Lenny White apologized last night for not having recorded an album for the past 10 years and for not touring as often as he wanted to. However, it didn't keep people away from visiting his club gig at Quasimodo. Although not a full house, most of the fans in the audience were just that - longtime White aficionados who like their drummer funky and powerful.

Mr. White started his first set with a couple of self-penned tunes to be released on his next album which will see the light of day in September. It was pretty clear from the start that bassist Richie Goods was the featured star of the show since his muscular and heavy electric bass was featured throughout the set in such a virtuosic manner that it prompted people to scream and shout. George Colligan was on keyboards and although he's one of the most sought-after musicians currently on the NY scene (also stated by Mr. White himself) and with his own band Mad Science, he didn't get as many solo opportunities as I had wished. But anyway his approach on the various keys was sensational. Also in the band, Mad Science member Tom Guarna on guitar who managed to throw in some rocking solos here and there and who reminded me of old Return To Forever material, the band in which White played the drums in the 70s together with a certain Chick Corea.

The material in the first set included, among the openers, a fresh and wild take on Wayne Shorter's Elegant People and a bass showcase from Mr. Goods on the standard My One And Only Love which was segued into I'll See You Soon, a piece from Mr. White's almost forgotten, but still in-demand 1978 album Streamline. White concluded the set with a piece written by his former employer Joe Henderson with which he worked as far back as 1970 and prompted him to say how old he is already. Called Gazelle, the piece was the perfect set closer and proved how tight the band could sound. As he's turning 60 later in the year, Lenny White was clearly in charge of the band and a highly concentrated and at the same time, pretty loose drum master.

Catch Lenny White & Present Tense this Friday in Cologne, Altes Pfandhaus.