‘Soul Session’: more spell-binding performance than musical comedy

By Paul Babin / Contributing Writer

Posted Jun 16, 2019 at 4:25 PM
Updated Jun 16, 2019 at 4:40 PM

PROVINCETOWN —“The Soul Session” is a present in the wrong package.

This latest production from Oversoul Theatre Collective, which runs every Saturday this summer at the Focsicle, advertises itself as a “funky musical comedy” that revives the spirit of 1968, but Saturday’s performance played more like a concert with some spoken word poetry thrown in.

Sure, the bandleader and master of ceremonies known as Mwalim DaPhunkee Professor (he’s a professor at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth) started by recounting some of the events of that turbulent year, including Martin Luther King’s assassination and the rise of the counterculture. But most of the set list consisted of original songs and groovy renditions of post-60s hits like “Love Shack.”

The good news is that Mwalim is a brilliant showman and his Grammy-nominated funk band, the GroovaLottos, brought the house down. I was knocked out by several of the band’s original tunes, especially “Temple of a Sacred Clown,” featuring drummer Eddie Ray Johnson cackling with glee during each reprise. When Mwalim wasn’t singing or playing his keyboard, he would grab a pair of sticks and trade riffs with Johnson on his drum set or with a young prodigy known as “The ZYG 808″ on his cocktail drums. At just 16 years old, ZYG 808 has the chops and stage presence to be a star. At times, he drummed with such finesse that his hands seemed to disappear into the sticks. He’s a natural.

Richard Johnson was also impressive on bass, perhaps the most important and easily overlooked instrument in any band. It’s difficult to point out a particular moment where he shined, because, as with most bass players, his contributions were less pronounced. As the heartbeat behind the melody, his influence is pervasive even as it seems invisible.

Still, my favorite performance belonged to a remarkable spoken word poet named Tamora Israel, who joined the band onstage near the start of the second act to perform a series of original poems called “No Time.” Her delivery seemed as achingly sincere as the words she invoked, and when she stared into the audience and solemnly intoned, “I don’t want your pity,” I believed her.

“The Soul Session” may not evoke 1968, but I didn’t mind so much once the performers had me under their spell. The GroovaLottos’ funky sound, paired with Israel’s poetry, is irresistible.

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It was the talents of the upcoming generation was highlighted at the Annual Black History Month event, hosted by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. About 200 community people filled the William E. Reed Auditorium in Dorchester on Sunday, February 25, and were treated to dance performances by Area 51, Chance Dance Company, Four Star Dance Academy, and readings by the PHGC Youth Circle. As an introduction for the guest speaker, Dr. Karilyn Crockett and her excellent presentation, The ZYG 808 and his drums were center stage.

Clad in a Dashiki and jeans, with his new locks uncovered, The ZYG 808 gave a very brief talk about his cocktail drum set, explaining that it is based on Afro-Caribbean percussion mixed with trap drum elements and that he likes the kit because , "it sounds like the TR-808 that folks use in hip-hop." He went on to explain that what separates MCs from rappers is that MCs are a part of the oral tradition continuum that came from West Africa by way of the Caribbean known as the Griot tradition, which drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Rolling right into his song, the audience was mesmerized to see this young man play the drums and rap at the same time, but were also deeply moved by the content of his lyrics in the songs "Pioneers" and homage to the founders of hip-hop; and "Insanity (The Sequel)" the looks at American race relations from a youth's point-of-view.

As The ZYG 808 is i the final stretch of his freshman year of high school and a busy gig schedule with The GroovaLottos, he is currently in the studio finishing his debut mixtape "The Intro" which will include the songs "Pioneers" and "Insanity (the Sequel". He is also make music videos for each of the songs. The project should come out in late Spring.

Follow The ZYG 808:
http://thezyg808.com

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