The funk was on full display at the Blue Note jazz club on Thursday Aug. 7, as in-demand session guitarist Isaiah Sharkey, who has collaborated with artists such as D’Angelo, Paul Simon, and Robert Glasper, celebrated the release of his latest album “Red” with an evening of progressive funk and psychedelic soul.
The young virtuoso performed cuts from the new record, as well as covers of Stevie Wonder and the Isley Brothers. He was joined onstage by longtime bandmates and collaborators Eric Johnson on drums, bassist Maurice Fitzgerald, Tim Tribitt on keys, and special guest Mark Whitfield, who is featured on the new album and performed one song with the Chicago-based group.
Guitarists Isaiah Sharkey and Mark Whitfield trade solos at Blue Note jazz club on August 7. (Photo by Johnny Knollwood) 
Isaiah Sharkey performing at Blue Note jazz club on August 7. (Photo by Johnny Knollwood) 
Guitarists Isaiah Sharkey and Mark Whitfield trade solos at Blue Note jazz club on August 7. (Photo by Johnny Knollwood)
Sharkey is no stranger to the scene, earning a Grammy for his work as a member of D’Angelo’s band, Vanguard, for his 2014 comeback record, “Black Messiah,” which was acclaimed by fans and critics alike. “Red,” which was released on August 8, marks Sharkey’s first widely available solo release — it is the only full album available on streaming platforms. “This is the first time we’re really playing some new stuff,” Sharkey told the AmNews in the green room of the Blue Note before the show.
In crafting the record, Sharkey reflected on the current state of affairs: “a lot of life things, stuff that is happening in the news, in the country, out of the country, and really listening to lot of what’s happening as far as the music now and experimenting with sounds I’ve always wanted to try.”
Sharkey’s penchant for experimentation and dynamic range was showcased to an enthusiastic audience on Thursday as they danced in their seats, taking in a soulful blend of sound. “We like to do a little bit of everything,” Sharkey told the crowd. “Who likes rock?” The crowd cheered. “Blues? Jazz?” They cheered louder. “Funk? Hip-Hop?”
Sharkey is well-known for his guitar playing, but should be equally known for his vocal ability. He hits the high notes and has a style reminiscent of soul pioneers like Smokey Robinson and Ron Isley — even covering “Hello, It’s Me,” a Todd Rundgren-penned hit for the Isley Brothers in 1974. In the same way the Isley Brothers re-invented the hit song, Sharkey and his group enjoyed putting their own spin on classic covers like Stevie Wonder’s “Contusion,” a funk-fusion masterpiece from Wonder’s landmark 1973 release, “Songs in the Key of Life,” reminding us that tradition and innovation walk together hand in hand. Sharkey wears his diverse array of influences on his sleeve, giving listeners a glimpse into his eclectic taste on tracks like “The Brave,” which appears on the latest record and was performed at the Blue Note on Thursday. He was joined onstage by special guest guitarist Whitfield, who Sharkey described as his “mentor.” The two guitarists traded leads onstage, their chemistry undeniable as their smiles and explorations of sound filled the room.
When fans attend one of Sharkey’s performances, the guitarist wants to send a message of “freedom, love, and compassion — having the openness to understand and also not giving up on hope and authenticity,” he told the AmNews. “I want to be able to show people myself, the raw me … I want to try and give people something that’s honest. That’s my message: honesty.”