By Request: Charlie Hunter Trio

I have been a fan of Charlie Hunter since I first heard his recording with the group, T.J. Kirk. ([T]helonius Monk, [J]ames Brown and Rahsaan Roland [Kirk].) Hunter's efforts have always been Fusion based and broadly inspired. Such was the performance at Kansas City's Blue Room this past Saturday evening.

For the most part, Hunter's music is mostly Funk/Groove Jazz Fusion. Playing on custom made 7 & 8 string guitars, he has made a name for himself with an ability to play simultaneously the bass and lead as well as rhythm guitar. One could easily assume from his CD's that he might be recording these parts on separate tracks. Even watching him in person, I kept looking for those other two players, such is the prestidigitation that is Hunter's technique.

Joined on stage by Curtis Fowlkes on trombone and drummer Eric Kalb, Hunter's trio played two non-stop sets of music that ranged from his funky originals to New Orleans Jazz, in the form of Just A Closer Walk With Thee, and what seemed to be a tune loosely based on Gershwin's I've Got Rhythm. The second set was ended by a funkified version of Leiber and Stoller's Kansas City.



It was good to see that the Blue Room was full with a very appreciative crowd. Although not all of Hunter's recordings are as rewarding as his live appearances, I strongly recommend him to guitar nerds and jazz afficionados. My personal experience ranged from fascination to giddiness to disbelief. The man can play.