Category: Jam/Progressive

Phish Announces LivePhish+ an all Inclusive Subscription Service

Following the lead of the always innovating Umphrey’s McGee – who announced a similar service earlier this year – Phish today revealed a new upgrade for their LivePhish app called LivePhish+. Fans will be able to sign up for a free ten-day trial which they can continue for $9.99 a month or $99.99 for a full year. Subscribers will get unlimited access to the entire LivePhish catalog including archived shows, new shows, studio albums and side projects.

Along with the subscription offering the app has gotten several upgrades such as playlist creation, gap-less playback and the ability to rewind and fast forward tracks. Phans can sign up now at plus.livephish.com. Those that do not wish to sign up will still be able to stream their own collection the same as before along with the app upgrades.

October 28, 2014
Kung Fu and Groovestick: Upstate Funk Doubleheader

NYS Music loves their funk so we wanted to make sure we sent our writers and photographers to both Kung Fu shows in Upstate, NY – Syracuse’s review features words and photos by Kim Richer and the Albany show is highlighted by writer Susan Rice. Keep reading for the details of both funktastic shows!

Syracuse:

Kung Fu had their game face on Friday night, bringing lethal doses of high-powered funk-fusion to the newly remodeled Westcott Theater in Syracuse. Tim Palmieri’s undeniable ability to shred on the guitar, coupled with Todd Stoops skill at traversing the keys of four keyboards simultaneously left the crowd dancing and smiling. Opening with the title track off of their latest release, “Tsar Bomba” Kung Fu graced the audience with a nice sampling of their extensive musical library. They entertained with some newer material and then resorted back to classic fan favorites “Gung Ho” and “Bopcorn”. The real treat of their performance was a funky perfect rendition of the Jimi Hendrix single, “Cross Town Traffic”. Closing the show with encores “Hollywood Kisses” and “Do the Right Thing” Kung Fu left the crowd fully satisfied with a need to replace their worn out dance shoes.

Opening the show, “The Chop Shop” and “Gridline” were very groovy and well fitted to prime the crowd. They each gave a solid stage performance and their music was a perfect fit to prep the audience for Kung Fu, but the real elephant in the room Friday night was The Primate Fiasco. They happened to be passing through Syracuse and stopped by to see Kung Fu. They treated the crowd by playing acoustic ‘brasstronica’ street corner style sets, unplugged and in the middle of the dance floor; the way fans have come to expect it in festival campgrounds. They played in between stage sets, bridging that gap when there is nothing to do except wait for the next act. Before the show started, some fan sentiment outside the venue was less than enthused about The Westcott Theater’s new “No Re-Entry” policy. That didn’t matter though, because once The Primate Fiasco started to play, nobody was leaving anyway. The band was enveloped by a dance party and kept the energy at a high until the next band was ready on stage. This worked so well that the crowd was begging Primate Fiasco to keep playing, even when Kung Fu was ready to begin. A brilliant idea, I hope we see more of this at live shows!

Photos by Kim Richer

Albany:
Saturday night at The Hollow was funktastic thanks to power groups Kung Fu and Albany’s own, Groovestick. The trio turned quintet performed a jazz funk fusion with raw energy and a unique sound. “Sharkbait” gave chilling harmonies and quaking bass line from Dan Gerken. Chris Carballeria is a key smashing jazz wizard, providing waves of organ soul. Guests got a special treat when Kung Fu guitarist Tim Palmieri joined in for chord climbing rockage. “Horde” one of their newest songs and a fast paced jazz jam with impeccable string stretching from Justin Hendricks, ended the set leaving the crowd fully charged up for Kung Fu.

The Capital District got round housed to the face with extreme funk served up by none other than the masters, Kung Fu. Front man, Rob Somerville blasted the venue with his explosive saxophone as Chris DeAngelis stood out with major plucking magnitude before the groove came back around in full band force. But the crowd went wild when Mister F mad man, Scott Hannay joined Todd Stoops went head to head over the keys to create the ultimate electric melody meltdown. The four song encore was the cherry on top, with the light-hearted funk of unstoppable buildups from the likes of “Loose” and a boogie get down of “Hollywood Kisses”. Kung Fu will return to the Upstate area on November 13 at The Waiting Room in Buffalo – which can’t come soon enough.

Photos by Bryan Lasky

October 27, 2014
Martin Scorese To Produce Grateful Dead Documentary

Hot off of “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Martin Scorese, known for his award winning directing, screen writing, and producer, announced he was going to start working on a Grateful Dead documentary as an executive producer.

The surviving members of The Dead have given Scorese the green light to film this documentary (title TBD) to coincide with the 50^th anniversary of the band’s founding.

Amir Bar-Lev, known for his documentaries such as “Happy Valley” and “The Tillman Story” is slated to direct the movie.

The band has released the following statement via CBSNews.com:

“Millions of stories have been told about the Grateful Dead over the years. With our 50th Anniversary coming up, we thought it might just be time to tell one ourselves and Amir is the perfect guy to help us do it, needless to say, we are humbled to be collaborating with Martin Scorsese.”

Scorese added: “The Grateful Dead were more than just a band. They were their own planet, populated by millions of devoted fans. I’m very happy that this picture is being made and proud to be involved.”

Well known as the “Godfathers of Jam Bands,” The Grateful Dead were also ranked 57^th in The Greatest Artists of all Time by Rolling Stone magazine and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. And in 2011, their Barton Hall Concert at Cornell University from 1977 was added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry. To date, The Grateful Dead have sold more than 35 million albums worldwide.

October 27, 2014
Hearing Aid: Aqueous Release New Album: ‘Cycles’

Aqueous have more than cemented their reputation as a powerful, young band on the rise with the release of their new album Cycles, which was officially released on October 21. The new album features a collection of heavy-hitting material full of raw emotion and supremacy. One of the most impressive aspects about this band’s range is their uncanny ability to seamlessly drop into a thick, heavy, pocket funk groove with such conviction. The aggressive direction of the music can turn on a dime and take the listener on a full ride of different directions as each member complements the overall sound flawlessly. The band seems to be intertwined on a much deeper level than sheer talent, they seem to have a much more appreciating understanding of their craft and each other’s role as one unit. Having already developed a reputation for themselves around the festival circuit, Aqueous are currently juggling a nice touring schedule that lead up to their album release party in Buffalo on October 25 at the Buffalo Iron Works.

The album opens up with “Dawn” an eerie instrumental string arrangement that could have easily been embedded in a classic 1950’s film before dropping into “Kitty Chaser (Explosions)” which gives the listener a full taste of the band’s broad range. Right out of the gates the band works its way into an abstract groove that builds a perfect loop for experimentation. The song builds nicely and it’s refreshing to listen to something so organically driven and original. The music is very much precise, well rehearsed and calculated but still leaves plenty of room to breath for improvisation. Clocking in at just less than 10 minutes of prowess, “Kitty Chaser” is full of energy and sheer power that serves as a great introduction to the new album and all it has to offer.

“2020” keeps the energy consistent and showcases the adept connection between [former drummer] Nick Sonricker on drums and Evan McPhaden on bass. The rhythm section works with unconventional times signatures that create a nice platform for Dave Loss and Mike Gantzer to paint over. The piercing guitar solos are full of energy and the music is nothing short of astoundingly beautiful. “The Median” creatively intertwines the song’s lyrics with a collection of different chords strumming, including an upstroke reggae feel before launching into an ambient groove of bass popping funk that finds deeper direction with the work of a synth. “Skyway” features an impressive blend of genres that’s primarily fueled by heavy guitar, something notably similar to Umphrey’s McGee and their sound. Blending elements of reggae, funk and progressive rock seem to be an easy task for the young blossoming band and at times the music takes a direction of maturity that speaks volumes well beyond the band’s years.

The music takes an interesting turn with the “Complex Pt. I >Wandering>Complex Pt. II” as the band experiments with an extensive palate of effects that complements the music’s complexity well. It’s not uncommon for musicians to hide behind effects that mask any sort of true identity, often acting as a distraction. However, Aqueous uses effects creatively that add to their sound in a compelling fashion and these effects don’t deteriorate the overall quality and direction of the music. The level of control and authority the band has with their unique sound is inspiring and exciting to say the least. “King For A Day” kicks off with a building tone that eventually explodes into full swing where the listener is met with the lyrics before the band breaks off into a melodic jam fueled by soaring guitar and a heavy heartbeat rhythmic section.

The album closes with “Starring Into the Sun”, a 15-minute adventure packed full of talent and soul. The many layers of this song can be perceived in several different ways. There’s a collection of something for everyone through this number as the musical spectrum can be as broad as heavy, distortion infused power chords, all the way to a soft melodic breakdown on the keys. The extensive and uplifting psychedelic jam can be compared to something from Pink Floyd. The song melodically builds upon itself and as it continues to unfold the band pushes into new ground valiantly as the band never once losing control of the reigns.

It’s clear that Aqueous will be a force to be reckoned with for a very long time. The next wave of jam bands is upon us as these musicians have redefined many beloved subgenres by pushing their musical limits to a refreshing level of genre-bending authenticity. Aqueous are in full pursuit of something organically driven and original and there’s no sign of slowing down.

Key Tracks: The Median, Complex Pt. II, Kitty Chaser (Explosions), Staring Into the Sun

*Editor’s Note – New drummer Ryan Nogle took over duties for Nick in August 2014 after recording completed

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October 26, 2014
Syracuse’s ‘Salt City Waltz’ Announced Featuring The Levon Helm Horns

What has become an annual Syracuse holiday music tradition, the Salt City Waltz has added the moniker A Sound Check 35th Anniversary Celebration to commemorate Dave Frisina’s ongoing contributions to the regional music scene. For the first time with Salt City Waltz, The Levon Helm Studio Horns will be featured, the LHS Horns are: Jay Collins, Steve Bernstein, Erik Lawrence and the legendary Howard “Hojo” Johnson (Charles Mingus, Taj Mahal, Levon Helm, The Band for the original Last Waltz). Local stand-outs Joe Altier, Miss E (Missy Ragonese), Sean Patrick Taylor, Karen Savoca, and Pete Heitzman will be featured (among many others), also, fresh off his amazing performances on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Syracuse native Jonah Smith completes the ensemble.

Through his long-running radio show Sound Check, countless time and boundless energy, Frisina is the definition of what is good in the regional scene. The CNY reading of The Band’s classic performance movie, The Last Waltz, has been announced for Saturday, November 29 at The Palace Theater in Eastwood. This remarkable work will highlight Syracuse’s music scene at one of the area’s most acclaimed venues, creating an event that is singular in its scope. This once a year event has sold-out in each of its prior performances and this year anticipates the same. With the intimacy of the venue and vibe created through musical and audience energy, SCW has come to be known as one of the hottest tickets of the year. SCW is scheduled on Thanksgiving weekend to echo the date of the original recording of the movie on Thanksgiving day 1976, which was billed as the farewell performance of the The Band.

Stacey Waterman, owner of DMR Booking Agency and Organizer of this event is thrilled to announce the event date and the incredible line-up of artists contributing. With Gary Frenay as Music Director, Syracuse’s own Los Blancos performs as The Band, accompanied by Joshua Collins on piano in a special homecoming performance from Louisville, plus a stellar compliment of local, national and native ‘cuse musicians.

Photo by Juan Junco

This is Waterman’s personal expression and cornerstone annually, she takes special pride in this event and if you’re aware of her skills, that says a lot. She is the driving organizational force behind a majority of the larger musical events in this area. She states, “The music of The Band has historic musical significance world-wide and the same reverence is given by many musicians and music fans right here in Central New York.”

Being held on Thanksgiving weekend allows the community to participate in a charitable sense too as St. Lucy’s Food Pantry will be on hand for Salt City Waltz’s Food Drive, collecting much-needed items to re-stock their shelves right after the holiday. Corporate sponsor, the Syracuse Crowne Plaza Hotel, is also collecting food donations through their many departments. Please join in on the collection as this is a big part of the community spirit of the event, yet another aspect of the whole production.

The Crowne Plaza is offering a “room and show” package for those traveling into town for the show as well as their sponsorship, along with media partner 105.9 The REBEL, Red Shoes Marketing, Meyda Tiffany and Saranac Brewery.

Waterman and her crew encourage concert-goers to purchase their tickets early, as another sell-out is anticipated. There will be no second show or change of venue to accommodate a larger crowd, the ambiance and intimacy of The Palace is essential to the overall vibe of the event. That, combined with the All-Star level of musicians participating make the Salt City Waltz a stand-out and stand-alone event annually.

Doors open at 7pm for the 8pm show, tickets are priced at $30 in advance and are on sale now at Sound Garden in Armory Square, The Palace Theater and online at upstate-shows.com. Salt City Waltz “Room and Show” packages include either a king or a double room at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Syracuse and two (2) tickets to the show. The package includes overnight parking, wireless internet and access to their fitness and business centers. That’s a $199 value for $159 + tax, for reservations call (315) 479-7000.

You can follow the event’s progress on either their Facebook event page or Facebook page.

October 24, 2014
Aqueous and Formula 5 join forces for Saturday Night fun in Saratoga

Two of Upstate’s own, Aqueous and Formula 5, took the stage October 11 for a night of tight improvisational jams with covers and original music at The Putnam Den in Saratoga Springs. Both bands brought their dance groove to festivals all over Upstate this year such as Catskill Chill and Peach Music Fest with both appearing at Backwoods Pondfest.

Formula 5 kicked off the night with their classic energetic “Excalibur” before gearing straight into a funky rocking “Earthbound Tim” from their new latet album Edging on Catastrophe. Bringing up Aqueous guitarist Dave Loss for the Talking Heads cover “Uh Oh Love Comes to Town” brought out the best in the band as they helped stretch the melody. “Nu-Gen” showcased psychedelic spacey keys from Mike McDonald, astounding guitar work from Joe Davis on “Coming Home” before going straight back into “Nu-Gen”. Formula 5 will be headed up to the North Country of Plattsburgh on Nov 15th and The Hollow in Albany on Nov 28th with The Heavy Pets.

Setlist: Excalibur -> Earthbound Tim, Uh Oh Love Comes to Town*, Nu-Gen -> Coming Home -> Nu-Gen, Catch Me, Music Never Stopped

* w/ Dave Loss of Aqueous on guitar, Talking Heads cover, “Strange Times” (Aqueous) teases

The four piece groove rock band Aqueous has been getting fans excited for their new album Cycles, coming out October 25, making the crowd eager to hear some fresh and original tunes. The soft keys from Dave Loss of “Staring into the Sun” started the set before the song took a dark turn with strong rifts from Mike Gantzer and wailing in sync vocals before diving into a psychedelic “Origami”. As the night progressed, so did the music with nonstop segues of climactic buildups and genre fusion. Drummer and newest member to the group Ryan Nogle proved to be a great fit as he put a unique touch to the familiar rhythm of Aqueous. Evan McPhaden dropped steady deep bass notes during The Police’s “Synchronicity II” and the night ended with guitarist Joe Davis of Formula 5 joining in for extra rock voltage on “The Median”. Catch Aqueous all over Upstate this week with The Mantras in Ithaca, Rochester and Buffalo for their official album release party on the 25th at Iron Works.

Setlist: Staring into the Sun > Origami, 20/20, Random Company > Synchronicity II > The Median*

Encore: Uncle Phil’s Parachute

*with Joe Davis from Formula 5

October 21, 2014
Papadosio and Twiddle Transcend The Westcott Theater

In typical jam band fashion, hundreds of deadheads and hula hoopers gathered outside the Westcott Theater doors Wednesday night with great excitement to witness Twiddle and Papadosio (or Papadiddle, as I like to call it).

With a strong opening, Twiddle brought a variety of tunes from their album Somewhere On the Mountain , as well as a cover of “Big Country” by Bela Fleck and The Flecktones. In order, their setlist consisted of continuous jams with songs like “Polluted Beauty,” “Gatsby the Great,” “When It Rains It Pours” and “Frankenfoote”. I’m also pretty sure they threw in a Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” somewhere in there, too.

With a well blended sound system and impressive light show, nobody could stand still, let alone sit on the Westcott’s new keg benches and tables. Along with their signature quirky hats and long flowing hair, band members Brook Jordan, Zdenek Gubb, Ryan Dempsey, and Mihali Savoulidis celebrated their Upstate stop on their Chilled Monkey Brains Fall Tour, dating from October 10 when they commenced in Charlottesville and plan to conclude the tour on November 26th in Fairfield, CT. If you’re in the Buffalo, Albany, or Connecticut area in the upcoming months, make sure you check out their fall tour dates and make sure you experience the greatness that is Twiddle.

The blackout right before Papadosio’s entrance was one of the most chilling feelings I’ve gotten in Syracuse, not including the arctic tundra we get every winter. As the crowd cheered, a LCD screen abruptly lit up with a collection of nature, art, and historical images in a sequence to accompany the band’s startup jam. Along with their collection of songs from Day & Night (Live) commencing a dance party throughout the audience, the vibrant visual effects took us on an uplifting adventure. My highlight had to be when they performed “Cloud Found”, with their silhouettes faded to black while images of mountains and clouds filled the background of their set.

With the release of their 2009 album Observations, their 2012 album T.E.T.I.O.S., and their 2014 release of Day & Night (Live), Papadosio certainly had some repertoire to choose from. With only a few years under their belt, this dynamic group has sailed through multiple prestigious festivals and venues, and have undergone their Imaginal Cells Tour, which only hits Upstate New York one final time on October 22 if you’re in the Buffalo area. If you’re prepared to experience the transcendental music of Ohio’s premier experimental band, make sure you see them live. Otherwise, keep up with their upcoming events at news at their Facebook and Twitter page.

October 21, 2014
Dopapod Soars to new Heights at Water Street Music Hall

Dopapod axe-man Rob Compa motions towards the left side of Rochester’s Water Street Music Hall’s floor -“Right there! As a kid, I stood right there and watched Umphrey’s McGee play.”

Rob’s hometown enthusiasm (Rob is from East Rochester) would carry through a blistering two set/multiple encore night that even Light/Sound man extraordinaire Luke Stratton proclaimed on Twitter as “Best show of the tour so far!” – and that dude sees every show. 2014 has been a rocket ship year for Dopapod – filled with top festival spots and packed shows – and their performance on a warm Fall night in ROC-city showed abundant proof why.

Before the aforementioned Dopa-storm occurred, two other excellent performances would foreplay the crowd nicely. Stereo Nest – a one man looping experience project by multi-instrumentalist Collin Jones (also of Ocupanther and Haewa) – played an energetic set of organic jamtronica fusion as the floor filled up and got the people moving. Think Keller Williams gone EDM. Only a few shows deep into existence, Stereo Nest is proving to be a force to track.

After a fast 15 minute changeover NYC’s Consider the Source came out and immediately laid into an extended middle eastern infused spooky-as-hell jam that perfectly complemented October’s arrival. Everyone stared, transfixed by the bands mind numbing instrumentation. Silence made an odd and welcome entrance throughout the crowd if only for a few fleeting minutes: People – in the rarest of occasions at a modern musical show – actually shut up and listened to the band. CTS is mental music at its absolute peak which can bring the listeners to the frayed edges of sanity. Much like an unexpected hostel tryst with a sexy debonair stranger – they might not always be exactly sure what’s going on, but they know they like it and they want it to keep going. Highlights of the set included a mash-up of “Miserlou” (popularly known as “that Pulp Fiction Song”) and the Beach boys “God Only Knows” along with a blazing outro jam replete with Star Wars teases. An apropos ending for three gentleman who have obviously attained Jedi powers.

Set-break ensued while people happily refilled their beers and rested their limbs for the last time that night. Water Street had gone a long time without the fizzy stuff due to an ownership change and it was great to throw back some brews yet again at one of Rochester’s most historic of venues. Dopapod came out with the 2009 song “Roid Rage” – a song that starts off jazzy and unassuming before barreling into the fusion/prog/rock hodgepodge typical of ‘Pods genre-wildcard style. Dopapod is one of those crossover bands that should give those fans that are music lovers but have a natural disdain for bands labeled as “jam” a reason to consider. This band is no Phish, no Dead – this band is a culmination of influences across the spectrum. Imagine if all your favorite bands played at once and you get a sense of what ‘pod is all about. As the set continued the band visited several tracks off their upcoming release Never Odd or Even – “Psycho Nature” “Hey Zeus” and perhaps one of the most epic songs ever – “FABA”. “FABA” – an instrumental which no one seems to want to reveal what the acronym stands for – typically exceeds the ten minute mark and is a dictionary level study in the science of musical contrast. Filled with more goose bump inducing air guitar raging peaks then the Alps, this song grabs the mind heart and soul and does not let go. As if that wasn’t enough, the set ended with an exclamation mark – an absolutely mm/ rendition of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” with all three members of Consider the Source joining the fun on stage.

At this point – being 12:30 AM on a weekday – sadly this reporter had to head to bed. The band continued with a full second set filled with some of the most revered songs according to the bands fan club – Dopafam – with enthusiastic reports on excellent versions of “Nuggy Jawson” “Onionhead” and “French Bowling” as well as a rare “Carolina” second encore that ended after 2 AM. When the ‘pod hits the area again, that next day is getting taken off.

Dopapod Set List

Set 1: Roid Rage, Trapper Keeper, Psycho Nature, Hey Zeus!, FABA, Grow, Vol. 3 #86, War Pigs*
Set 2: Nuggy Jawson, Priorities->Off the Cuff->Priorities, Onionhead, French Bowling
Encore: Nerds, Carolina

* Black Sabbath, w/With Gabe, John, and Jeff from CTS[FinalTilesGallery id=’26’]

October 18, 2014
Consider the Source Release “Put Another Rock in That Bag” from Upcoming Album

Consider the Source has been hard at work, creating a massive three-part album that is sure to be as exploratory as the Sci-Fi/Middle Eastern Fusion band has been in their tenure together. The album, a three-disc sonic journey entitled World War Trio, will be the groups first release in four years and was successfully funded by a strong Indiegogo campaign. The trio is strategically planning on staggering the release though with disc one being released on Halloween this year and discs two and three arriving in the Fall of 2015. The first track, “Put Another Rock in That Bag (Single Edit)” is out now.

The first release will coincide with a stop in Albany, NY at the Parish Public House where they will play it in its entirety before heading to Buffalo the following night. The EP will contain a six-movement, 25-minute prog-rock epic, titled “Put Another Rock in that Bag”. For longtime fans, the EP will be a different flavor from a band that has been known to touch on various genres. This release focuses on their progressive rock side, featuring a section written by Jan Zehrfeldt of Panzerballet, while still intertwining that virtuosic fusion fans have come to love.

Today, the band released the single, “Put Another Rock in that Bag, pt. 1”, which displays a preview of the six-part beast that is looming in just two short weeks. After listening myself, I can say that Consider the Source has taken a CONSIDERable step forward in terms of composition, talent, and overall cohesiveness. Visit their site here to download the single right now for free! And if you just can’t wait for your browser to open another site, click the YouTube video below to watch now featuring cover art from the new album.

If you want to catch Consider the Source on tour this Fall, check out their tour dates below:

10/31 – Albany, NY – The Parish Public House
11/1 – Buffalo, NY – The Waiting Room
11/4 – Lansing, MI – The Loft
11/5 – Kalamazoo, MI – Shakespeare’s Lower Level
11/6 – Covington, KY – The Madison Theater
11/7 – Chicago, IL – Tonic Room
11/8 – Indianapolis, IN – The Mouse Trap
11/9 – Columbus, OH – Scarlet and Grey
11/12 – Harrisburg, PA – The Abbey
11/13 – Baltimore, MD – The 8 x 10
11/14 – Brooklyn, NY – The Knitting Factory
11/15 – Northhampton, MA – Pearl Street Nightclub
11/20 – Portland, ME – Big Easy
11/21 – Boston, MA – The Church
11/22 – Providence, RI – The Spot
11/28 – Greensboro, NC – The Blind Tiger
11/29 – Knoxville, TN – The Concourse
12/2 – Boone, NC – The Local
12/3 – Greenville, SC – Gottrocks
12/4 – Greenville. NC – Peasant’s Pub
12/5 – Asheville, NC – New Mountain Theater
12/6 – Savannah, GA – The Barrel House South
12/7 – Charleston, SC – The Pour House
12/10 – Boca Raton, FL – Funky Biscuit
12/11 – Jacksonville, FL – 1904 Music Hall
12/12 – Longwood, FL – Hourglass Brewery
12/13 – Tallahassee, FL – Side Bar Theater
12/14 – Dunedin, FL – Dunedin Brewery
12/17 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
12/18 – Raleigh, NC – Southland Ballroom
12/20 – Philadelphia, PA – Ardmore Music Hall
12/31 – Kerhonkson, NY – Rock N Roll Resort “The Ball Drop”

October 16, 2014
Hearing Aide: Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey ‘Worker’

Worker, the new album from Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and the twenty-sixth in the band’s twentieth year features a return to a trio lineup that explores new material in the band’s original format. Guitarist Chris Combs reflects on the revised lineup, saying “Much of the first large-level success the band saw was as a trio, and for the 20^th anniversary of the band, we worked up a set of older material to celebrate that anniversary – a lot of which was from that trio era.” On Worker, many tracks have one sub-layer keeping a beat – and to keep things fresh, it’s not always talented drummer Josh Raymer – that the other instruments build off of, giving a base-level for listeners to jump in at, rather than being overwhelmed by the not-for-amateurs deconstructed jazz that plays over the top of this layer.

Founding member Brian Haas shares that the music on Worker, “It’s influenced by jazz, but it’s not jazz”, a fitting description as identifying this album as jazz would be like nailing jello to a wall and expecting it to stick.

Opening with “New Bird”, video game blips appear inside a floating frame, a gentle easing into the album. “Appropriation Song” could serve as the soundtrack to a Contra video game, where as the song progresses you can picture a shift into the jungle, meeting the level boss and the hero dying in a hail of 8-bit bullets. “Betamax”, a highlight of the album, features a slow uphill climb with some underlying funk, followed by “Hey Hey NSA”, with an appropriately creepy intro that is at first trancey then gets weird.

Big Gigantic meets Marco Benevento in “Say Nothing”, a flair of acid jazz where the trio shines brightest, locked in step. “Bounce” could double as a horror-film score amid Combs’ superb guitar work. “Let Yourself Out” brings things down a notch with placid jazz for the first half of the song, then as Haas slowly turns things up on synth for a redirection of the composition, a curveball sends things into ludicrous speed, only brought back to earth by “Mesa”, a wind chimes interlude. “Better Living Through Competitive Spirituality” uniquely features a Schoenhut toy piano that takes center stage while Haas’ synth keeps a steady melody over Josh Raymer’s drumming.

JFJO has quite a gem with Worker, an accessible jazz-influenced album from the reformed trio. Just don’t call it a jazz album.

Key Tracks: Betamax, Say Nothing, Bounce

Upcoming shows in the Northeast include Nov. 13 at The Lily Pad in Cambridge, MA – tickets/info, Nov. 14 at The Zinc Bar in NYC (w/Jamie Saft’s New Zion Trio) – tickets/info, and Nov. 15 at Radio Bean in Burlington, VT – tickets/info.

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Order the LP & CD or download Digitally

October 13, 2014