James Blood Ulmer & Phalanx – Live at Fontenay Sous Bois, 31 January 2014

James Blood Ulmer and Phalanx (revisited) delivered a wonderful show last night at the Winter Sounds Festival 2014 (Sons d’hiver) in Fontenay Sous Bois outside of Paris. The music was a blend of jazz, funk and R&B, in finest James Blood fashion. The band was in top form and the small venue was filled with an enthusiastic crowd. Players included: James “Blood” Ulmer – guitar, vocals; Lakecia Benjamin – alto saxophone; Mark E. Peterson – bass; G. Calvin Weston – drums.

While James Blood was the star attraction, each member of the group made an important contribution to the vibe. Mark Peterson laid down a clean, funky base line. Calvin Weston provided the underlying drive and rhythm that held it all together, but with a lot of interesting detailing and nuance. Lakecia Benjamin added warmth throughout, as well as some of the concert highlights (check out the segment at about 19 minutes into the concert for her smooth solo that reaches out and moves the soul).

The festival organisers have posted the full concert on-line in HD. It is available at the link below (starts at about 4m:10s into the video):
=> James Blood Ulmer and Phalanx: concert at the Sound of Winter festival

Check it out and enjoy!