BAHAMAS’ TWIST,
Jurvanen finds different vibe for ‘Earthtones’
Ifyou’re looking for an easy fix to being labeled an easy listening artist, try Bahamas’ strategy: Hit Los Angeles for a three-day recording session with rock and funk legends bassist Pino Palladino and drummer James Gadson.
After a few cycles of record/tour/repeat, Bahamas — also known as Afie Jurvanen — felt done. Tired and maybe even a little bored, Jurvanen didn’t like the prospect of a fourth LP and another tour. Then his pal and manager Robbie Lackritz suggested he record with Palladino and Gadson.
“Right away I liked the idea,” Jurvanen said ahead of a sold-out Sinclair show Thursday. “And right away in the studio, I knew it was going to work. These guys are 30 years older than me and have been doing it that much longer. Their experience and confidence gave me confidence. We all just relaxed and explored the music.”
A big chunk of Bahamas’ new album, “Earthtones,” came from those Los Angeles sessions. For the typically mellow Toronto musician, the record represents a slide into slippery funk and deep soul. What remains is Jurvanen’s dedication to song craft: He loves smart lyrics and sharp hooks. He contemplates his art and its place in the world on such songs as “Opening Act” and “No Wrong.” The tunes have the rare quality of being both deeply in the pocket and introspective meditations on what it means to be a rock ’n’ roll star in 2018.
Palladino and Gadson have played with literally hundreds of artists. Palladino is best known for his work with The Who, Eric Clapton and John Mayer; Gadson has sat behind the kit for Herb Alpert, Beck and Motown sessions. But Jurvanen wanted them because of their contributions to D’Angelo’s 2014 masterpiece, “Black Messiah.”
“I knew their work on that (album) and knew going into L.A. that I would be the slowest player on the team,” Jurvanen said. “That inspired me to work harder. (But) in the sessions, we just played. I didn’t tell them what to play or how to play. They just felt the music.”
To the credit of Bahamas’ touring lineup, his band has had no problem slipping into the new material (some of which they recorded in later sessions). The new tunes have fit snugly into Bahamas’ live set list.
“To see people already singing along to the songs, to see them react when we start a new one, has been great,” he said. “The songs are unique in my catalog and, now having four albums, we have the material to create this really dynamic show.
“The nice thing about not having hits is seeing that people are into track eight and nine as much as they are into track one,” he added, then laughed.