Keep it simple stupid! It is one of those pieces of advice that is so easy to say and so hard to follow but I feel that Ray Barnard really channels that ethos across his output. The man prioritizes a good groove and when he has something nice to sing into the microphone he does it! For years Barnard has been stocking his backing band with great players and gracing Twin Cities stages with unselfish sets where the egos get turned away at the door and the music always wins. On any given Thursday-Sunday, Barnard can be found on stage at the Dubliner, The Lexington or another venue in town that knows the value of having a nice band plying their trade while the staff serve up food and drink.
A lot of Barnard’s latest release, And the Horse You Rode In, pulls at the reggae side of his offerings and the results are pretty enjoyable. But I was drawn to an instrumental that sits firmly in Booker T. And the MGs territory. It’s called “Pistol Pete” and it’s got a groove that always puts me in a better state of mind. Via email Barnard informed me that with Ray himself on keys, Jeremy Johnson (guitar), Nick Salisbury (bass), and Greg Schutte (drums) the song coalesced as a jam after the fact Barnard flew in the Hammond B3 work himself.
There’s not some big “aha” moment awaiting you in the tune “Pistol Pete.” It’s just darn great players cooking up a nice groove and giving us the pleasure of listening in! Keep it simple indeed! Thanks for the new music Ray!
Hot New Local Singles highlights new, local songs. Minnesota has a lot of great jazz, funk, soul, and jazz- adjacent music, and Jazz88 is highlighting what is fresh.
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