Marquee performance

A day after the show at Raw Sugar, I went over to Ritual to see the legendary Lee Fields in action. If you're a fan of old-school soul and funk - as I am - Fields fits the bill and then some. Opening were local retro-soul purveyors Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays. The group, as you'll see, is essentially another permutation of The Souljazz Orchestra so you know they're dedicated to the style.

Some familiar faces in the horn section.



Ditto for singer "Mary Caruso" (who I last remember wearing a denim jumper at the Souljazz Project's Bluesfest performance back in 2007).



Mary is summoned to the microphone.



Caruso sings!



Phil Motion hits!



Thibeaux Toussaint keeps a close eye on the frets.



Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Slim Moore!



Slim action!



Conteplative action!



Singalong action! (Plus bassist Donovan Willis.)



More Slim!



Tambourine action!



Some final Slim.



Missed 'em? They perform next Thursday at the Mercury Lounge.

• Show reminder: My Shadow and Muffler Crunch tear it up at the Daily Grind; Sofistifucks, Police Funeral and Shackles rock David Hasslehouse; The Riot Police storm Zaphod's; The Hammerheads get funky at the Rainbow; The Mumbo Jumbo Voodoo Combo performs at Irene's; the Elmdale hosts The Wicked Mercy, Shannon Rose and The Thorns, and Suns of Stone and Beer Barons.

Steeped in soul

I'm a big fan of soul music, so when I heard Lee Fields & The Expressions were coming to town I naturally decided to go and check it out. I did hem and haw about it since I was working an early shift, but I figured getting up at 8 a.m. instead of noon didn't make the day that much longer ... Anyway, on to Fields, who was bringing his straight up sound to Ritual. Like Sharon Jones, his music comes directly out of the 1960s and 1970s and labels like Hi. Opening up were local crew Slim Moore & The Mar-kays.

Moore has a reggae background, while The Mar-Kays are another Souljazz Orchestra project. They did their set in a traditional way, with an introductory instrumental and a turn from backup singer Mary Caruso. They really dig Syl Johnson and covered Is It Because I'm Black? and Concrete Reservation, along with Mavin Gaye's What's Going On.


Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays at Ritual, May 4, 2012

Slim sings!


Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays at Ritual, May 4, 2012

Singalong action!


Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays at Ritual, May 4, 2012

Lee Fields took the stage in a pair a pair of aviator shades, black suit and what looked like a chartreuse waistcoat and tie (at least under the stage lights -  they do funny things to colour). Here's the man himself!


Lee Fields & The Expressions at Ritual, May 4, 2012

Singalong action! I recognize drummer Homer Steinweiss  from his time backing Sharon Jones, but the other Expressions are new to me.


Lee Fields & The Expressions at Ritual, May 4, 2012

"Put your hands in the air!"


Lee Fields & The Expressions at Ritual, May 4, 2012

A soul-stirring night!

• Show reminder: Eight and a Half and The Gallop perform at Zaphod Beeblebrox; The Reverend Horton Heat, The Real McKenzies and The Brains rock Ritual; The Hornettes bring the funk to Irene's; Loudlove rocks the Rainbow. The Elmdale hosts No Fly List, New Age Soldier and My Favourite Tragedy. Animal Confession, Gini Sigler and One More Me are at the Avant-Garde Bar.