So just how is a person supposed to survive on a diet of no SoulMates? It has been a month since SoulMates graced Portland with their own distinctive sounds of soul.  Again, how does a person survive? My wife and I were under constant intraveinous feeding of SoulMates: Live and In Living Color.  You get your fix any way you can.

But Monday night, June 25, 2012 was the return to Quimby's at 19th and what a return! A few changes in the look of the place and Sara waiting to greet the band and customers alike set a sweet stage for the end of a month-long draught.

A green drape was hung over the brick wall behind the band in order to dampen the sound banging off the back wall. A nice touch that was much appreciated by drummer Reinhardt Melz.

SoulMates wasted no time in thrilling the growing crowd with the opening instrumental Bacchus. The punchy little staccato beats traded between drums, guitar and kicking bass framed the more lyrical layers that allows the listener to ease into the music while being awakened to what was to come. Good stuff and a great way to start again.

The second instrumental was introduced by guitarist Jay "Bird" Koder with "SoulMates coming at ya. Getting it warmed up, here. We're gonna get it on... at Quimby's." The band and the crowd were both getting warmed up as was obvious by the chatter amongst the patrons. Missing the band and missing the family for a whole month.

Jarrod was turning it on with the keyboard solo and was simply staggering. The Bird was in full flight himself and the paired solos were sweet to hear. Beautiful lyricism!

And in walks Jonah and Monica... the cutest couple in the world. Talk about presence that lights up a room--these two have that kind of impact. The world just seems a better place when they come around...and it is.

They arrived just in time for the third song and instrumental, Europa, the great guitar showcase that Carlos Santana used to evoke his own moments of soul. Below is a link to a live recording of Santana playing it but only for you to hear the song and to imagine what it could possibly sound like under the Bird treatment. Not insulting Santana, whom I love, but Carlos just needs to put his guitar down and listen to the Bird on this one! Bird's version is so much cooler and soulful but tonight it was even more emotional. It was touching and it certainly touched me.

After the Bird's domination of the Santana piece, it was the time to give Reinhardt his first real solo of the night in the fourth "warm-up" piece. And he lit it up! Never make the mistake of thinking that Reinhardt is one of those drummers who solos only to showcase their power. Reinhardt is a precision percussionist. The melody is never sacrificed for flashy power but the power is always in service of the melody in his playing. And when he concludes... many heads are shaking in disbelief at what they have just seen. Can I get a witness?

Michael and Krissie Magaurn joined the audience at this point. Their arrival always adds a touch of class to any event and venue. The Magaurns could show up at a roadside hot dog stand and they turn it into a 4-star place. Presence does that, too.

"You've heard him on the keys, playing up a storm, and kicking bass all over the place. Now you get to hear the soul of Mr. Jarrod Lawson," was Bird's intro to the first Jarrod's vocal number of the night, Stay. Reinhardt's cool groove with the doubled rim-shots and Bird's blue guitar heighten the sense of resolve and hope that the lyrics and Jarrod's vocals portray.

Bird's guitar was especially wailing on this particular evening. He starts with deep blues then ascends to hope as Reinhardt matches the mood. After his solo, someone yelled out "Oh, MAN!"

The song backs down to conclude with strong impressions from guitar, vocals, keys and drums. Hauntingly hopeful is about the only way to describe the sound. It worked.

The chatter between songs was fun. Jarrod was asking how everybody was doing which elicited a hoot from the audience. He added that it was good to be back at Quimby's and Bird joined in with enthusiastic agreement. As they were still talking, Reinhardt started the "Gadd groove" to intoduce Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover. In this night's treatment, Reinhardt maintained Steve Gadd's original beat while adding different flourishes of his own. You really have to listen to Reinhardt and you also have to know the original recording to see just what Reinhardt is bringing to the party. It's his subtleties that make all the difference.

Meanwhile, the Bird is working his magic on the guitar and provides sounds that Paul Simon never saw coming. At one point he adds an almost Arab sound that really boosts the beauty of SoulMates' version, especially when the song is turned into a samba at the end.  This was not a cover...it was a conquest.

The room at Quimby's was the great space for such a takeover. When Fifty Ways... concluded, Jarrod said "I love this room! The best acoustics." Scott and Sara have done a great job of adjusting and manipulating the room just so... and it has paid off. Sara wants to make it right for SoulMates and she does a great job of promoting the music and the band. She is a dream-come-true.

Everyone was talking about the place right up until the next song began. One could hear Bird and Jarrod and Reinhardt talking about the small details and their appreciation of it. Then they slid into a cool intro that they played around with as Lance Giles entered the room and got shouts of greeting from everyone.The cool intro continued into a smooth but harrowing narrative as Her Twisted MInd unfolded in bluesy splendor. This song is cool and it is the nightmare of every guy who has ever dated.

But even the horrors of Her Twisted Mind lose their fearful grip when the lovely and winsome Rhonda is serving in the house! Rhonda, you may recall, was the ever-present darling bartender at the Candlelight Cafe and Bar. When the Candlelight closed, she took up employment at Quimby's in hope that SoulMates would be coming to Quimby's sooner or later. Her foresight paid off and all is right with the world. Rhonda at Quimby's!!!! It brings a thrill... and it lets you know that we are on The Right Track.

Sure, that was a cheesy transition but you have to allow me one occassionally.

The song may as well have been about Rhonda. "Without her, I'm nothing but a man sitting here alone. Without her, I'm nothing but a man on an empty shelf." Rhonda was the missing ingredient to the restored fun that has been missing since the close of the Candlelight.

The song is cool, bluesy and funky...like Rhonda. There are people whose absence leaves a hole in your heart. Rhonda is just such a person. Adorable and warm-hearted, that's Rhonda.

The first set was ready to close with the Donny Hathaway classic, Love Love Love. A flawless song, it somehow gets even better under the loving touch of SoulMates. Bird's guitar is just unmatched. He turns on the charm and lays over the swinging rhythms of Reinhardt as Jarrod underscores it all with the kicking bass and the harmonious keys.

Then...up steps Paul Mazzio! He jumps into a cool solo that can bring a smile to the corpse of Julius Caesar. Two horn players understand better than all others just how to play with SoulMates. Paul Mazzio is one. The other would show up in the second set.

After his solo, Paul keeps up the beautiful undertones as Jarrod sings like he is channeling Donny Hathaway. Paul and Jarrod cross over each other beautifully. Good Lord, this is good stuff. The set was not allowed to close so SoulMates gave the audience one more before the break.

Lance Giles got the obligatory dedication with She's Right. He deserves it. He travels from Seattle every Monday just to hear his SoulMates. I often wonder if there is a story behind why Lance especially likes this song. Jarrod sings it like he means it, so it is probably safe to say that every man who has been in a relationship with a woman has had to confess "Yes, she's right and I'm wrong."

It was a great way to close out the first set. The band joined the audience for conversation and drinks and it seemed like home for those present.

The second set took off with Greatdayndamoanin (Great Day in the Morning). This shows Reinhardt at his funkiest. He changes rhythms like nobody else and has left many bassists in his wake.

Then steps up...the second horn player I previously mentioned... Farnell Newton! Asking which player you prefer is like asking which you like better; pecan pie or key lime pie. Maybe you can answer the question but I love them both and can't get enough of either.

Farnell plays the funky side and plays against Bird's guitar in the coolest of ways. All the while, Reinhardt is rolling the thunder...

By this time, the audience is now calling out the songs they want to hear. Peter Winhcester had been calling out for Everything I Need since the first set. So, Bird decides on Jarrod's great work, Everything I Need. No matter how much I write about it, I can never say enough about this song...but I still try. In case you missed it, I wrote last week at length about this song here: http://travisrogersjr.weebly.com/2/post/2012/06/jarrods-magnum-opus-everything-i-need.html.

Bird's guitar on this is stratospheric; it soars. It wails and rejoices, laments and encourages. Jarrod provides a little church music in the background and Reinhardt plays a triumphant pattern. This song is... amazing. And the audience feels the same way that I do. The roaring applause proves it. Peter called for an offering to be taken after that song. Jarrod picked up the tip jar "Seymour Tips" and said, "Right here."

Arietta was then called up by Jarrod and Bird. You know the song she sang, if you've been around Etta and SoulMates at all; Fly Like an Eagle. She makes this song fun and political and stirring all at once. Then they were all joined by Farnell again. It was an all-star game now. And when it was over, everyone called their love to Arietta.

Miss Toni Hill was also in the house and she joined in next. The song she joined in was Gershwin's Summertime. Arietta screamed in appreciation at the very first note. Toni's soulful working of the Gershwin classic was gorgeous. Then Bird's fabulous guitar interpretation took the piece into the clouds yet again. Reinhardt's clapping rim shots gave the song a jazziness that supported it all. Fabulous song!

Despite Jonah's call for certain songs, Lovely Day was the next song. When they got to the chorus, Arietta and Toni sang the harmony with Jarrod. Then Bird's guitar solo set hearts aflame as he always does. And that would have been that... but Jonah kept begging and he got what he wanted.

The encore was Man 4 U, the Jay "Bird" Koder original. Jonah was right--it had been far too long since we had heard it.  This is a great encore for people who love SoulMates. Even people who don't dance want to dance when this song is performed. There is a movement and melody that simply captures the heart.

The bridge of the song is wonderful. "Let me be the one, the one that you can turn to when everybody else has let you down" is written as a love song to the love of his life. But the thing about Bird is that he is that for everyone that meets him.
SoulMates are like that, also. This is where you can turn when everything else has let you down.

Farnell was back to conclude the bridge and return to the verse. He adds a punctuating blast to drive home the point. Then Bird's guitar returns as calming and soothing assurance. It becomes a 10 1/2 minute testimony of devotion and the security of a loving heart.

This is the devotion from the soul of SoulMates to the soul of those who have been touched by their music. Once you have been touched, you are a soulmate forever.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 finally bore witness to what we had been hoping to see for months-- SoulMates were going to be playing at Quimby's on 19th and Quimby Ave(www.quimbysat19th.com). This was the place that everyone had been watching and awaiting as a possible venue for the band and music we love.

Quimby's had seen people stop by, peek in, and scout before finally the date was scheduled. To make things even better, the sweet and lovely Rhonda was now working there, having found a home there after the demolition of the beloved Candlelight.

There was the ever-hoped for chance that this could be the new Candlelight.

A call was put in to Lance Giles to inform him of the change of venue and day. Lance made the trip from Seattle for the special event. Everyone wanted to be there, showing up early to get prime seats and peruse the menu. We were soon joined by Michael and Theresa G and the Magaurns. Toshi and Adam would have to wait until Toshi was finished with his own gig before they could arrive.

Quimby's welcomed everyone warmly. Sarah was the perfect hostess and she detailed the plans that they have envisioned for the place to accomodate the music. The place is warm and the staff is just as warm. After the music ended, many of us stayed until 2:30 am and we were never rushed out or felt anything other than welcome and gratitude for being there. We could stay and talk about the music of the night. This was beginning to feel like it could be home.

When SoulMates began to arrive, with Jarrod Lawson always first to get there, everyone was chatting up the new site. Only one thing was left to check and that would have to wait until the music actually began...

And when it did begin, it was what we had craved: good acoustics and a good sound system. The first song proved it. The brick wall behind the band posed a challenge for a moment but with an adjusted monitor here and a repositioned speaker there, the sound was good for everyone, band and audience.

At this point, Lance Giles walked in the front door which resulted in a whoop from everyone...or maybe it was just me being loud all by myself.

The opener was a sweet instrumental and it set the finest of moods for the evening. After Jay "Bird" Koder's first guitar solo, Matt in the audience (himself a guitarist) commented aloud, "Man! That's the very first solo?" Then Jarrod Lawson followed with some of his most beautiful piano work. As I have often said, it is too easy to overlook Jarrod's keyboard playing because of his amazing voice, but Jarrod is a first-rate pianist. Never forget that.

Reinhardt Melz laid down the solid rhythm which were expanded into the following number, also an instrumental. From that groove sprung Jarrod's amazing turn at kicking bass and Bird's solo was just gorgeous. It was emotional. It was tender. It was what every grieving heart needed to hear.

SoulMates celebrated the first night at Quimby's in style with old favorites send out to old friends in a great new setting. Valdez in the Country was shouted out to Mikey G.  In fact, the SoulMates version should now be called Mikey in the Country. This song is a great showpiece for Reinhardt's stickwork and he always provides something new and exciting. It is one of Donny Hathaway's brilliant forays into jazz and SoulMates can work a Hathaway composition like nobody else can.

One Mo 'Gin is a great vocal piece for Jarrod. It is slow and soulful and Reinhardt provided such a cool groove to it. The slow ascent is stirring. The lyrics are inspired and meaningful and Jarrod makes it his very own.

Then Bird begins the spacey riff of Fly Like and Eagle. I will freely admit, I was not much of a Steve Miller fan when he could be heard on fm-radio about 20 times a day. It wasn't until discovering the early Steve Miller Blues Band that I appreciated his guitar performances. I came late to that party. But Jay "Bird" takes the Miller piece and runs it through the SoulMates soul-maker and "turns it on its ear," as the Bird puts it.

This particular night, the Bird just shreds the guitar solo. Now I dislike using musical cliches like "monster chops" or "hot licks" but shredding is the only way to appropriately describe what is happening. Especially...ESPECIALLY...when Bird is doing it with one hand while the other hand hangs loose by his side. Wait...what? Yes, a one-handed "shred."

Then comes the sweet return of Donny Hathaway with You Were Meant for Me. Trumpet great Paul Mazzio walked in at this point, just in time to catch the beautiful intonations of Jarrod's vocal delivery. Ah, but there I go again... Jarrod's piano skills are more than equal to the piece. Sometimes I just focus on watching Jarrod's playing. It is effortless in appearance but so emotional and so very warm.

There are not that many who can pull off the warmth in their piano playing. Mostly, when I think of piano warmth I think of Oscar Peterson...and Jarrod Lawson. The great Hathaway song was rearranged SoulMates style and Bird, Jarrod and Reinhardt took it higher than ever before. It's what they do.

The next composition is one of my very favorites of all SoulMates' originals. It was written by Jarrod and he had in mind the disasters that befall people and the realization that follows of what is truly important in life. The song, of course, is Everything I Need.

In a future article, I will devote the whole piece to this song. For now, however, let me say that this: the song is about finding the essence of what life is. It is about being in the presence of those we love.

This is the message that we can carry away with us; that it is not things but people that matter in this world. Relationships and not possessions are the things of the spirit and the soul. This was what Bird was saying to those in attendance--that wherever we go and in whatever situation we find ourselves in this world, we have everything we need when we are in relationship with our SoulMates/soulmates.

It is the sound of Jarrod's voice in our heads that can get us through a difficult moment. It is Reinhardt's full-throated laugh that turns away sadness. It is the light in Jay "Bird's" eye that banishes grief. Indeed, we have everything we need.

The rendition on this Wednesday night was simply flawless.

It was followed up by yet another composition of Jarrod's done in cooperation with Farnell Newton and Steveland Swatkins. The title is Everything is Clear. It can be found on Farnell's CD Class is Now in Session. Toshi and Adam joined the Quimby's audience during this moving piece. It was a well-timed entry as it gave them a moment to catch their breath and relax.

They moved on to the blues ("Because Krissie Magaurn loves the blues") with She's Right. Reinhardt was crossing up the groove in a cool, bluesy way and it was a pleasure to hear. Sometimes we get so used to the thunder and lightning of Reinhardt's drumming that we forget how subtle he can be. It is in those subtle moments that his unmitigated brilliance shines in a completely different way.

It was also a moment of Bird's sweetest guitar work. It is the downplay that makes one sit up and take special notice. It is as someone once said about a whisper being the best way to draw attention. So it was with the whispers from the trio at Quimby's. Those heartfelt quiet moments were overwhelming.

That sweetness remained in Lovely Day, another song that never grows old for me.  It was another moment of some of Bird's most intriguing guitar solos which was brought to a conclusion by one of Reinhardt's crash-stops. It was the final number for the first set and we were immediately struck with a feeling that the night just could not end. At least, we did not want it to end.

The break was filled with photo-taking and hugs and everyone was enjoying Quimby's and the home that they had provided. Those who usually would have departed after the first set remained for friendship's sake. Nobody was wanting to say good-bye and everyone stayed late.

The second and final set opened with Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover. Reinhardt was working his magic in new and wondrous ways. It was the finest version heard yet.

From Fifty Ways... to Greatdayndamornin, a Lance favorite. It gets him up and dancing every time. Watching Lance dancing made me stop and look around at those gathered together. At our table were the wonderful Michael and Kris Magaurn, he the noble patriarch of the SoulMates family and she the Woodstock girl who is as adorable as she must have been back then. Toshi Onizuka, the brilliant fusion guitarist and dear friend was seated beside me and beyond Toshi was Adam Gloria who is one of the gentlest souls ever known. The Earlys were close by. Music fanatic Randy Corby was seated with Paul Mazzio. The lovely Miss Connie was beside my sweet wife Chieko. Miss Connie was the one who inspired the Bird song Man4U; she is the love of his life.

Then my sight came to rest on Michael and Theresa G. Two of the most inspiring people ever. He is an inspiration to me and she is a ray of sunshine. I'm sure she gets angry but I have never seen it or heard tell of it. I'm sure he gets down but he never speaks a word of anything less than light and love. Someday maybe they will let me tell you their story--it is worth hearing. I thought about how all of this began for Chieko and me; how it all began with Mikey G.

We were walking down the sidewalk in downtown Vancouver in March of 2011 and Mikey was standing outside his guitar studio. We were introduced to Mikey by a mutual friend and the friendship with him was instantaneous. We talked about music and Mikey invited us to join him on Mondays at the Candlelight to hear a friend of his "who has this band called SoulMates." I asked him who his friend was and he said, "Jay 'Bird' Koder." I knew who Jay Koder was! He had been with the Jeff Lorber Fusion, had recorded with Freddie Hubbard and Chick Corea, toured with the Steve Miller Band and the Doobie Brothers, and had been a member of the Stilettos...and on and on...

We went to the Candlelight the very next Monday and life would never be the same. I owe it all to Michael G.

I was brought back to the present when Bird asked me what the next song should be. The choice was obvious for me. It was the song that got my dear Chieko through a difficult week. It was the song that filled our heads and hearts with the sound of SoulMates. It was Stevie Wonder's Knocks Me Off My Feet. It is the sound of rejoicing.

I thought about the history of that song with Chieko and me. I then began to watch Bird and Jarrod and Reinhardt as each one contributed their mastery to this singular piece. I thought about the wonderful journey that life can be when you travel the road with people like Jay "Bird", Jarrod, and Reinhardt. When I think about them and what they mean to us...well, it knocks me off my feet.

The final song was Ain't Too Proud to Beg which was wildly fun and a riotous end to the evening's celebration. It was a great way to part company for a little while. To our delighted surprise, Jonah and Monica--the most adorable couple ever--burst in after the music was finished. Just because they wanted to enjoy even the last portion of sharing the night with everyone.

As I said, we all stayed late and talked about the music and the future and a fine place called Quimby's.

Here we were at a transitional moment when new possibilities opened and we were finding a home. We were welcomed by Quimby's but home is where we are together; where a person can have "great comfort in his friends on the long grey road."

It truly is... everything I need.