High-energy musicians from several genres melding elements of Rock, Rhythm & Blues, and Jazz (with a little Country & Western to Boot), Willie D & The Hip Pockets play infectious dance music with a nostalgic beat and old-school soul. Willie D sings and plays sax on the great honky-tonk and dance-hall classics that rocked jukeboxes of yesteryear, including hits by Fats Domino, Louis Armstrong, Willie Nelson, and Elvis Presley. Willie’s debut album release Rock, Rhythm & Jazz was released on February 25th.
Today Glide is excited to premiere the music video for the band’s performance of “Daybreak Talent Show,” which was filmed at the Ice Cream Factory Studio in Austin, Texas. Hitting you with a healthy dose of smooth saxophone right out of the gate, Willie sings with the effortless cadence of a lounge singer. His talent band layers in elements of blues, soul and jazz as the lyrics stir up a sense of sun-drenched nostalgia and positive feelings. As the song grooves along at an easygoing pace, the band layers in guitar, keyboards, shuffling drums, and of course saxophone to make for the kind of sound that bathes you in its warmth.
Willie describes the inspiration and process behind the tune:
“My aim when writing Daybreak Talent Show was to compose something that represented a certain “Golden Feeling” I would feel radiate inside me when waking up. Some mornings that feeling might be directed by the sound of birds chirping outside my window. Some mornings it’s the smell of breakfast being cooked by a loved one. Some mornings it’s the sound of pattering feet and playful laughter of children. This song is about that “Golden Feeling.” This song is about gratitude.
The album version of Daybreak Talent Show was a massive undertaking with 16 different musicians coming together to perform a full orchestral arrangement. I wanted to re-imagine the song for the Hip Pocket’s live shows and looked to Van Morrison for inspiration. I saw him perform in a jazz quintet several years ago and was impressed with how he converted his hit tunes into that small-group format. This live version of Daybreak Talent Show is based on inspiration from that concert.” – Willie D (Will Daniel)
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