A Feat worth repeating again and again, Bill Payne and Gabe Ford play Johnny D’s this Wednesday night.

By Jim Clark

Ask anyone who is familiar with the work of the band Little Feat and they will tell you: Quality musicianship, good humor, and creative ingenuity are the hallmarks of the storied ensemble, going strong since the early 70s.

One of the core founding members of the group, Bill Payne, will be bringing his gift of musical prowess to Johnny D’s this Wednesday night in a rare appearance outside of his usual duties as keyboardist for Little Feat.

He will be joined onstage by Gabe Ford, nephew of guitar legend Robben Ford, and drummer for the current lineup of Little Feat.

Payne will be rolling into Somerville freshly invigorated by some recording work in Woodstock, upstate New York.

The show will feature some surprises, new tunes, a few old familiar ones, and a bit of story telling along the way.

And if anyone has colorful and interesting stories to tell, Bill Payne certainly does.

Regarded as one of the finest rock and blues keyboardists living today, Payne has – besides working in his mainstay band – collaborated with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, J. J. Cale, James Taylor, Pink Floyd, The Doobie Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Bryan Adams, Bob Seger, Toto, Jackson Browne, Stevie Nicks, John Cale, Robert Palmer and many others.

He is a highly sought after session man as well as a prestigious headliner in his own right.

As the last of the original four members of Little Feat, Payne keeps the legacy of the group alive with the band’s current configuration, frequently touring and giving his fans what they want most: great music and wonderful memories.

Payne co-founded Little Feat with guitarist Lowell George back in 1969 after George had left The Mothers of Invention. Fellow Mother Roy Estrada, bassist,  joined George and Payne, along with Richie Hayward on drums. A string of wildly popular record albums and years of sold out touring cemented their reputation as one of the fledgling country/blues/rock genre’s most talented and popular outfits.

Fan favorites such as Willin’, Dixie Chicken, Sailin’ Shoes and Fat Man in the Bathtub are known word wide and are considered standards of country rock, while their list of albums remains just as popular today as they did 40 years ago.

Sadly, Lowell George passed away far too early, back in 1979, succumbing to heart failure.

While other guitarist stood in his place, Payne and the rest of the band continued to present their signature sound to audiences clear up to the present day. Many a fan and critic alike have nothing but praise to shed on the latest iteration of the legendary band.

Payne is clearly enjoying the success he has achieved and the respect that he has earned as a world-class musician’s musician.

Constantly reaching out for new inspiration, while simultaneously pulling from the treasure trove of past experiences that he has lived through, Payne stands as a living symbol of that unique spirit that once dominated the popular culture. A spirit that never has faded from existence, and probably never will.

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Bill Payne with Gabe Ford, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 8 p.m. at Johnny D’s, 17 Holland St., Davis Square, Somerville, MA