Saxophonist Ronnie Laws, who performed at the Dakota on Monday night, had instrumental hits years before someone coined the term "smooth jazz." He released his biggest hit, "Always There," on his debut album back in 1975.
Unlike much of the tepid, instrumental pop that would later become known as smooth jazz, Laws' music has always had more of a bluesy-funky edge, probably related to his origins in Houston, which has produced a number of great blues, R&B and jazz artists.
In recent years, Laws has benefited from "rediscovery" of his past music by young hip-hop and funk fans, hence the tour he's sharing with another instrumental funk hitmaker of the past, trumpeter Tom Browne. Browne had his moment in the spotlight back in the early 1980s with the tune "Funkin' for Jamaica," a tribute to the section of Queens where he grew up. He's also been discovered by modern crate-diggers.
A decade ago, Mariah Carey recorded a song called "Don't Stop (Funkin' 4 Jamaica)," built around a sample from Browne's tune.
Laws and Browne have newly released CDs, so their opening show Monday consisted of both old hits and new material.
Before the two frontmen took the stage, their tight backup band established the 1970s jazz-funk theme with a rendition of Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon."
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