Average White Band November 8, 2010

AWB are widely regarded as one of the best soul and funk bands in the history of music. Though perhaps best known for their timeless instrumental mega-hit 'Pick Up the Pieces' the band's strength actually lay in their consistently accomplished song- writing, stretching across several gold selling albums and multi- grammy nominations for the legendary Atlantic Records. Somewhat incongruously, given their Scottish roots, the six piece took the influences of their R&B heroes - people like Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Donny Hathaway and others - and developed their own 'authentic' sound which was eagerly adopted by black audiences in the US and elsewhere. Whilst a good number of cuts - 'Cut The Cake' and 'Let's Go Round Again' to name but two - attracted chart action as hit singles, many other album tracks, like 'Schoolboy Crush' and 'Stop The Rain' became much sampled and turn tabled 'rare' grooves. Many more tunes, such as 'Cloudy', 'A Love Of Your Own' and 'Nothing You Can Do' - amongst many others- stand alongside some of the finest soul 'album tracks' ever recorded.
The current line-up of the band with noted US recruits Klyde Jones and Rocky Bryant augmenting founder members Alan Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre continues to record and tour around the world to ongoing critical and audience acclaim.

As one reviewer in England last month wrote, "their storming set cemented the fact that veterans or not, AWB remain the unchallenged kings of UK Funk."
All this and more is perfectly illustrated in the band's latest release 'Times Squared' which showcases the breadth and depth of the Band's material, all captured within the excitement of a 2009 live performance'

Official Website: http://www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco/jazzclub/artist/show/1018