Check out Luis Resto next Wednesday @ Majestic Cafe Detroit
- Wednesday, February 10th: The Majestic Café with very special guests Little Bang Theory, 9 PM
- Saturday, February 13th: in store performance at Record Time in Roseville, 4 PM
- Sunday, February 14th: (Valentines Day) Memphis Smoke in Royal Oak, 8 PM
Oscar and Grammy award winning composer and keyboardist, Luis Resto is celebrating the release of his first solo recording, Combo De Momento, with a series of performances: Wednesday, February 10th at the Majestic Café in Midtown Detroit; an in store performance at Record Time in Roseville, Saturday, February 13th; and a reprise show on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14th at Memphis Smoke in Royal Oak.
Resto cut his teeth as a teenager in the seminal Detroit prog-funk aggregation, Was (Not) Was, recording six albums throughout the 80’s and 90’s. Resto lent his jazz funk sensibility to the synthesizer and became a pioneer of the temperamental instrument giving it a voice and a soulful feel on critically acclaimed albums like, Born To Laugh At Tornados, What Up Dog and Are You OK?.
When bandleader/mentor, Don Was relocated to LA and became THE producer of such iconic artists as, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson and most recently, The Rolling Stones, he would utilize the Detroit-based Resto on most all of his recording projects.
But it wasn’t until his collaboration with one, Marshall Mathers beginning in 2002, culminating with both an Oscar and a Grammy for the mega-hit, “Lose Yourself” from the 2002 film, 8 Mile did the music wags finally discover what many high profile musical acts –and Detroiters already knew- This guy is a musical genius who can morph and adapt to any style, ism or discipline with unbelievable malleability.
In 1995, Luis began collaborating with Patti Smith, recording "The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game" and "Don't Smoke In Bed" with Combo De Momento co-producer Freddie Brooks, and later co-writing "My Madrigal" with Smith for her comeback Gone Again album..
Luis Resto’s influence on hip-hop cannot be underestimated. By bringing both classical and jazz elements into the dizzying wordplay and thick beats of Eminem’s literary creations, Resto changed the face of the music by doing what he always has done - synthesizing tones and styles into a rich gumbo of new flavors, never once overshadowing the power of the artist whom he’s supporting. Since then, he has been an in demand collaborator with other hip-hop icons such as 50 Cent, Akon and Jadakiss to mention only three.
For a guy who has had a hand in over 25 Top 5 albums, it was about time for Luis to put all his musical ideas into an album of his own, one which showcases his eclectic compositional style, a hybrid of rock, jazz, electronica and soul featuring a crack unit which includes bassist extraordinaire, Paul Nowinski, brother Mario Resto on guitar and percussion and world renown drummer Keith LeBlanc who has played on such important records as The Sugarhill Gang’s “The Rapper”, Grandmaster Flash’s "The Message" and "White Lines" as well as REM’s album, Green, this is a band with an unparalleled resume and impact.
Combo De Momento contains a studio side and a live side, which showcase both Resto and his band mates’ facility behind the glass or in front of an audience with equal aplomb.
Sultry grooves and hard swinging post-bop, play side by side, helped along by great guest players like saxophonists David McMurray, and Johnny Evans, and also Lou Reed and Tom Waits sideman, Michael Blair - who plays percussion on "Olivia Bop".
The album opener, "Effigy" is a hauntingly melancholic lament with Luis’ vocals floating over the gentle keyboard flash and filigree, is a great display of both feel and restraint, buoyed by Keith LeBlanc’s thoughtful drumming and Paul Nowinski’s pulsing bass, it builds layer upon layer climaxing with a Was-like choir, until it falls back into groove. "Oliva", a melodic, yet subtly swinging piece showcases Nowinski’s sensuously snaky upright bass lines as it compliments Resto’s twists and turns on piano.
The live side contains the brooding yet hopeful, “Maybe”, a live staple for over a year, and is a great example of how Luis explores multiple musical ideas which flow seamlessly into a satisfying end, “Olivia Bop” is serious hard bop, with Leblanc and Nowinski in the pocket and swinging hard.
www.facebook.com/pages/Luis-Resto/238637219290
-Wednesday, February 10th- Majestic Café
4120 Woodward - Detroit - 313.833.9700
Doors 9 PM. Showtime 10 PM
-Saturday, Feb. 13 - Record Time
27360 Gratiot Avenue - Roseville - 586.775.1550
Showtime 4:00 PM
-Sunday, Feb. 14 - Memphis Smoke (Valentine's Day)
100 S. Main St - Royal Oak - 248.543.4300
Doors at 8:00 PM. Showtime 8:30 PM.