Kool and The Gang – Let The Music Take Your Mind

Kool and The Gang

Whether you’re a Baby Boomer, Gen X-er, Millenial, or a Zoomer, chances are you can sing or hum a few bars of one or more songs from this legendary-funk dance band. Over the past several decades, Kool and The Gang have released at least 25 Studio albums and several live LPs. During their expanded career, they’ve earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, the Soul Train Legend Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Most recently, in 2018, they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Nestled amongst a multi-generational crowd, this Gen X-er was fired up waiting for Kool and The Gang to take the stage at The Starlight Theatre in Pala, California. Shortly after 8:00 p.m., with the sun setting in the east, the concert kicked off with the trumpet, tenor sax, and trombone players taking center stage. After blowing us away with a funky opening refrain, the beat shifted, unearthing their 1984 hit “Fresh” off their 1984 Emergency album. The audience jumped to their feet, and the dancing commenced. They followed up with another top charting hit, “Misled,” off the same album. The hammering bass pedal pounded out the rhythm on the rock-infused soulful pop song that reached number 10 on the Billboard charts.

Amir Bayyan Robert “Kool” Bell Shawn McQuiller

Singer Shawn McQuiller introduced guitarist Rick Marcel who delivered the gentle unwinding chord progression of their 1979 soul ballad “Too Hot.” Although McQuiller isn’t the original singer, his tone matched the warmth and disarming intimacy of J.T.’s (James “J.T. Taylor). Keyboardist Curtis Williams showcased his diverse talent when he transitioned from executing the song’s delicate keystrokes to picking up the alto sax for the liquid-smooth bridge solo. Williams hopped back on his board and finished the song with a few subtle celestial chords.

The mellow vibe continued with “Joanna,” which peaked at # 2 on the pop charts and #1 on the R&B charts in 1983. The band’s harmonies were impeccable, while singer McQuiller nailed this one brandishing his flawless higher register. The band increased the tempo with the single “Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)” off their 1981 Something Special album. The audience chanted the chorus over the smooth rolling rhythm that was accented by the subtle horns.

Things got fiercely funky as they reached far back in the “Kool” catalog to “Let The Music Take Your Mind” off their 1969 self-titled album. The band’s brilliant musicianship was spotlighted on this funky rhapsody. The power of the base drum set the beat as the horns kicked in with some snappy notes. Guitarist Marcel’s fingers flew up and down his fretboard on a shattering guitar run. Next, the rhythm section stepped up, starting with drummer Timothy Horton who rolled over the toms and snapped the snare with finesse. Robert “Kool” Bell’s younger brother Amir Bayyan strummed out some funky rhythms on his guitar. Then it was Kool’s turn. Wielding his Zon Sonus four-string jazz bass, he laid down some punchy bottomless lines. The rhythm section was churning the funk when tenor saxist Luis Van Taylor lit it up with an unhinged solo. The singer joined in on rhythm guitar, and by the song’s end, the funk reached a fevered hysteria.

Founder bassist Robert “Kool” Bell

The horns and sax were featured heavily on “Open Sesame,” a song that was included on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The trumpet and trombones handed over rapid, dizzying staccato measures while the saxophone boiled over with microtonal screams. The horn work was unbelievably tight, even with the players swaying their horns from side to side. From beginning to end, it was sonically perfect.

The funk continued with some crazy improved basslines and slides from Kool. They started with a portion of their 1973 “Funky Stuff” song that segwayed into their timeless hit “Jungle Boogie.” The bass took on a life of its own as the instrumentation deviated from the original recording, taking the song to new instrumental heights. “Hollywood Swinging” was up next, keeping the high-energy dance vibe. Trombonist Jermain Bryson treated us to some sublime griss with a little Sanford and Son theme song speckled in.

The tempo changed gears allowing the deluge of dancers in the audience to catch their breath. The keyboard chords settled into the grip of a steady drum pattern to begin the 1974 jazz instrumental “Summer Madness.” Singer McQuiller took center stage playing an evocative jazz solo backed by Williams’s smooth chord progression on the keys. The song seamlessly blended into their number 1 contemporary hit, “Cherish,” released in 1985. The venue was illuminated with a multitude of swaying phones as Williams caressed the keys delivering the song’s amiable prelude. When McQuiller laid down the verse, I was amazed. The vocals mirrored the original tone so precisely it was hard to believe I wasn’t listening to J.T. himself.

The vocal chameleon, McQuiller, shifted his cadence once again on the song “Oh La La La (Let’s Go Dancing)” The Caribbean jam is a testament to Kool and The Gang’s musical dexterity and how successfully their music slides in and out of different genres. The steel drum effect, the horns, and McQuiller’s Jamaican-like phrasing befittingly encompassed the island sound.

Singer/ Guitarist Shawn McQuiller

It only took a few bars of the next song for the crowd to roar in recognition of the ever-popular hit “Ladies Night .”Kool slapped out some beefy funk on his base as the guitar line revved up the dance climate. The punchy horn rhythms mingled perfectly with the pitch-perfect harmonies. The audience added their voices verse by verse and grew louder with the chorus.

The band piled groove upon groove as the song melded into another of their mega dance hits, “Get Down On It .”The tenor sax solo was off the charts with expert flutter and vibrato. McGuiller’s vocals were flawless as he enticed the audience into some call and response.

They wrapped up the show with their number one hit that in 2021 was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. The horns kicked off “Celebration,” and the crowd’s ecstatic energy reflected the song’s essence perfectly. In fact, the cacophony from the audience’s choral chants kicked the song to a higher level, which was very “Kool.”

This was my first time seeing Kool and The Gang in concert, and the band’s compelling instrumentation, coupled with McQuiller’s vocal talent, was immensely impressive. Thank you to the band for the many decades of funk, soul, R&B, pop, disco, and jazz you have shared with music lovers across the globe. Thank you to Pala Casino for your great venue and for hosting such great iconic musicians. Backstage360 appreciates your hospitality.