REVIEW: The Sax Pack

Posted June 29 at 09:11 AM

Walking into the Bob Hope Theatre June 26 was like stepping into a smooth jazz haven. Several jazz acts were in town for a show.

The opening band, Analysis, had all the trappings of smooth jazz: funky drums, soprano sax and electric guitar etc. The band’s sound, however, fringed on elevator music and smooth/soul.

The crowd, though small, was still very responsive, with fans shouting “I like it smooth like that!” and “keep it up Kenny G!” The soprano player had a Kenny G sound with a little more edge, while the the guitarist brought a ‘70s fusion feel.

Headliners the Sax Pack started with a bang. All three members came out from backstage soloing, and by the end the entire band was dancing, moving back and forth. They were backed by a powerful drummer, a funky rhythm guitarist, a well-schooled pianist, and a slappin’ bass player.

Each member was featured on a song. Kim Waters took the first song which showcased his flying fingers, bridging the gap between bebop and soul music. Steve Cole followed the most smooth sound out there, but he still made his sax cry with passion. His number was a tribute to the late Curtis Mayfield. Jeff Kashiwa’s tune had a Boney James feel with just a hint of Lenny Picket. Kashiwa was definitely the screamer of the group.

After each Sax Pack member was featured, the three played songs together with some impeccable harmonies. They played a slow porn groove, but they made everyone laugh by hamming it up to the point of performing a sort of foreplay on the instrument to get the sax in the mood to play. Needless to say, this sparked bouts of laughter from the audience with quite a lot of cat-calling. Steve Cole also played a song which by the end received a standing ovation.

The trio ended by walking and dancing around the aisles. Everyone was out of their seats dancing, and clapping. With Kim Waters as the technical player, Steve Cole as the moaner, and Jeff Kashiwa as the screamer, the Sax Pack put on a great show that everyone can appreciate. - Isaac Lopez.