Pino Palladino Blake Mills

Pino Palladino and Blake Mills

The intimate, misty setting was perfect for the evening. Grammy-winners Pino Palladino and Blake Mills led the core duo. They recently released That Wasn’t a Dream their follow up to 2021’s Notes with Attachments. Drummer Chris Dave and saxophonist Sam Gendel joined them. The performance was a masterclass that highlighted texture, rhythm, as well as a collective groove.

The Opener Jeremiah Chiu

Pino Palladino Blake Mills — *Jeremiah Chiu Opens the Show; Photo by Alex Apple*

Synthesist Jeremiah Chiu set the atmosphere for the night. This sound-artist works with International Anthem. His commissions include the LA Phil and also The Getty Center. Chiu created an ambient, textural soundscape thus preparing the audience gently for the main event. His work blends electronic composition in addition to abstract sound-art. Chiu’s solo albums are critically acclaimed. The introduction was meditative and intricate. This patient start cleansed the audience’s ears. It invited listeners to focus on subtleties.

Palladino & Mills An Unorthodox Supergroup

The night was not about a traditional setlist. It was a journey through a shared musical language. The music was rooted in West African as well as Cuban polyrhythms. It also drew on experimental jazz angularity and the deep pocket of neo-soul. Mills’ adventurous guitar work served as the melodic foil. His playing blends technical precision and an experimental edge. Palladino’s bass was foundational, yet supremely lyrical. His fretless bass lines have shaped modern music. Palladino provided a warm, liquid center. He shifted effortlessly from deep funk to melody. His melodic phrasing blurred the lines between instruments.

World Class Musicians

The ensemble members elevated the entire performance. Drummer Chris Dave is a rhythmic force. He has worked with D’Angelo and also Adele. Dave was a marvel to watch on drums. His time-bending syncopation created wonder. He layered futuristic, broken-beat rhythms. These rhythms felt complex yet essential. He fractured and reassembled the time signature. Dave pulled the music forward with intensity.

Sam Gendel was equally compelling on saxophone. He also played the EWI (pronounced “ee-wee”) which stands for Electronic Wind Instrument. It allows familiar woodwind fingering, therefore players can access any sound imaginable. Gendel used it for synth leads.

*L-R Sam Gendel, woodwinds and EWI; Chris Dave, drums; Pino Palladino, bass; Blake Mills, guitar; Photo by Alex Apple*

Gendel is a fixture of LA’s experimental scene. His contributions were abstract and evocative. His playing felt like a transmission from another plane. Gendel provided unexpected, emotive, and deeply textural layers. He used breathy, pitch-bent tones. He also played a searing, distorted melodic line. Gendel’s abstract sound pushed the music forward. He was the group’s brushstroke, adding unexpected color and blur to the meticulous lines of Palladino and Mills.

The concert felt unpredictable at every moment. The overall feeling of the show was one of quiet daring. The music was never loud or overly bombastic, yet it commanded attention through its depth and intellectual curiosity. It was music that truly rewarded close listening. A performance where four world-class musicians made spontaneity sound effortless, and subtlety feel like a revelation. They didn’t just play a concert. They created an expansive, collective soundscape that resonated with the Ford’s audience long after the final note faded.

Find out what’s playing next at the Ford on their website – https://www.theford.com/