By Ron Wynn
NASHVILLE, TN — Guitarist Jean-Paul Lilliston considers the greatest influence on his playing not the soulful sounds of Motown he heard in his Native Detroit, but the powerhouse ensemble approach and defiant lyric messages contained in the Chicago blues.
“The Blues are the music that I really gravitate towards as a player,” Lilliston told the Tribune last week. “Now as a group we mix lots of things, but the blues for me are the prime influence.”
However the power of the groove and the ability of the band to hook listeners and get them on the dance floor has made the Lilliston Effect a popular local attraction.
The group has issued two LPs, with their most recent being “El Bull.” They will be performing selections from it Friday night at the Eastside Bowl in Madison.
Along with guitarist Lilliston, the other band members include bassist Ron Gomez, keyboardist Geno Haffner, saxophonist Don Jacobson and drummer Matt Scibilia.
“Our music is very groove oriented,” Lilliston added.”Our songs are designed to give everyone in the band a chance to express themselves.”
“But at the same time we don’t get so far out with what we are doing that you have to be a sophisticated listener or have a degree in music to appreciate it.”
The Lilliston Effect is now preparing to record a new album later this year. Meanwhile Jean-Paul Lilliston continues to convince skeptical club owners his band has a genuine following.
“In the beginning when they saw we were an instrumental band there would be doubts,” he concluded. “But when our shows are going strong and people are having a good time, they see that a really strong instrumental band can put in a great show too.”
The Lilliston Effect Friday night at the Eastside Bowl, 1508 Gallatin Pike. The show starts at 8 pm.
