Too Smooth For Notes joins Lalah Hathaway

Too Smooth ForNotes has been doing their thing around these parts since saxophonist PhilDenny formed the band in 1993 for a high school talent show. This Fridaythough, they'll be doing it with the Grammy-nominated jazz and R&B singerLalah Hathaway, who also happens to be the daughter of the late soul singerDonny Hathaway.

The band willnot only open for Hathaway at The Loft at Harem Urban Lounge but will serve asher backing band once she hits the stage. They landed the gig following anaudition — via Skype.

"We wereperforming in my living room," Denny said. Apparently, Hathaway wasimpressed with the band's chops. The feeling is mutual, said Denny.

"She knowswhat she's doing," he said. "We have a mutual goal of taking theaudience to a place they haven't been."

Denny alsospeaks highly of the men he's assembled to play what in the business isreferred to as urban smooth jazz (think less New Orleans, more mid-tempo,laid-back grooves). The roster consists of himself, keyboardist Sebastian Wood,bassist Arnold “AP” Pulliam, guitarist Irvin Williams, drummer Joe Amerson andpercussionist Craig Smith. Denny said this line-up has been the same for abouta decade.

While enthusedto share the stage with Hathaway, this isn't the first time they've had a chanceto play with heavy-hitters. They've also shared the stage with national andinternational recording artists including Gail Jhonson, Tim Bowman, HowardHewitt, Penny Wells, Randy Scott, as well as a once-in a lifetime, "offthe cuff" (as Denny put it) performance with Stevie Wonder.

Wonder was intown and stopped by to see the band based on a friend's recommendation backwhen they held a residency at the now-closed Club 621.

The band hadalready packed up for the night when they found out he was coming, but theyunpacked and began to play. At one point, Wonder was escorted to the stage todo his thing with the band.

It is a niceaccomplishment for a band that has spent a long time on their music and has nosigns of slowing down. They have more gigs booked in the near-future, includinga closing set at Jazz Fest on August 7.