Chant Duplantier

Only a small crowd, wary of dark rain clouds, was on hand at the start of Chant Duplantier’s July 7 appearance at Lakeside.

But as he and bassist Jerry Smith Jr. performed jazzy renditions of songs like the Otis Redding standard, “Dock of the Bay,” the skies cleared and the crowd grew.

Playing covers from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Hall and Oates, and Steve Ray Vaughn, Duplantier’s smooth voice and crazy guitar work shined as Jerry Smith Jr.’s funky bass lines planted everyone firmly in the groove.

Very cool.

The night’s finale, “Purple Rain,” turned into a jam that ended with the Lakeside crowd roaring its approval.

For a taste of Chant’s chops, check this out: