Brian Auger: Bumpin’ The B at Yoshi’s
Brian Auger, the legendary British B-3 and keyboard player, returned to the Bay Area for a one-night gig with Alex Ligertwood, Santana’s former lead vocalist (1980-1998). The combination was extraordinary.
With over 20 albums to his name, Brian Auger has accumulated more than 50 years of experience in music production. His bands have featured rockers such as Rod Stewart, Long John Baldry, and even Jimi Hendrix.
Auger is also credited as the first jazz-rock fusion artist to have been successful in both the jazz and rock worlds. Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock sang his praise, calling him “one of the best B-3 artists I have ever heard in my life.”
Alex Ligertwood first crossed paths with Auger in 1972, when the Scottish guitarist and vocalist joined his quartet, the Oblivion Express, and recorded the album Second Wind. Ligertwood also contributed to the composition of that record’s “Freedom Jazz Dance,” which has been covered by everyone from War to the Beastie Boys.
Before the show at Yoshi’s, a fan presented Auger with a belated birthday gift, an exotic deep-blue shirt featuring a fire-breathing dragon and Japanese writing. The keyboardist recently turned 75 and is well known for wearing shirts with outrageous designs for many years. Auger acknowledged the fan and others who had driven as far as Los Angeles and Portland to see the performance.
Alex Ligertwood. Photo: Steve Roby
The nearly two-hour show was filled with gems, including a cover of guitar master Wes Montgomery’s “Bumpin’ On Sunset.” Auger told the audience he’d first heard the tune in a gritty little Shepherd’s Bush basement in West London, where friends were sampling LPs. “I immediately fell in love with that tune,” said Auger, “and, my God, I needed to get to the nearest studio and record it.” While the current live version is not as lush as the 1968 recording, which features a string arrangement, Auger and the band still deliver a richly textured take, complete with Ligertwood’s moody vocals and percussion effects.
The latest incarnation of the Oblivion Express features bassist Derek Frank, Karma Auger, the keyboardist’s son, and Alex Ligertwood. Frank began playing professionally at 15, and the L.A. bass player now has his own solo recording, Let the Games Begin… Karma is a talented drummer who joined his father's band in 1995, two days before a European tour, after the previous drummer quit. He has also engineered and produced tracks for Eric Burdon, Robby Krieger, and Billy Cobham. Ligertwood, an Oakland resident for many years, has been featured in The Jeff Beck Group and the Average White Band, and is currently recording with Latin Rock legends El Chicano.
The evening ended with Les McCann and Eddie Harris’ “Compared To What,” which Auger originally covered on his 1973 record, Closer To It!. After the encore, the band joined fans in the lobby to sign CDs, share stories, and say good night.
Program Notes
Brian Auger with Alex Ligertwood
September 03, 2014
Yoshi’s, Oakland
Set List: Jazz Freedom Dance | Happiness Is Just Around The Bend | Straight Ahead | Bumpin’ On Sunset | Truth | Future Pilot | Don't Look Away, Look Around | I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know | Whenever You're Ready/A Love Supreme | Compared To What
Encore: Brain Damage
Photos: Steve Roby
