by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
The air was heavy with moisture and temperatures were plummeting when I made the Mojos Kitchen scene to check out The Legendary JCs – a smoking soul band that is winning new fans as it spreads its gospel of R&B nationwide. The 7-piece band features a top-tier lineup, consisting of Brian Mackie on saxophone, Clay Watson on trombone, Ralph Ameduri on bass, Brian Chodorcoff on guitar, Anthony Cole on drums and backing vocals, and Eugene Snowden on lead vocals and percussion.
This balls-to-the-wall horns showcased in this band play original soul-blues, which gets its audience on their feet from the first song to the last. It was a standing-room-only crowd near the stage at Mojos Kitchen last Saturday night as the band plowed through its massive repertoire of original music and classic Motown tribute medleys.
Since 2000, the band has been on the road proving that they never take an audience for granted. These guys work hard on every gig to impress their listeners. Fortified with Mojo’s excellent barbecue, the band launched its first set with the enthusiasm of a group of musicians who love playing soul music and pass that joy on to their listeners. The JCs ensemble came to the stage pre-warmed up with funky grooves and tasty horn voicing. Man, I love horns in this type of band, especially Clay Watson’s right-on bone-grooving vibrating lips.
Lead singer Eugene Snowmen is the preacher-man of the Church of What’s Happening Now. He moves to the music and plays a mean set of bongos as well. His premier vocals cut through the funkadelic mix with authority, as the rhythm section pounded out the hot grooves and that ever-present trombone kicked in with penetrating vibrations. If this band doesn’t get you up on your feet, then you’re dead. Man, the JCs rolling thunder caught me by surprise and I was out on that dance floor taking photographs and moving the beat.
The JCs original songs are modern yet they pay homage to their soul roots. ‘Luella’ opened with a blast of horns and the rhythm and Brian’s guitar comping kicked in as Eugene led the dance parade into the night. ‘New Man’ opened with a gutsy guitar intro and the horns kicked in as Eugene got down with his vocals. “Let me tell you, girl, I’m here to change the world, and I’ll be a new man” It was a mojo sound of rhythm and blues wizardry. A B3 came in with the horns and rhythm section playing a tight modern arrangement. ‘Down this Road Before’ opened with Brian strumming chords with the mighty B3 coming in, “Been down this road before… keep running back to another night. I’ve been down before, and running for the door... I’ve been down this road before, I can’t take it anymore.” The song has a gospel feel with a country twang. ‘Lifting Me’ opened with Brian’s funky guitar comping and a whirling B3 sound to a funky rhythm. It’s an infectious and butt-jiggling machine. Yes, butt jiggling is a good sign the band is getting to the crowd, and these soul-men have the secret to keeping the crowd on their feet, grooving to the music.
For 8 years, the JCs have been headlining shows at many major events across the country, such as, the NOLA Jazz Fest late-nights, Florida Music Festival, and Macon’s Bragg Jam. The JCs have also headlined a month at the Monte Carlo Casino in Las Vegas, Tropical Heatwave in Tampa and many other big clubs. The band has opened for James Brown, B.B. King, Al Green, Sam Rivers and many other national acts. And, if you missed the JCs Mojo show, the band is booked for the George’s Music Springing the Blues Festival on April 6th
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