CAROLE SYLVAN & THE NAME DROPPERS – LIVE
On February 11th, the divine Carole Sylvan brought her soulful voice to Cafe 9 in New Haven. Accompanied by the indomitable Name Droppers, Sylvan performed a ten song set of original songs and first-rate standards. Cafe 9 is the perfect venue to catch Sylvan. The legendary venue has a certain intimate flair. This particular night the house was full and the buzz strong.
Opening up the evening was Rocky Lawrence. Lawrence delivered a dynamic set of robust blues. His voice was masterful and his guitar playing was brilliant. He easily captivated the audience with his powerful riffs and jaunty stage presence. My wife, Jenn, really enjoyed his Clapton like vocals and strong musicianship. Rocky was the perfect launch to a wonderful evening.
Next up was the Name Droppers. The band is comprised of four musicians that have mystical musical backgrounds. Guitarist Rafe Klein is spellbinding. His guitar rings with an avid smoothness. For many years, he played with blues legend Charlie Karp. Drummer Bobby “T” Torello is fierce. His percussions hit with an explosive tenacity. Bobby has an extensive career including drumming for Johnny Winter. Scott Spray on bass is tremendous. His bass lines have a propulsive energy. He also played with Johnny Winter. Keyboardist Ron Rifkin has a vibrant intensity that is infectious. He too played with Karp. All four players have numerous studio sessions under their belts and have accompanied some of the biggest artists in music.
This evening The Name Dropers played four songs as an intro to Carole Sylvan. Even though it was a short set, The Name Droppers totally revved up the audience. They began with an instrumental medley and dove directly into “Givin It All I Got”. Their sound was flawless. From there, they followed with a cool rendition of “Diddy Wah Diddy” closing out with the “Name Drop Strut”. The entire room was charged up.
A loud applause erupted when Carole Sylvan and her backup singers hit the stage. She started with the Willie Dixon cover, “I Cry For You”. off her Vic Steffens’ produced album Love.. Her voice has that superb blend of silky soul and impeccable funk. Her backup singers, Tashia Renea and Mitch Matlock, were stellar. They seductively complimenting Sylvan‘s snappy swagger. She immediately powered through a spectacular version of “Tennessee Whiskey”. Her emotive voice was full of soulful textures.The Name Droppers accompanied Sylvan beautifully. It was a hell of a tune.
The entire night was full of dazzling compositions and impressive musicianship. Sylvan ran through a myriad of genres. She kept the audience guessing and on their toes. “To Love Somebody” and the Charlie Karp/Rafe Klein written “Keep It Clean” were definitely highlights. Another Karp/Klein song, “Love To Love” was an enormous hit. Sylvan, her backup singers and The Name Droppers stole everyone’s hearts with their memorable r&b and funky style. It was a glorious night of exuberant music.
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To learn more about Carole Sylvan, check out her website
Follow on Facebook / YouTube / Instagram / Twitter
Stream music: Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud
Purchase: Amazon
To learn more about The Name Droppers, check out their website
Follow on Facebook / YouTube / Instagram
Stream music: Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud
Purchase: Amazon
To learn more about Rocky Lawrence, check out his website
Purchase: Amazon
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