The Uptown Band | Waiting For Her
The Uptown Band | Waiting For Her
By Randy Mahon
The promising 2010 debut “Waiting For Her”, from Philly area based collective known as The Uptown Band, blends a fine concoction of Jazz, Funk, Rock & Pop. Consisting of band leader Erich Cawalla on Lead Vocals and Saxophone, Co-Lead vocalist/Percussionist Jenifer Kinder, Mike Schwartz on Guitar/Vocals, Musical Director Dave Fenwick on Keyboards/Vocals, Lamont Bates on Bass/Vocals. Omer Godinet on Drums/Vocals and last, but certainly not least, Robin Church on Trumpet and Flugelhorn, this band is one to be looked out for in the coming months and beyond.
Opening selection, “You Treated Me Good”, is Blue Eyed Soul at it’s finest ! It’s finger snapping groove, coupled with the fine vocals of Erich and Jenifer, is a funky little head bopping track. Strong melody, great band performance, and a tasty sax solo ! A strong introduction to an above average disc.
“I’m Breathless”, is a mellow mid tempo number featuring Jenifer on lead vocals and background vocals. Nice melody, feel good lyrics of how one would appreciate their HOPEFUL significant other.
Album title track, “Waiting For Her”, is an instrumental track that features Erich on saxophone. A toe tapping groove, played in a soul shuffled feel, along with the multiple dubbed sax parts, have the makings of a Smooth Jazz radio add. It’ll remind one of a Rippingtons track, but hey, that’s OK ! We all know how great The Rippingtons are, so they’re in good company.
On their version of Eddie Holman 1970 R&B classic, “Hey There Lonely Girl”, it features Erich flexing his impressive 3 1/2 octave lead vocal falsetto. The band arrangement is fairly consistent with the original and performed magnificently.
“That’s All”, a 1953 Nat King Cole standard, features Erich singing in his natural tenor voice and acoustic piano courtesy of album producer Marty Mellinger. Late night smoke filled jazz club with a lone spotlight on Erich is what you should be imagining as you’re listening to it. Very nice !
A track the band covered that DEFINITELY raised my eyebrows is the Shirley Murdock R&B Quiet Storm nugget, “As We Lay”…. Wow ! Who knew ?!?! … But don’t let what I just said mislead you, … THEY PULLED IT OFF !!!! Sounds damn good ! The late Roger Troutman, and hopefully Shirley herself would be proud. Jenifer performed those vocals within her range and the acoustic piano of Marty Mellinger blended very well together.
My favorite cut on this CD and one that I’ll have in heavy rotation in my iPod is the David Fenwick penned track “Anthem” ! It’s exactly what the title states, an “ANTHEM” ! Think Dave Grusin’s “Hill Steet Blues” without it sounding like too much Dave Grusin’s “Hill Street Blues”. Great acoustic performance from David, shaker & triangle stylings, and a great support performance from the band overall made this a joy to listen to.
Other noteworthy tracks on this disc, “Come Back To Me”, “Way Too Good For You”, “Since I Don’t Have You”, “Fall Down” and “I Can’t Get Started”, are fine indications this band will be around for years to come ! The music industry need more bands like this. Check them out in concert when they play in your town, as “The Uptown Band” defines the term “road dogs”.
Happy Listening !
Randy Mahon
The Urban Music Scene