The Katet Plays Stevie Wonder
Classic funk and soul tribute from the Edinburgh octet
This Edinburgh-based seven piece funk band set the Jazz Bar alive with their uptempo, crowd-pleasing Stevie Wonder set. A remarkable feat in some respects, as the band (and the room) needed a definite warm-up. The Katet did take a wee minute to jump from a seemingly 'very good wedding band', to a dance-inducing, musically-dazzling group of musicians.
Opening with 'Lately' showed off the lead singer's (Mike Kearney) voice wonderfully, and once in their flow, The Katet swung through a back catalogue of cleverly transitioned Stevie hits, demonstrating their musical prowess one by one. The absolute highlight of the show was undoubtedly the lengthy flute solo from Tom Pickles during 'Another Star' – quite breathtaking, it took the room by storm. The brass section was generally great, adding a real depth to the overall sound. The lead was committed, with strong vocals, and there were a couple of very impressive guitar solos from electric guitarist Dave Wallace, as well as a chest-buzzing solo from trombonist Ross Lothian.
How much are The Katet riding on the genius of Stevie's original writing? It's hard to say. Obviously a great deal during this show: but that's the point! There's not a huge amount of originality here, but you'll definitely leave wanting to hear more from this Edinburgh group. Holding off – of course – until the end for 'Superstition', got everyone on their feet. Worth a visit if you're looking for a fun-filled, euphoric evening of live and highly competent music.
The Jazz Bar, 16, 19, 22, 24 & 26 Aug, 12:00am, £9-£10 (£8-£9).