Nighthawk – Street Dog
This showcase is filled with soulful music lightly diluted with catchy melodies & a banquet of voices beginning on “99%” & goes a little deeper into a New Orleans piano driven soul balladry punctuated by horns on “Savannah.”
A nice introductory dive into the music of Parker Hawkins who has the necessary tone in his voice for this kind of transformative groove. There’s an ounce of Allen Toussaint that emerges crossed with the traditional creativeness of the late Dr. John though Parker isn’t as immersed in Rebennack’s funkology.
The 10 track Street Dog (Drops March 14/Redbud Ridge/34:10) was produced by Parker (vocals/basses/guitars/banjo/percussion/synth/piano/bgv) & Dave Coleman (guitars/percussion). Supported by reliable musicians who wisely keep the journey diverse & varied by the boundaries of their arrangements.
Track 3 is the short “Too Soon” sung by Piper Rose with her warm & sultry soulful tone. An Archie Drell & the Drells guitar application (1968’s “Tighten Up”) is applied with cool finesse to “What Do You See” & the horn slices are like heavy cream added to a hot fudge sundae. The backup voices are superb & the deep trombone notes are mindful of Ballin’ Jack (“Hold On”). Great song.
The band forges forward unimpeded by just soul charts & weaves about in a robust R&B lane with the addition of a sitar on “Dancing Flames.” A surprise but fits as an interlude between cuts.
Some songs don’t ignite as quickly as others but the experimentation that cozies up in the grooves of many tunes is a respectfully determined effort. At least keeps Nighthawk work from being accused of emulating too many past factions of soul & R&B music. There’s enough originality in the performance & well-shuffled New Orleans musical flavors to keep the interest & curiosity quotient high. If nothing else, the playing is always engaging.
Parker proves he also has the formality in his voice as an excellent ballad singer in the tradition of the late Dr. John when he fires up the local color of “Black & Blue” with its savoring Rory Hoffman clarinet. It’s a shame that Fats Dominio passed because I think he would’ve sat in with this congregation.
While Nighthawk isn’t doing anything original on this album, what they do achieve is presenting their oeuvre with finesse & formality. It gives the musical components renewed breadth. Some tunes have an ideal FM radio late night distinction while others chug along with a swampy assurance.
Highlights – “99%” “Savannah,” “Too Soon,” “What Do You See,” “Dancing Flames,” “Black & Blue” & “Fried Green.”
Musicians – Michael Webb (piano/organ), Dave Colella & Chris Benelli (drums/percussion), Rory Hoffman (accordion/clarinet/baritone sax/flute/sitar/guitar), Roy Agee (trombone), Piper Rose (lead & background vocals), Lauryn Ross & Grace Wegener (bgv) & Lynn Taylor (bgv/percussion).
Color portrait courtesy of Parker’s Facebook. Music samples at Soundcloud. CD at https://www.nighthawk615band.com/ & https://www.lancecowanmedia.com/nighthawk