Review: The Funky Faculty
Live at Sculler's Jazz Club
Boston, Massachusetts, September 9,2001
(Special Guest Appearance by Jimmy Vivino)
I was fortunate enough to see the Doctor (Al Kooper) and his Funky Faculty on September 9; and here is the set list:
- Doin' Dave's Monkey
- I've Got My Eye On You
- I Can't Quit Her (new slow version)
- Nothin' I Wouldn't Do (For a Woman Like You)
- Just For the Thrill
- Wrestle With This
(At this point the reed players stepped down and Jimmy Vivino was invited up to play on a couple of tunes, the next two to be exact. So for two tunes we had the distinct treat of hearing a Rekooperators/Funky Faculty hybrid band!):
- Glamour Girl
- Bird's Nest On the Ground
- Flute Thing
- Back In A Cadillac
"I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" - I love the newer intro to this - Every time I've heard it I'd swear Doc was about to do "As the Years Go Passing By" from "Naked Songs" - It fakes me out each time! This is of course the extended show-closing version with the insert of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and the too-cool B-3 solo!
If the set list seems short, let "extended jams" be the key word here. Doc and the band were in top form, and have come a long way from the first gig I saw them do at House of Blues in 2/2000 (not that it wasn't a great show as well).
"Doin' Dave's Monkey" has fully come into it's own since the debut performance with the Rekooperators at the Berklee show a few years back - What a great opener!! There was a good crowd there, and a lot of enthusiasm. I had my first "soul clap" experience (fortunately not the kind that requires penicillin!!!), and that was a lot of fun.
"I've Got My Eye on You" was new to me, and a great tune with some real nice arrangements therein, at times almost as intense as "Magic In My Socks" (I would die to hear the Rekooperators do this song with Jimmy handling the incredible guitar arrangements therein). "Glamour Girl" and "Bird's Nest" were the two finest choices to showcase Jimmy Vivino. Any who have seen the Rekooperators know what scorching live numbers they are.
Funky Faculty guitarist Dick (don't know his last name) was gracious in stepping aside for Jimmy, and afforded Jimmy the luxury of some great rhythm riffs under his leads. But the peak was during "Bird's Nest" when Doc directed "just the guitars...." and Dick and Jimmy were squaring off with these awesome and spontaneous rhythm riffs peppered with leads - The sounds and the sight were just incredible!!!
I had an old friend of mine and his 21-year old son along, their first time hearing the good Doctor play live, and they were duly impressed. I would've hung out after to harass Doc for autographs, but my friends needed to get heading home.
And I did a finger count and this was the eighth time seeing Doc since 2/98 (four times with Jimmy and the Rekooperators), and counting....
Thanks for another night of great music to Doc, the Funky Faculty, and to the amazing Jimmy Vivino!!!
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