The Impressions have been maintaining a light touring schedule following the release of their Daptone single “Rhythm,” keeping themselves fresh with special appearances as they gear up to record a new full-length with the label. One such event occurred on January 11 in Brooklyn, NY, where Plymouth Church held their Let Freedom Ring! benefit concert, featuring Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens, The Inspirational Voices of the Abyssinian Church, and Curtis Mayfield’s old band as the headliners.

Following the two Gospel-leaning sets, a backing band comprised primarily of Dap Kings including Victor “Ticklah” Axelrod, led by Binky Griptite, and featuring bassist and Impressions progeny Fred Cash Jr. took the stage to lay down some classic funk grooves. Following the short instrumental interlude, the trio of Fred Cash (Sr.), Sam Gooden and Reginald Torrian took the stage for a rousing rendition of the classic “We’re a Winner.” The rest of the set focused on the group’s mid-to-late 60’s output, a period which saw them delivering a string of politically and socially conscious material. The set was briefly broken up as Griptite brought Naomi Shelton out for a tune, before the Impressions wrapped their set with a sequence of post-Impressions Mayfield tunes starting with “Mighty Mighty (Spade and Whitey)” and concluding with a set closing “Move On Up.” The band returned for anencore of “I’m So Proud,” highlighted by a harmonized vocal breakdown towards the end. The Impressions are expected to enter the studio in the coming months to begin tracking their new album.