Asbury Park R&B/soul legend JT Bowen’s first single, “Love You Just like the First Time,” from the Arlan Feiles-produced LP, “Dig Deep,” is the Makin Waves Music of the Week. PHOTO COURTESY OF NOT-POP RECORDS
After I go to Asbury Park, I take Neptune Boulevard to Springwood Avenue as a result of each time, the West Facet appears to be getting nicer and nicer. That does my coronary heart a lot good, particularly seeing the redevelopment of the Turf Membership, a beloved jazz, R&B and soul venue fashionable from its opening in 1940, by means of its transfer down Springwood in 1956 to its rock ‘n’ soul heyday within the Sixties.
Some of the fashionable soul and R&B singers to name Springwood Avenue his musical house is the nice J.T. Bowen, who led such sizzling bands as Soul Flame and The Chosen Few. Amongst his mates within the latter band was future Rock and Roll Corridor of Famer Clarence Clemons earlier than he was the saxophonist of Bruce Springsteen & the E Avenue Band. Whereas Bruce and different future E Streeters had been ripping it up just a few blocks away at The Upstage, J.T., Clarence, and The Chosen Few had been making crowds shout and sweat at The Turf Membership, The Orchid Lounge, and all alongside bustling Springwood Avenue.
It’s been greater than 50 years since these golf equipment had been hopping. The Orchid Lounge burned down through the race riots of early July 1970, whereas The Turf Membership was shuttered, thereby extinguishing the historic music scene of Asbury’s West Facet. Whereas Clarence subsequently discovered fame on E Avenue, J.T. continued to rock all through the Jersey Shore with The Chosen Few till 1976, then went on to entrance a band known as Give up by means of 1981. Proper round that point whereas working as a door man at Clarence’s new membership, Massive Man’s West in Purple Financial institution, J.T. was tapped to entrance Clarence’s backing band, the Purple Financial institution Rockers, touring extensively with them whereas concurrently recording with Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul and Gary “U.S.” Bonds and performing with Asbury Jukes saxophonist Eddie Manion and E Avenue Band drummer Ernest “Increase” Carter in The Shore Patrol.
Maybe the spotlight of J.T.’s storied profession has been sharing the stage with Bruce, singing Clarence’s hit “Girl’s Acquired the Energy” alongside him in 1985 at Giants Stadium and twice in 2011 in Asbury Park. A decade has handed since these glory days, however like Springwood Avenue and its Turf Membership, J.T. Bowen is making a comeback. With the assistance of his good good friend and producer Arlan Feiles, a celebrated Asbury Park-based singer-songwriter whose rootsy mix of folks ‘n’ soul has delighted audiences around the globe, J.T. has made a scrumptious new album. On “Dig Deep,” he mines eight of Arlan’s most soul-searching songs, together with the island-spiced enjoyable of the LP’s first single, “Love You Just like the First Time.” The Makin Waves Music of the Week will rock each the dance flooring and the bed room.
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Because the Makin Waves Music of the Week, “Love You Just like the First Time” additionally could be heard between 6 and eight p.m. on July 23 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. In the event you miss it, you can also tune in any time at The Penguin or MixCloud.
The dynamite of “Dig Deep” ignites with “Viola,” a modern-day civil rights anthem that might break the chains of oppression with its dignified supply and church-like clamor. The title observe appears past Black Lives Matter and different protests to a day when all brothers and sisters of creation will reside in peace, concord and sustainability if they’ll “dig deep with some dignity.”
The bouncy pleasure of Allan Toussaint/Lee Dorsey-like “Doin’ the Work” makes for a danceable non secular about dedication to each love and enjoyable. The LP’s standout observe, the John Hiatt-like “Angels Amongst Us,” is a soul bullet that can penetrate the toughest coronary heart and switch it into mush as its staccato stagger explores the divine turning factors of life by which love exhibits the best way by means of darkness and lightweight.
The gospel march of “Stroll with Jesus” takes non secular path, then the highway with Bowen takes one other civil rights flip with the liberty music “50 Miles.” J.T. sings, “Inform Martin we’re nonetheless marching for him,” whereas the reminiscences from Selma to Montgomery stand like a monument to a dream that have to be realized by our youngsters since now we have failed to take action.
“Dig Deep” then closes with “Don’t Again Down,” a driving Springsteenesque testomony about the necessity to stand up and carry on keepin’ on with the energy of grace. There’s all the time hope, that also, small voice that may information us by means of the wilderness if we let it. “Dig Deep” embodies that hope, as do the contemporary paint and soon-to-reopen doorways of The Turf Membership.
I want J.T. the best success with this beautiful, deeply stirring album. I pray that he and Asbury Park’s Springwood Avenue return to the glory they so richly deserve. And I look ahead to seeing him, Arlan, and plenty of of our mates on July 27 at a twin listening social gathering — additionally for Arlan’s new album, “Blame Me” — at Clinch Clear Gallery in Asbury. Proceeds from at-the-door donations will profit the a lot beloved Asbury Park African-American Music Mission, whose efforts to revitalize Springwood Avenue and its music scene are chronicled right here.
For extra about JT, go to jtbowenmusic.com.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Comply with Makin Waves on Fb and phone Bob at [email protected].
