I never got into the whole bootlegging phenomenon. Every time someone gives me a tape or burned CD of some "sick" show, nine times out of ten I find it boring. The energy that undoubtedly was present at the show never seems to translate. Even most proper live recordings, which are re-mastered and produced, rarely match the originals. Of course, James Brown's Live at the Apollo and the Allman Brothers' The Fillmore Concerts are obvious exceptions, but in general I'm wary of live albums. So it was with trepidation that I listened to Have Soul Will Travel's Live at the Funky Butt. The merits of this particular local release do not immediately jump out of the speakers, but eventually the grooves make their way into your subconscious and you are hooked. The quintet is anchored by Tommy Sciple on bas and jack of all trades drummer Kevin O'Day, while Bert Cotton's rhythm and lead guitar provides a foil to the competing horn attack of Brent Rose on saxophone and Eric Lucero's trumpet. The set is a mix of 60's era Blue Note soul jazz with obvious Crencent City accents. Highlights include the opening track "(In A) Pickle," and the aggressive "U Say" spotlighting Rose'smeaty tenor and O'Days pummeling rhythms. A welcome change of pace to the frenzied set is a slinky shuffle entitled "The Big Worm" containing a lazy Sunday melody and superb horn harmonies. It is a cover of James Brown's "Ain't it Funky Now" that truly reflects a band at the height of a live performance. All the musicians are locked in, best exemplified by Cotton's deft and uncanny use of the usually overused wah-wah pedal. While not uniformly as strong as, say Bob Marley's Live! there are several moments on Live at the Funky Butt where your office, car or family room will be tansformed into that great smoky club on Rampart Street.

by music writer: Christopher Blagg.