Drummer Towner Galaher returns to the soulful pulse of his Pacific Northwest roots on “Brothers,” his fifth outing as a leader. Channeling the spirit of the 1970s—when funk and jazz met at the crossroads and the Hammond B3 reigned supreme—Galaher crafts an album steeped in tight ensemble playing, muscular grooves, and heartfelt homage. This is a sound I absolutely enjoy and already have noted his previous album “Live” here on Mediaversal.
Influenced by trailblazers like Tower of Power and Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, Brothers leans heavily into that vintage fusion sensibility without sounding stuck in time. There’s reverence here, yes—but also reinvention.
The core of Brothers lies in Galaher’s chemistry with longtime collaborator Jimmy Sanders. Together, they penned all eight tracks, either jointly or independently, offering a varied sonic landscape. The title track, co-written with Sanders, sets the tone with a syncopated bounce and a melodic sensibility that evokes camaraderie as much as craft. “From the opening bars, you feel the brotherhood,” Galaher says, and it shows.
“Rio-lization,” a Sanders original, detours into Brazilian territory, propelled by an inventive harmonic structure and a sax solo from Craig Handy that simmers then ignites. Galaher’s “The Diamond Chalice,” a tune he penned in his twenties, gains new life in Handy’s hands. “He brought it to life in a way that still fills me with wonder,” Galaher reflects.
“Piece of the Action,” inspired by an early Portland funk group featuring Sanders, delivers the album’s greasiest pocket. “Cahva Bite?”—yes, that’s a play on a family inside joke—features a clever 6/8 bridge contributed by Galaher and showcases the duo’s knack for playful, rhythm-forward storytelling.
Sanders’ “Past Present and Future” resists genre boxes, flowing freely between time signatures and moods. It’s also a nod to the trio’s shared musical journey, one that spans decades and still looks forward. Horne’s solo here is a particular highlight, marrying finesse with fire.
The album closes with “Seventh Heaven,” written by Sanders and his late brother Johnny. Set in 7/4 with a gospel tilt, it’s a moving coda and a fitting tribute. Dedicated to Johnny Sanders, the album Brothers finishes not with a fade, but with a benediction.
Galaher may be looking back on this record—but he does so while keeping the groove moving forward. Brothers is not nostalgia. It’s a living, breathing, deep-pocketed testament to musical brotherhood and funk-drenched jazz with soul to spare.
Released January 3, 2025.
Format Info
Compact Disc.
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