CAbP brings the funk to Phila

We knew we were in for a treat this weekend when we saw three different drum stations crammed on the small stage area of World Cafe Live Upstairs. A pair of conga drums were sandwiched between a snare drum set and a regular drum kit. One by one, the artists from Chicago Afrobeat Project (CAbP) strolled out onto the stage. There were indeed three different percussionists, two saxophone players, an organist, a guitarist, and a five-string bassist.

Yowsa.

They began with a track off of their self-titled debut, and by the second song had whipped both themselves and the audience into a frenzy. Not a soul in the house wasn't moving, and a few people took it one step beyond, chair dancing into full-bodied movement along the perimeter of the room.

Because we go to so many shows, we don't find ourselves surprised often. But when CAbP launched into "Global Warming," we found ourselves shocked. What started out as a slower jazz piece changed to a raucous dance piece over two beats of silence. The change came so quickly, and was so powerful, a whispered "Oh shit" escaped from our lips. The alto saxophone player's hands shook over his keys so quickly he seemed to be in sugar shock.

Just when we thought we couldn't be more surprised, a few songs later all of the band members grabbed different pieces of percussion. Everyone was either playing some type of drum or a cowbell, rain stick, gourd shaker, or wooden blocks. Aptly titled "The Drum Song," the music was a focused call and response between the man behind the main drum kit and the members playing different pieces of percussion.

From songs such as "Nobody Likes a Prima Donna," to an afrobeat arrangement of John Coltrane's "Afro Blue," the band kept its audience engaged and dancing all night. The next time they come through Philly, we'll be there. With cowbells on.