With some new members present, they started slowly but
soon got everyone moving. IMHO, it wasn't until the last
song of the first set that they truly started to jam. The
first set was too short, and had two slow reggae jams in
a row. Not a good way to get people dancing. I love reggae,
but when you only play two reggae songs, don't put them
next to each other! The new drummer is damn solid,
and picks very tasty fills.
In terms of musicality, I was impressed with the general
ability of everyone in the band to play the changes, not
just play a blues scale or stick to Dorian/myxolidian modes.
Special Kudos goes to the Trumpet Player, who evoked
the spirit of Miles Davis more than once in the evening.
It's so nice to hear a soloist that doesn't just start beating
you over the head with technique. Rather, he let the groove
affect him and left plenty of space at the beginnings of his
solos, only to fill it up with brilliantly improvised melodies
and some blistering speed once he reached the apex.
The Flute player needs to play the sax more...he can, so
why doesn't he? It leads me to think that the flute is a
stylistic choice...myself, I'd like to hear more T.O.P. style
horn licks, which definitely require a sax. A flute and
trumpet don't mix as well as a sax and trumpet. nuff said.
All in all, a very good gig though. Those of you in Southern
California would do well to check them out...this wednesday
scene is to be a regular occurence I gather...mail me if
any of you would like more info.
Mike
Michael Faulkner--------pyramus@wavenet.com
This .sig contains the word ABORTION purely because the Telecommunications
Act of 1996 outlawed this word in Cyberspace.