Live & Local: Wasabi

When you’ve shared the stage with Maceo Parker, Lee Scratch Perry, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and Dick Dale, you’re probably on to something. That’s certainly the case for Santa Cruz group Wasabi. The band consists on bassist Dan Robbins, drummer Alex Work and guitarist Ron Work. No stranger to Kuumbwa, Robbins’ gigs cover everything from solo to full big band and orchestra. Equally adept on both acoustic and electric bass, Robbins creates textures and depth using lead parts, chordal arrangements and the influence of musical genres from all over the world. Drummer Alex Work is known for bringing a funky edge to his many musical endeavors. From funk to hip-hop, Afro-Cuban to reggae, he brings expansive energy to the bandstand and power to each song. Simply stated, according to Wasabi’s website, “Ron Work plays guitar.” Simple as it may sound, in a power trio such as this, every musicians pulls equal weight and Ron Work’s inventive guitar playing is the color palette for this band’s multi-genre sound. Wasabi provides a “funk rock future,” as the band puts it; filled with full-tilt instrumental rallying, smooth melodicism and plenty of glorious twists and turns.