Connect Savannah
Savannah, GA
5-21-08
By Jim Reed

Laura Reed & Deep Pocket
In musician’s parlance, playing “deep in the pocket” intimates that a rhythm player such as a bassist or percussionist is so intensely into the groove of whatever type of tune they’re performing—especially funk or rock—that they’re locked onto the pulse of the song and riding it for all it’s worth. When more than one musician feels that pulse and can fall in step with the others, a magical sort of interaction occurs that is the foundation of R&B, and—for that matter—dance music of most any type.
            This Asheville-based neo-soul combo has groove to spare, as well they should if they have the nerve to claim that moniker. Led by the stone to the bone vocals of Reed—who was born in Johannesburg, South Africa but moved to rural N.C. in the early 90s—their latest album offers up a decidedly reverent, yet intoxicatingly contemporary take on vintage Southern R&B of the kind developed and typified by the likes of Aretha Franklin, James Carr, Howard Tate and Bettye LaVette.
            Reed and her trio (which features bass, drums and a vintage 1936 Hammond organ, but surprisingly no electric guitar) admit a fondness for those kinds of records, but are just as apt to cite Bob Marley, Erykah Badu and Fiona Apple as key influences on their own sound. Make no mistake, this band is about songs, but its members have spent enough time in jam-oriented bands to stretch out and improvise on point when they feel like it. They’re eying a tour of Japan, as well as Europe, Australia and South Africa in the near future. If the group’s studio recordings are any indication of the power and subtlety of their live shows, this may prove one of the most exciting local debuts of the year.