Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Terje Lie, Urban Vacation CD release party
Spaghettini, Seal Beach, CA

Keyboard: Barnaby Finch
Saxophone: Terje Lie
Bass: Earnest Tibbs
Drums: Tony Moore

I arrived at Spaghettini for the Terje Lie CD release party in plenty of time for sound check, so let’s share a little banter!

Keyboardist Barnaby Finch~
“Mix wise I’m on the same blend. Lemme know if you’re getting’ feedback.”
Sound director Q~
“You could angle it a little bit.”
Terje Lie~
“You gonna check the tenor?”
Q~
“Is that level good for you? Just give me ten minutes, the lights will go up and you’re on!”

Ten minutes later, the lights went up and Terje Lie introduced himself wordlessly with his alto sax intro. He immediately commanded everyone’s attention with his clear, crisp sound. The band kicked in. Smooth and easy drifted to our ears as the Lie-chill began. Tony’s drumbeat clapped time with keyboards and Tibbs thumpin’ bass laid it out. Terje’s screamin’ sax walked us to a stellar keyboard solo by Barnaby Finch. The audience was fully engaged and swayin’ to the keys when Terje put his final touch on the opener, Travelers.

They transitioned seamlessly to Pier Avenue with the entire band in motion. Barnaby was a superstar on this one. He got down and very funky with the keys, then handed it off to Terje who blew it out as he paced an arched pattern on stage. Suddenly, he jazzed it up Lie-style with arched back and an eager lungful. Barnaby took a mini volley a few crazy keys, then it was back to sax with a subtle drum ending.

Terje picked up the tenor sax for Runnin’ Outta Time. Keyboardist Finch was off-the-hook on the keys again while Tony Moore clicked a synchronized drum rhythm. Earnest Tibbs slow punched a resonating bass riff. Terje jumped back in and finished off the tune splendidly.

Terje~
“Thank you so much! Thank you for listening.”

Lie proudly introduced his band and remained on tenor sax.

Terje~
“We’re gonna play a selection from the Urban Vacation CD. This first track has nothing to do with our current economic situation,” he joked. “Jeff Lorber produced it. It’s a story about dog fights and fighter pilots.”

A little Terje trillin’ started Bail Out swinging side-to-side covering the stage with his sound. Finch showed us his chops on a stellar keyboard solo while Tibbs clipped a thick thump of his bass. Then it was back to Terje for the finale sax blow.

Lie~
“Thank you so much!”

Terje opened Funk Man on tenor with a solid beat. The song immediately crawled comfortably under my skin. Barnaby started out slow on the keys, then transformed into a madman with no warning. The crowd was bobbing their heads in the jazz zone when Lie’s foot tapping sound permeated the venue and remained there until song’s end.

Terje!
“Thank you! That was another one from the new album!”

Dance on the Water opened with a rapid-fire drum beat from Tony Moore. There was nothing sleepy about this tune! Keyboardist Barnaby started some musical banter that resulted in a Finch solo that knocked my socks off. Tony remained perched behind the plex divider and hit it with zesto. He was on fire and earned a triple wow with his explosive attack. He weaved in a marching band lick that reminded me, it’s been wayyy too long since I’ve heard Tony Moore live! The crowd went nuts!

Terje~
“Yeah, that was Tony Moore, the one and only! This is something from my former album called Traveler. It’s something called Lights are Low. The cut was a dim-the-lights mood creator that left me wondering about my next candlelight dinner with champagne. Lie’s sultry sax blossomed as he slipped it to cool cat Finch. Raindrops-on-the-window pane trickled from his magic fingers.

Lie~
“Thank you!”

The last song was You. The chair dancing beat of this song had me wiggling in my jazzy front row, center seat and made me wanna dance. He wowed the crowd with his final tune of the set.

Terje~
“We’re out for a little break and we’ve got CDs! If you’re not familiar with my name it’s the Norwegian spelling. T-E-R-J-E.”

My heartfelt thanks to my Facebook friend Terje Lie and his band. I’m honored to finally hear you live. That was one nice hang guys!

© June 2010 Lynn M. Olson ALL RIGHTS RESERVED