Salsa Society at the Saxophone

I know that Saxophone Pub (Victory Monument) has been used for a Gig of the Week previously. Not many other venues in this town are more deserving of a mention than this grand old dame where the highest standards of live music have been adhered to for more than 15 years.
With it's smoke-filled wood and brick interior, centre stage and upstairs balconies for a birds-eye view of the bands playing on a red carpet no less, Sax, as it is also called, is the one venue all bands aspire to play.
When the band took to the stage at midnight this past Friday, the place was packed. In fact, for anyone arriving after the witching hour it was standing room only, downstairs. Now, the size of the crowd on this particular Friday may have been precipitated by the fact that it was Karn's last performance as mentioned earlier, but nonetheless Saxophone usually has a good crowd at the weekends.
The Salsa Society, Bangkok's first real Salsa band, which funnily enough is comprised entirely of non-Latinos, launched right into it, taking no prisoners. I have seen the band on several occasions, and with a core group of 8 members, it has been known to bring on stage up to 10 players, depending on which percussionists are in town and down for a jam.
On this particular night there were 8, with Martin handling all percussion, no mean feat when it comes to Salsa. Weaving intricate rhythms and stylish patterns around the solid grooves laid down by Lester on drums and Muek on bass, Martin was working his bongos and congas real hard.
Lester on drums is a Bangkok stalwart, having risen to fame with Thai rock group, Hin, Lek, Fai (Stone, Metal, Fire) and the hugely successful "Nang Maew". Muek on bass is also an accomplished jazz fusion guitarist, who plays Salsa due to his love for the Latino groove. Muek was the guitar player supporting US based Funkmeister, bassist T.M. Stevens during his clinics here in Bangkok. Roong on piano stays cool in the background, a true professional, he keeps it together without a hint of dominance. The first number was an instrumental with vocalist, Rhona, introducing each member of the group who would then take a small solo, setting the mood for the rest of the set. The one number I remember most clearly was the Salsa Society's blistering version of "Watermelon Man" featuring the horn section, comprised of Montri on trumpet, Aoun on trombone and Mark on saxophone.
In addition to being the groups saxophonist and flute player, Mark is also bandleader and vocalist. During a conversation with Pee Nuat, owner of Saxophone Pub, Mark, the founder of the Bangkok Big Band (he also currently works at the Oriental Hotel) suggested a smaller version of the band to present Salsa music. And so the idea was born, a musical appreciation group that would be capable of reaching the Thai public as well as playing real Salsa based music in a live, totally unsequenced form. Groovy Baby. Yes I know, I've been watching too much Austin Powers.
What really sets this band apart though, is none of the above. Each member of the group is a seasoned professional in his own right, or in the case of Rhona, her own right, and while they gig around town all week, they only meet up at Sax on Thursday and Friday nights from midnight onwards. As the night wore on, it became obvious that the Salsa Society was serious, delivering a sensuous version of "Besame Mucho" featuring Rhona on vocals, and several instrumentals showcasing the talent of each band member.
Lester delivers polyrhythms and staccato fills while Muek actually does scatting to accompany his bass solo. The horn section is tight, punching through when needed or simply laying back, filling in the gaps. Martin was getting warmed up, and his patterns became increasingly more complex, switching from congas to bongos and back in a blur of hands. Mark, apart from holding his own with skilful solos both on sax and flute, has a very pleasant singing voice that fits well with the type of music and the band's sound. The crowd's appreciation could clearly be felt with the thunderous applause that accompanied the ending of each number. By this time, several people were dancing in every available space, understandably so as it is impossible to remain still while the group is aggressively pumping out those seductive Latin grooves.
When I left toward the end of the second set, thinking what a pleasure it was to see true professionals not only at work, but enjoying it immensely, the place was still in full swing with both locals and visitors dancing the night away.
The Salsa Society, Thursday and Friday
Saxophone Pub
3/8 Victory Monument on Phyathai Road