A tribute concert by Jazz Matters, Inc. to the legacy of Joe Sample, the keyboardist and composer who co-founded The Crusaders.
Jazz Matters, Inc. brings its Icon Series to Plywood Place on Sunday, October 18, for a tribute to Joe Sample, the keyboardist and composer who co-founded The Crusaders. The concert runs from 4 PM to 7 PM at 933 Lee Street SW B-1, in Atlanta.
If you're not familiar with Sample's name, you've almost certainly heard his work. He was a trailblazer of the jazz-funk movement, and as a leader within The Crusaders, he helped steer the group from hard bop toward a funk style infused with R&B. That shift helped define a whole era of jazz-fusion, blending the sophistication of the jazz tradition with the groove and accessibility of soul and funk. It's the kind of music that works just as well in a living room as it does on a dance floor.
Later in his career, Sample stepped out on his own, building a following with acoustic piano performances known for their lyrical phrasing and crystalline sound. The contrast is a good way to understand his range: on one hand, the driving, syncopated funk of The Crusaders; on the other, the more intimate, melodic work he did as a solo artist. This tribute looks at both sides of that legacy.
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It's a Sunday afternoon show, so it's an easy one to fit in before the work week starts. The music runs from 4 PM to 7 PM at Plywood Place, 933 Lee Street SW B-1, Atlanta, GA 30310.
