Lee Fields

Thursday January 29th was a sold-out, packed-to-the-rafters, sweat-soaked musical communion. Daptone Records’ Lee Fields & The Expressions brought their retro-soul revival only like the finest can perform. Opening with the infectious You Can Count On Me, Fields had fans singing along from the start. Then they changed up the tempo to a slow groove for I Got Work To Do. 

Once nicknamed ‘Little J.B.’, Field has the dance steps, emotional delivery and stage command to rival James Brown. This kept the fans fixated on his every move.

And his band was right there with him. The Expressions are guitarist Joey Crispiano, bassist Nick Movshon, drummer Evan Pazner, Evan’s brother Toby Pazner on keyboards, trumpeter Jason Colby paired with saxophonist Freddy Dobre. Collectively they were tight and locked in together. Musicians that also orbit around other projects and are a part of a roster in the Dap Tone Records family. 

An homage to the finer gender, Fields sang his praise with Ladies. Connecting with couples in the crowd he bantered with them. “Excuse me sir, is this your beautiful lady? What I got to say, you've been blessed with the best!”  As he continued working different fans, he reminded men to be ever devoted and honour their ladies. It was endearing and spontaneous fun.   

His whole being immersed into the moment. Time had a certain hard-scrabbled mean-street sound punctuated with a powerfully charged saxophone solo that raised the roof. Mentioning he had not sung this one in a while because it reminded him of losing his dad, they started a slow, somber song Still Hanging On. Field’s confessed “When I sing this song, sometimes I kind of choke up. But I'm going to be strong tonight.” He even asked the band to start over again as they vamped through the intro. The emotions were raw as he wailed. If he didn't break down in tears, damnit I was.

The suspenseful Talk To Somebody quickly changed mode as the horns crisply punched through. Again Fields rallied fans in call-and-response. My World maintained the energy level with its trance-like rhythm and catchy bass line. Lyrically calling-out human hypocrisy with the same clever anger as Gil Scott Heron. Asking at the end, are you happy? The tempo and beat of Don’t Walk first started out reminiscent of Stevie Wonder’s High Ground. But compositionally different, it drove its own direction. Again with the horns front and center. Specifically a brilliant sax solo stole the moment. The tender love song Forever (from the 2022 Sentimental Fool release) closed the main set. Followed with two encores Primo, Goosh Goosh ending the night in pitched fever. It was one of those shows where fans lingered on. In part gaze over, and in part vibing with an overdrive buzz. 

Lee Fields & The Expressions are what music offers in its highest order. A respite from our worries, comfort for our souls, a message with love and complete abandon in the crowd. A perfect diagnosis for these uncertain times. Be on the look out for a new Daptone release coming out next week titled The Olympian by The Expressions keyboardists Toby Pazner and other members of the band. It is some great material.

Words and photos: Philip Philamonjaro