Soulive isn't going to let its audience take jazz sitting down. The trio of Alan and Neal Evans and Eric Krasno proclaims its brand of music to be "jazz that you can dance to," which will fill Bowdoin's Sargent Gym today at 9 p.m.
Sandip Patel '07 and Curtis Isacke '07, co-chairs of the Activities Board committee that booked Soulive for its Bowdoin concert, discussed their first impressions of the band and how its fusion of jazz and hip-hop works.
"It's not coffeehouse style," Patel said. "It's classical, but caters to a younger crowd with hip-hop."
Patel first heard of Soulive at his high school in New York, where he attended the same school as famed jazz guitarist John Scofield's children. Soulive collaborated with Scofield in its early years, gaining exposure and learning from the man that All Music Guide describes as "one of the 'big three' of current jazz guitarists, along with Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell."
Before collaborating with Scofield on the 2001 album "Doin' Something," the Evans brothers and Krasno were part of jam bands Moon Boot Lovers and the Greyboy Allstars, respectively. The three formed Soulive in the early 90s when all of them were under the age of 25, making up an eclectic mix of music featuring the organ, guitar, drums, and brass.
In regards to the new form of jazz that Soulive plays, Isacke said, "Jazz people can appreciate their musicianship, but Soulive is at a different level."
Dan Wilson '06, a veteran drummer of the Bowdoin campus who plays with the Jim Weeks Philharmonic, among other ensembles, also emphasized that Soulive can't be classified as strictly jazz.
"The roots of the music certainly do come out of jazz, in the sense that it's instrumental and involves a lot of improvised solos, but since they have a great deal of funk, soul, hip-hop, rock, dance, and R&B influence, it's pretty far from what I would consider straight ahead jazz," said Wilson.
Wilson also described Neal Evans as having "as Ely Delman will tell you, the funkiest right bass drum foot on the planet," and Patel stated that the band's brass section also adds to the music's appeal.
"The brass section makes the instrumental more fast-paced and the rhythms heard in hip-hop are brought into jazz," he said.
Soulive also represents a different genre of music than what is commonly found at Bowdoin concerts.
"There was some risk in bringing a jazz group, but we're about bringing different groups." Isacke said. "After we put up posters for the band, right away people were asking for tickets, so it was exciting to have a good response."
The exploration of jazz and hip-hop wrapped up in a jam-band style also excited Wilson.
"There is a large population on campus that is really into more funky jam music, and bands like Soulive," he said. "Unfortunately, this group of students often goes underrepresented on the Bowdoin musical scene, which generally tends to be dominated by indie rock. I think a lot of students, faculty, and community members who are already into this kind of funky music will love the show, but even more importantly, I think a lot of people who go to the concert without a clue about Soulive or this kind of music will have a blast and become immediate fans."
The show at Bowdoin will be no different from other Soulive shows, bringing funk and danceable jazz characteristic of the band.
"Their grooves are just so infectious and make you want to have a good time. It's fun, happy, energetic, danceable, groove-based, upbeat, funky music, period," said Wilson, who saw the band last summer at a free concert in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.
"People who are into hip-hop and funk will definitely be engaged in the show. Actually, there's not any type of music taste on campus that wouldn't be into Soulive." said Isacke.
Tickets are available at the Smith Union Info Desk ($5 with Bowdoin I.D., $7 Bowdoin friends, $10 public).