In a show that headlines Reg Jones, a singer and songwriter in the funk, soul and R&B tradition, another group, an up-and-coming quintet in the area, Higher Hands, will also be performing, sandwiched between Jones’s two sets. Jay Crawdads, Higher Hands’ lead singer and percussionist, doesn’t mind one bit about the second billing.
“I’m super-excited about it. I’ve wanted to get our foot in the door for a long time,” said Crawdads. “This show presented a great opportunity for that.”
| ONSTAGE |
| Reg Jones and the Higher Hands |
| » Where: Bohemian Caverns, 2001 11th St. NW |
| » When: 8 p.m. Thursday |
| » Info: $10 in advance, $15 at the door; 202-299-0800; Bohemiancaverns.com |
As one-fifth of an emerging group of performers focusing on its distinct sounds of vintage funk, jazz and hip-hop, Crawdads describes it as “funky soul-fusion with a twist of rhyme.”
The other members of Higher Hands include Marty Bouchard (drums and vocals), Larry Byrne (keyboards and vocals), Troy Atkins (sax and vocals) and Marty Grigsby, a new member and percussionist.
“What’s cool about this show is that we’ll be backing Reg for his set in addition to playing our Higher Hand set,” Crawdads continued.
Since their time on stage is limited, they will go for the biggest bang in their slot. The plans are to play some music from their latest CD (yet to be named) and their debut album, “Grab Hold,” released in 2008. All of group’s music is original except for one cover on “Grab Hold” done by Bobby Hutcherson called “Little B’s Poem.”
“We’re big fans of the ’70s folk genre so we do a Commodores cover that I think is really good and might work for the show, Crawdads explained. “And we put our twist on a Fitz and the Tantrums’ song called ‘MoneyGrabber.’ ”
The group members, according to Jay Crawdads, are all fairly big fans of hip-hop and grew up listening to it through the 1990s. They also claim a strong influence from older folk, soul and go-go music.
This eclectic blend bodes well for the group, which has become a regular fixture on the Mid-Atlantic club and festival circuits at venues such as Rams Head Live! in Baltimore, House of Blues in Atlantic City and Chris’s Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia.
“The coolest thing, I think, would be if [D.C. audiences] could get a chance to see what a versatile group we are in terms of being able to reflect the influences that we have from so many different sides; soul, funk and go-go while still keeping a very tight sound,” Crawdads reflected.
On Thursday at Bohemian Caverns, they will get that chance to prove it.
