Jordan Ward: Tiny Desk Concert
NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert is always great for an amazing, intimate concert, but I always find it great for discovering new music. And any set that starts off with a teaser of “Portrait of Tracy” will get my attention.
Jordan Ward may have started as a backup dancer for Justin Bieber and Becky G, but it’s clear he has his own star power. His approach to R&B and charisma is infectious, plus he has a killer band.
This set is glued together by the smooth bass lines of Jermaine Paul, who sets the tone from the opening notes. I got even more interested once guitarist Caleb Buchanan jumped onto his own five-string for the second track, “MUSTARD,” where he provided a rolling, lyrical part on the upper register of the bass. Both bassists then lock into a groove for “FLIGHTS” with a hypnotic hook from Buchanan. He jumps back to the guitar, giving Paul more space to throw in nasty fills during “FAMJAM4000.”
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
