Live Review
Sam Cockrell & The Groove
@ Famous Dave's
Feb. 18, 1999
by Ray Stiles
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Chris Forte, Sam Cockrell, Howard Shaw
Feb. 18, 1999 @ Famous Dave's BBQ & Blues
Photo © 1999 Tom Asp. All rights reserved
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Bass player and band leader Sam Cockrell has been playing music almost his entire life. He said he first played at a club called the Burning Spear when he was 9 years old. 31 years later this dynamic bass player and gifted singer has just finished recording his first CD and made his debut performance in Minneapolis.
Born in 1959, Cockrell grew up listening to the music of his time and cites diverse influences like Grand Funk Railroad, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, Yes, The Doobie Brothers and the Motown sound. As a child he saw the Jackson 5 and decided he wanted to play the bass, which has been his instrument ever since.
Sam's band, The Groove, consists of guitar player Chris Forte, Saxophone player Howard Shaw and long time friend and drummer Rob Davis. These guys are full of energy and fun to watch. They play music that is geared to getting the crowd up and dancing. They cover a variety of genres and are just as comfortable playing R&B, pop, motown, rock and dance music as they are straight ahead blues - and they can do them all with style and aplomb. Variety is the bands specialty, and they play what the audience wants to hear. Sam's trained voice also lends itself easily to just about any style of music, not being limited to just the blues. He has a clear, strong, confident voice, and when you combine that with his exciting bass playing and crowd pleasing good nature you get one great performer.
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Sam & Howard
Feb. 18, 1999
Photo © 1999 Tom Asp. All rights reserved
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Sam is often out in the audience getting things moving and several times he was even joined by saxophone player Howard Shaw. During the second set they even wound up together playing inside the bar on the other side of the room. The band went back to the 70's with some Jackson Five songs and easily switched gears as they roared through "Texas Flood" and dished out a scorching version of "Pride and Joy." They played a number of original songs from Sam's new CD I'm In The Business, including one called, "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom" where he started out with some rapid fire slapping bass, then the band kicked in with a frantic paced beat. Several other quality songs from the CD included "Caught In The Act," and "I'm In the Business." Speaking of his new CD I'm In The Business, it features a stellar cast of great Chicago blues players including Billy Branch, Jimmy Johnson, Maurice John Vaughn, Carl Weathersby, Michael Coleman, Will Crosby and Johnny V. You can order the CD from: Sam Cockrell 773-543-0468.
R&B man Sam Cockrell is a dynamic bass player, a gifted singer and song writer, and a great entertainer -- he knows how to "get-to" an audience, keeping them involved and enjoying the show. So if you are looking for a good time check him out when he returns to Famous Dave's on June 5th and again July 3 & 4, 1999.
This review is copyright © 1999 by Ray Stiles, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
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