Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe reconnects for a ‘Thick As Thieves’ fall tour. This 22 show tour in October and November comes just after Denson’s summer stretch as a saxophonist with The Rolling Stones. After shows in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, KDTU will be joined for the remainder of the tour by Thievery Corporation.
The tour will feature KDTU’s first album in the past five years, Gnomes and Badgers, which was released earlier this year by Seven Spheres Records. Blending rock, soul and classic funk, the album takes a dive into the many controversial topics of today. This includes the album’s first single ‘Change My Way’ which gives a moving statement about the issues going on at the US border.
KDTU will kick off their tour on Thursday, Oct. 3. Tickets are available now and can be purchased here on KDTU’s website. See the full list of dates below.
Oct.3 – The Pour House – Charleston, SC Oct.4 – Big House Museum – Macon, GA Oct.5 – Orange Peel – Asheville, NC Oct.6 – Elevation 27 – Virginia Beach, VA Oct.8 – The Hamilton Live – Washington, DC Oct.9 – The Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC Oct.10 – The Broadberry – Richmond, VA Oct.11 – Rex Theater – Pittsburg, PA Oct.12 – The Fillmore – Philadelphia, PA * Oct.13 – House of Blues – Boston, MA* Oct.15 – Aura – Portland, ME Oct.16 – Le Capitole – Quebec City, Canada* Oct.17 – Mtelus – Montreal, Canada * Oct.18 – Putnam Place – Saratoga, NY Oct.24 – The Fillmore – Detroit, MI * Oct.25 – The Vogue – Indianapolis, IN * Oct.27 – Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN * Oct.28 – House of Blues – Chicago, IL* Nov.6 – The Fillmore – Miami, FL * Nov.7 – The Ritz – Tampa, FL* Nov.8 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA * Nov.9 – House of Blues – Orlando, FL *
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe ‘Thick As Thieves Fall Tour 2019’ will roll through Saratoga Springs on October 18 for a hot night of funk at Putnam Place. On the heels of touring the U.S. this summer as the saxophonist in The Rolling Stones, Denson reconvenes KDTU for 22 dates this fall, mixing headline performances alongside several dates supporting Thievery Corporation.
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe is supporting its latest studio album, Gnomes & Badgers, out now on Seven Spheres Records. Distilling the sweeping stylistic range of KDTU’s concert performances into their own authentic sound, the inimitable Denson and his long-standing seven piece unit that includes guitarist DJ Williams, drummer Zak Najor, bassist Chris Stillwell, keyboardist David Veith, trumpeter Chris Littlefield and slide/lap steel guitarist Seth Freeman have delivered what is undoubtedly their strongest work yet.
The album’s first video and single, “Change My Way,” makes a poignant statement about the current crisis at the U.S. border. The clip was directed by award-winning director, writer and producer TG Herrington, whose work includes ‘The Free State of Jones,’ a series of music videos for Paul McCartney and the new feature-length documentary ‘A Tuba To Cuba.’ Denson co-wrote “Change My Way” with New Orleans singer-songwriter Anders Osborne and co-produced the track with Adrian Quesada (Brownout, Spanish Gold).
KARL DENSON’S TINY UNIVERSE Thick As Thieves Fall Tour 2019
10/3 – Charleston, SC – The Pour House 10/4 – Macon, GA – Big House Museum 10/5 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel 10/6 – Virginia Beach, VA – Elevation 27 10/8 – Washington, DC – The Hamilton Live 10/9 – Charlotte, NC – The Neighborhood Theatre 10/10 – Richmond, VA – The Broadberry 10/11 – Pittsburgh, PA – Rex Theater 10/12 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore * 10/13 – Boston, MA – House of Blues * 10/15 – Portland, ME – Aura 10/16 – Quebec City, Canada – Le Capitole * 10/17 – Montreal, Canada – Mtelus * 10/18 – Saratoga, NY – Putnam Place 10/24 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore * 10/25 – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue * 10/27 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater * 10/28 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues * 11/6 – Miami, FL – The Fillmore * 11/7 – Tampa, FL – The Ritz * 11/8 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle * 11/9 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues *
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe brought their brand of optimistic funk to White Eagle Hall in Jersey City on July 31 for an enthusiastic Wednesday night crowd. With them for an opening set of reggae and saxophone showmanship was DeLa and Steady Rock Easy. DeLa is the saxophone player for Slightly Stoopid, the San Diego reggae outfit with which Karl Denson has recorded and performed with as a sought after horn player himself. And I must say… Karl Denson is a hell of a bandleader!
Seriously, this guy is relentlessly generous. When you share the stage with some of the top-notch talent in the music business, there’s plenty of room to share in the groove.
DeLa and Steady Rock Easy
Pulling from a selection of bouyant reggae beats from his latest studio effort Opening Night, on which Denson is a guest musician, DeLa and Steady Rock Easy provided a straight up and joyful delivery. DeLa’s chops are seasoned, and tasteful, greasing the wheels for the ride Karl Denson and Co. were about to venture on. For the finale of the opening set, DeLa spoke, “If Karl Denson is in the house, we’d like to get him up here…. Oh I guess he is here!” Denson then came out for a collaborative saxophone duo to close out the Steady Rock set.
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
The most glaringly obvious thing about Karl Denson is his humility. Tiny Universe is widely regarded as one of the most talented and lively acts on the planet and, in addition to being a founding member of Greyboy Allstars, Denson was tapped by legendary rockers The Rolling Stones in 2014 as their touring saxophone player. In fact, the Stones played Metlife Stadium just one day after this gig. That’s quite a resume’ already, not even counting his impressive list of studio sessions and sit-ins. All of this, suffice to say, is enough to fluff anyone’s ego. Despite that, it seems that Karl Denson keeps a tighter grasp on his own humbleness than he does on his instruments. He grins and dances on stage with a tambourine as much as he fires on all cylinders with his saxophone or flute.
Gnomes and Badgers (out now via Seven Spheres Records) is Karl Denson’s commentary on today’s political atmosphere. A handful of the songs from that album made their way into Wednesday nights set, like “What If You Knew,” “Gossip” and “Can We Trade.” Each track is toe-tapping, no matter the pace, and laced with positivity. It’s uplifting that there is so much music being created right now that is built on optimism as opposed to avoiding hope for the future, given the state of affairs around the world.
Karl Denson shakes the tambourine during “Under My Thumb”
There were also some throwbacks. “New Ammo,” from the album of the same name, is a racer. There’s also the Rolling Stones cover “Under my Thumb,” which abandons the lyrics in favor of harmonized horn lines of the vocal melody instead. Throughout all of it, Denson took a lot of opportunities to point, glance, and shift towards other members of the band as if to say, “You take a solo! Now you take a solo!” Again, hell of a band leader.
The closer, “Time to Pray,” was a fresh reminder that none of us are in a competition. Each member of the Tiny Universe team was shining bright and grinning in delight, reveling in each other’s stamina. The lyrics “Kneelin, kneelin, there is no other way / You think it’s time to win, I think it’s time to pray” gives weight to this idea; it’s not about being right, it’s about sharing in hope for a more positive and optimistic future. A blazing guitar solo, plenty of flute action, an up-tempo beat to drive the dancing festivities, and a huge, rising organ build up drove it all home on a high note.
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe is on tour through the end of August and takes on a Fall Tour from September through November.
Setlist via guitarist Dj Williams:
Catching Sparks, Everybody Knows That, Satisfied, Gossip, What If You Knew, Rich Man’s Welfare, I’m Your Biggest Fan, Can We Trade?, Under My Thumb, New Ammo, Time to Pray.
World renowned jazz/funk saxophonist Karl Denson is set to bring his 7-piece Tiny Universe to the historic White Eagle Hall in Jersey City on Wednesday, July 31. Tickets are available here via Eventbrite.
Karl Denson is a founding member of the seminal funk band, The Greyboy Allstars, as well as the touring saxophonist with The Rolling Stones. The spirit and energy of KDTU is hard to contain as it’s stacked with top talent including Greyboy Allstars members Zak Najor on drums, bassist Chris Stillwell, and Crush Effects keyboardist David Veith. Rounding out the touring lineup are also guitarist DJ Williams, trumpeter Chris Littlefield, and lap steel/slide guitarist Seth Freeman.
With unparalleled chops and an eclectic mix of musical influence from Prince to the White Stripes (covers of both can be heard on tour), it’s no wonder Denson has been sought to record with acts such as Lenny Kravitz and Slightly Stoopid.
Touring in support of the recent release Gnomes and Badgers (out now via Seven Spheres Records), KDTU is making their way across the country all the way through the fall. For more ticket information and tour dates, visit Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe.
