Playing two dates at the recently opened Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq may be the perfect way for Steve Winwood to kick off his latest tour. Winwood has forever followed his own musical muse since stirring R&B stews as a Ray Charles-worshipping teenager from behind his Hammond B-3 organ in the Spencer Davis Group (“I’m a Man,” “Gimme Some Lovin’”). He left that group to co-found Traffic, which drafted a blueprint for improvisational rock that influences bands playing the Bowl today.
The most recent arc of his career includes a fruitful performing collaboration with former Blind Faith bandmate Eric Clapton, enabling him to explore compositions such as “Can’t Find My Way Home” and “Presence of the Lord” in their sets. Winwood was active as a touring solo artist during and after sharing the stage with Clapton as well, with a stellar band taking aforementioned career milestones plus Traffic favorites such as “The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys” and “Dear Mr. Fantasy” on extended aural voyages.
He’ll have the B-3 onstage, of course, and still hits the high notes of his upper range as well as he did as when he adapted a healthy lifestyle in the ’70s. Luckily for his fans, a Winwood concert today is less about celebrating the past through his hits than pleasing himself by making fresh musical explorations of his songwriting oeuvre.
Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq 8 p.m. June 13-14, starting at $50 plus tax and fee. 702.862.2695
