The Bo-Keys: Got to Get Back

The Bo-Keys know how to set a Memphis groove. They ought to. The band's musicians have been doing it for some time. As I wrote in the Wall Street Journal last week (go here), the band was formed by bassist Scott Bomar in 1998, and the rest of the band's rhythm section are veterans of the Stax and Hi record labels in the '60s and '70s.

In addition to Scott, the band features guitarist Charles “Skip" Pitts, drummer Howard Grimes and keyboard player Archie Turner. Trumpeter Marc Franklin and saxophonists Jim Spake, Derrick Williams and Kirk Smothers round out the octet.

The Bo-Keys' new album is Got to Get Back (Electraphonic). If you dig the soul-funk sound of Memphis, this band's pulled-pork authenticity will certainly grab you. There are also cameos by four Memphis legends: singers Otis Clay, William Bell, Percy Wiggins and Charlie Musselwhite, who also plays blues harp.

Here's Scott on how the band got its start...



JazzWax tracks: The Bo-Keys' new album Got to Get Back is available at iTunes and here.

JazzWax clip: And here's the full title track from the CD...