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Boz Scaggs / Nov. 28, 2001 / London (Hanover Grand)
In an industry where few of the old certainties hold true, you feel like giving thanks that an artist of such time-honored musical integrity as William Royce "Boz" Scaggs can still command a major label contract, and a reputation that still opens international doors. More than that, Scaggs' recent Virgin release, "Dig," stands as a new landmark in a distinguished solo career of more than 30 years. So it was as much because of word of mouth about Scaggs' welcome return to regular recording as it was the memory of his best-selling "Silk Degrees" era of 25 years ago that this one-off U.K. show was a swift sell-out. Scaggs also made a Nov. 27 stop at the BBC to record three songs for the "Later With Jools Holland" series, but this performance at the Hanover Grand was the only full U.K. concert of an international trip that includes a date in Amsterdam and three in Japan. He and an admirable seven-piece group kicked the set off with the cool groove of "Call That Love," the first of many selections from the new album. "Payday" highlighted Scaggs' characteristically easy, unpretentious guitar style, while "Miss Riddle" showcased Matt Fronke on trumpet. "Vanishing Point" took the set's stylishly restrained energy up a notch. With vocalists Conesha Monet Owens and Barbara Wilson invaluable throughout, another "Dig" highlight, the superbly measured "I Just Go," was similarly rewarding. "King of El Paso" redrew the vivid imagery of the recording ("he got a taste for Mescal and sweet perfume" / "Didn't take long to get him in the back room.") Scaggs had made an early promise of "old songs in a new way, and old songs in an old way" but clearly felt no obligation to tailor the set to his mainstream sales period of the 1970s. Indeed, he chose not to play his one U.K. top-10 single, "What Can I Say." Allen Toussaint's "Hercules" was an interesting reminder of his pre-"Silk Degrees" period, from 1973's "Slow Dancer," while a tender moment was provided by the ballad from 1980's "Hits" set, "Look What You've Done to Me." But more familiar material was on the way, with the rocky "Breakdown Dead Ahead" and a version of "Lido Shuffle" that recast the 1977 hit as a Canned Heat-style blues-rocker. The band encored with a funkier-than-ever "Lowdown," with a fine bass solo by Richard Patterson, and one more memory in "Miss Sun." Then, to emphasize the fresh momentum of a singularly classy American original, Scaggs returned to "Dig" for the serene "Thanks to You." Dig it we did.