If there’s one thing to remember about Thundercat’s appearance at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier on Tuesday, it’s that there are two very distinct sides to this internationally renowned virtuoso: the one we discover on the album, and the one he offers on stage. Fans in attendance were quick to recognize the latter.
For almost two hours, the American bassist transformed each of his tracks into a springboard for long, heartfelt and hypnotic improvisational outbursts. Iconic orange Ibanez six-string in hand, Thundercat – real name Stephen Lee Bruner – drew from the four corners of his discography, concentrating mainly on his most recent project, It Is What It Is.
At centre stage, the Californian was having the time of his life in the company of his long-time acolytes and excellent musicians: Justin Brown on drums and Dennis Hamm on keyboards. With a smile on his face, and more often than not with his eyelids closed, the 40-year-old artist let himself be carried away by his creative impulses, navigating between jazz fusion, R&B, funk and hip-hop.
As he abandoned himself to the task, the audience followed, carried along by sudden but always controlled changes of direction.
Opening with “Lost in Space” / “Great Scott” / “22-26,” “Interstellar Love” then “Overseas,” the trio set the tone for this almost videogame-esque jazz celebration. Looking like a modern George Duke or Marvin Gaye, Thundercat brilliantly superimposed his ethereal, dreamy voice on the trio’s enveloping foundations. At times buried by the instruments, the singer would have benefited from a more generous gain on his microphone.
With over twenty years’ experience on the music scene, everything seemed so easy for him. Thundercat was able to change moods and interact with the crowd with ease. The highlight of the evening came when he invited a young man on stage to dance during his two most popular songs, “Them Changes” and “Funny Thing.“
The evening ended on a high note when the Festival de Jazz presented him with the Miles Davis Award, a distinction bestowed each year to a jazz artist in recognition of his or her contribution to the renewal of the genre. Whether for his many visits to Montreal, his solo offerings or his landmark collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, Erykah Badu, Childish Gambino or even Kamasi Washington, this recognition is more than deserved.
Seeing Thundercat on stage is a very different experience from what you might expect. Despite the fact that a few spectators have left the room, once you’ve grasped the delirium, you’re fully on board.
It’s already been five years since his last album. Can’t wait for some new material, sooner rather than later.
Photo Credit: Benoit Rousseau
