The Pat Petrillo Big Rhythm Band – The Power Station Sessions

by Edward F. Nesta October 5, 2022

written by Edward F. Nesta October 5, 2022

The Pat Petrillo Big Rhythm Band – The Power Station Sessions is an assortment of music that crosses genres, changes up traditional tempos, and restates how and why tracks are set down in an order on a release, but in the end – IT JUST WORKS! Featuring a Who’s Who of artists such as Nile Rodgers, John Popper, Oz Noy, Lenny Pickett, Felicia Collins, Glen Burtnik, David Cook, Scott Ambush, Steve Jankowski and of course the heart and soul of the release, Pat Petrillo.

The Pat Petrillo Big Rhythm Band – The Power Station Sessions

The Power Station Sessions: 48^th Street, Big Man On Mulberry Street, Asbury Daze, Black Cow, It Won’t Be Long, Runnin’, Global Warming, Knocks Me Off My Feet, Hey, Pocky Way

Personnel: Pat Petrillo: drums; David Cook: keyboards; Scott Ambush: Bass; Steve Jankowski: trumpet; Tom Timko: saxophone; Plinky Giglio: B3 organ; Nile Rodgers: guitar; Felicia Collins: guitar; Oz Noy: guitar; John Popper: vocals; Lenny Pickett: saxophone; Glen Burtnik: vocals

Pat Petrillo Big Rhythm Band – The Power Station Sessions was recorded at the famed Power Station studio, produced by Pat Petrillo, engineered by Roy Hendrickson, and released on the Autumn Hill Records label. The Power Station Sessions follows up the critically acclaimed Big Rhythm Band’s debut, The Abbey Road Sessions.

The release opens with the funky 48^th Street written by Pat Petrillo and featuring guitarist Nile Rodgers and saxophonist Lenny Pickett. 48^Th Street is the amuse bouche for a smorgasbord of music that crosses genres. 48^th Street is more than a song title as Pat pointed out, "48^th Street in New York was where the music lived via music shops, records stores and recording studios in the 70s."

The jazzy Billy Joel track Big Man On Mulberry Street is the next track featuring Tom Timko on saxophone and Oz Noy on guitar. The song is significant as the original track by Billy Joel was laid down at The Power Station Studios. The saxophone ‘sings’ the vocals in this instrumental track and complements the compelling groove that Pat arranged. Pat’s arrangement of the track Asbury Daze captures the Asbury sound with a powerful horn section that is reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen and South Side Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.

The Big Rhythm Band transitions to the Steely Dan classic track, Black Cow with Oz Noy’s brilliant guitar work playing the "vocals" on this funky revamped arrangement. Never swaying from their love for the Beatles, The Big Rhythm Band tackles It Won’t Be Long featuring Glen Burtnik and John Popper sharing the vocals on the only non-instrumental track; a tight baseline sets the foundation for the vocals.

Changing it up a bit with the track Runnin’ by Earth, Wind & Fire the band takes the funky sound up a few measures with Pat Petrillo taking center stage with a drum solo. Pat shows his writing chops with his original composition Global Warming, which is a tense and powerful fast tempo song that calls out the increased paced of the climate crisis.

Rounding out the release is Knocks Me Off My Feet by Stevie Wonder, which Pat arranged as a ballad, and the track Hey, Poky Way, a fun New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Chant. The transitions across genres and tempos throughout the release are not only refreshing but they make a powerful statement that music, in the right hands, is pure entertainment.

Websites where you can procure The Pat Petrillo Big Rhythm Band – The Power Station Sessions: Pat Petrillo, Powder Finger, Amazon

Follow Luxury Experience on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LuxuryExperience to see photos and videos.

Follow Luxury Experience on Twitter at www.twitter.com/luxurypair @luxurypair

Follow Luxury Experience on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/luxurypair @luxurypair