Support for WCLK comes from the Suite Food Lounge, home of the Suite Jazz Series, presenting for one night only Thursday, December 8, Contemporary Jazz Guitarist and Composer Doc Powell. Doors open at 6:30pm with dinner and Jazz with Doc Powell at 7:30pm. More information including reservations can be found at JazzBeat Promotions, at eventbrite.com or by calling 404-577-2500.
Powell, a popular session player best known for his performances with the late Luther Vandross, has subsequently thrown out jazz, gospel, funk and rock over the course of nine albums. On his new one, Powell isn’t so raw anymore. He remains a steady professional with a playful knack for catchy instrumental numbers. Fortunately, Doc never forgets that he can play the hell out of the guitar, and here-more than any other time in the past-the player known for his electric a switches to the Martin acoustic he’s been playing on the road in recent years. His classical bent is best heard on “Together We Can” -where he plays octaves in a Wes Montgomery style while the acoustic is playing the same thing but with a different tone-and with Carole King’s “It’s Too Late,” which he performs with keyboardist Brian Culbertson and saxophonist Kirk Whalum. He also closes with an “unplugged version” of King’s hit.