Local musicians – especially drummers – come out for Sanborn, James and especially, the great Steve Gadd on Saturday.

David Sanborn and Bob James

Not sure what the rest of St. Pete did for music last Saturday night. But I do know that a heavy percentage of the working musicians from our area were at the Palladium that night for a concert featuring Bob James, David Sanborn, Steve Gadd and James Genus (the bassist from Saturday Night Live).

If you don’t already know that we had four of the best musicians in the world in our intimate little theater Saturday night, you probably aren’t reading this post anyway.

Drummers were out in force to see Gadd, who has played and recorded with everybody – Eric Clapton, Chick Corea, Steely Dan, BB King, Al Jarreau, Paul Simon, Chet Baker, Joe Cocker. The list just keeps going.

I saw John Jenkins, Ron Gregg, the pianist Kenny Drew Jr., and lots of other musicians that night. After the show, Gadd came downstairs and visited with all of them.

The band played pieces from their new collaboration – Quartette Humaine – with tunes inspired by Dave Brubeck and his quartet. Both Sanborn and James, who combined on the hit 1986 album, Double Vision, are linked with smooth jazz, but the new album is anything but smooth.

These were artists working at the top of their game – and the multiple standing ovations during the 90-minute show proved that. Sanborn, who was born in Tampa while his father was stationed at MacDill AFB, told of how his mother brought him to the gulf beaches to recuperate after a serious bout with polio. His mother, just 5 feet-2 inches, lifted her partially paralyzed son in her arms and carried him into the gulf each day and worked his limbs until he was again able to move and walk on his own.

“She essentially gave me life twice,” he said, adding that he was catching an airplane right after the show to say goodbye to his mother, who herself was close to death.

The photo below of Steve Gadd was taken by another drummer, Mike Hanley, known as “Tackleboxxx,” who was the drum tech for the show. Keyboard Specialties, a great local backline suppier, brought in a Yamaha Recording Custom Kit, just like the one Gadd used on so many of his famous recordings. When he left, he signed the snare head to “Tackleboxxx.”

Thanks to the great crew at the Palladium for making it all sound so good. Thanks to the Gods for keeping the power on at the Palladium while the storm knocked out power right across the street. And thanks to the folks at Ruth Eckerd Hall for bringing us this magnificent show.