name). Geila rides the deep grooves SSJ sets down, but also knows how to step aside and let each member show their talent with tasteful soloing. The set was laid out to showcase each of them.
The original "Be My Master" started the evening with an upbeat number fusing jazz, rock, soul, and R&B. That first number set the evening for their unique style, with Geila's vocals soaring over each tune. "Tomato" was set to a Latin beat and offered delightfully suggestive lyrics. The band had each number polished to a gleam but remained loose and live.
"All Real," another original, showed the band's tight connection and deep chops. Soul jazz at a slow tempo is hard to do right, but the band pulled into this cool, sleek number with a great sense of how styles blend to connect deeply with listeners. Geila showed her singing to great effect, with full, solid vocals and lovely passing notes. She's a subtle jazz singer with the rootsy right-on feel of soul."Round Midnight" pulled the evening towards the jazz side with a very original arrangement. The well-known song was delivered with heartfelt melancholy and an arrangement that sticks in your mind. The excellent bass solo in the middle made it one of the most impressive numbers of the evening. Takenaka on guitar moved back just enough to let the song resonate. As on all the pieces, his guitar formed the core of the sound, pulling the other musicians in with their own taste and drive.
The tricky rhythms of "Spain" looked like a lark for these top-notch musicians. The funky Latin drumming propelled the song forward, making it look all too easy. "Love For Sale" offered another great arrangement and genuine reinterpretation. It's refreshing to hear jazz standards reconceived so well, brought so close to present sensibilities and sounds, rather than being a museum piece. The show closed out with another original, "Dive into Your Love," which was funky, wild, and fun, and the encore, a great cover of the Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Running," left fans both wanting more and clapping with the fullness of satisfaction.
Video from the show!
All photo credits and big thanks to: Core Creative
https://corecreative.jp/ and Silver Fox Production https://silverfoxpro.com/
CD Review Geila Zilkha "appearance"
