James Hunter Six proves to be on edge of greatness

GREENVILLE, S.C. — With its tour manager capably substituting as its drummer for the first time (and with little time for preparation), the crack British classic-mod soul group James Hunter Six still managed to bring down the house Oct. 15 at The Peace Center’s Gunter Theatre.

About 350 people attended the 90-minute concert, playfully dubbed by Hunter as “One Night of Terror,” in honor of Chris Phillips’ debut on the drums. (Jonathan Lee, the regular drummer, suffered a death in his family three days earlier and had to miss the concert.)

Hunter prompted laughter from the audience when he deadpanned part way through the show, “Who would have ever thought that such a lousy tour manager would be such a good drummer?”

Hunter, performing songs that sound like classics but instead are mostly his original compositions, has a voice variously reminiscent of Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Bobby “Blue” Bland and James Brown. He has been hailed as the best “blue-eyed soul” singer to emerge from the British music scene.

His guitar-playing was remarkable, shifting in style from machine-gun attack to soulful lament and back again.

Hunter and his crew not only survived breaking in a new drummer (albeit temporarily until Lee returns), but thrived. 

The audience appeared to be immensely pleased with the precision performance, calling for — and receiving — an encore.

The group’s camaraderie was on display, having played with Hunter for some two decades. Two saxes chimed in baritone and tenor (Lee Badeau and Damian Hand), the bass stood upright (Jason Wilson), the organ whirled a Hammond B-3 pitch and the drums pounded out a crisp and economical beat.

Hunter played his Gibson Les Paul guitar through a vintage Vox amplifier that occasionally emitted mildly annoying feedback between songs, for which he fixed with a swift kick and a broad smile, triggering much laughter from the audience.

Despite playing for an older, prosperous-looking and (dare I say?) somewhat lethargic audience, Hunter displayed his dry, sly British humor throughout the concert, and played up a storm.

Hunter, 51, a Colchester, England, native, is a Grammy Award-nominated rhythm and blues musician and soul singer. 

Hunter and his group took the stage and, without a word, launched into “She’s Got a Way.”

“This one’s about chicken and switches — I was drunk when I wrote it,” Hunter told the crowd with a smile, as the JHS performed “Chicken Switch,” the lead track from the band’s first new album in five years — “Minute by Minute.”

Next, he performed “One Way Love,” “Gold Mine,” “People Gonna Talk,” “No Smoke Without Fire,” “Baby, Don’t Do It,” “Heartbreak,” “Jacqueline,” “Drop on Me,” “Let the Monkey Ride,” “The Gypsy,” “Down Home Girl,” “Think,” “Carina,” “Minute by Minute,” “Look Out.” “Believe Me, Baby,” “All Through Cryin’,” “Talking ‘bout My Love” and “Hand It Over.”

The group’s rendition of “Carina” was ska-influenced, perhaps mainly because of the new drummer’s influence. Interestingly, Hunter made no big deal about performing “Carina,” which has been his biggest hit.

“Thank you all for hearing us. Hope to see y’all again,” Hunter said, as the band left the stage.

However, the crowd cheered for more. Soon, Hunter returned to the stage — without his group — and performed a solo version of  “Can’t You Tell.”

His band returned for one last song and then left the stage for good, leaving an audience that was calling for still more.