Cheers,
dawn
> ----------
> From: Scott Tennent[SMTP:feesh@asu.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 1998 1:37 AM
> To: Mark Turner
> Cc: acid-jazz@ucsd.edu
> Subject: Re: Isotope 217
>
>
> Isotope 217 is John Herndon (the OTHER drummer in Tortoise besides
> john
> mcentire, who gets most the praise these days, Dan Bitney (one of the
> bass players in Tortoise), Jeff Parker (the newest Tortoise member who
>
> has yet to appear on any of their material) on trumpet I believe, as
> well
> as Sara P. Smith, Maat lux, and Rob Mazurek, all of whom I believe are
>
> members of a highly respected jazz ensemble in chicago (though the
> name
> escapes me at the moment).
> The album is produced by Bundy K. Brown (who put out a 12" earlier
> this
> year under the name Directions, called "echoes", which also featured
> Herndon on drums and Parker's trumpet, and I highly recommend) and is
> also produced by Casey Rice (who has a 12" under the name Designer
> which
> is very abstract stuff).
> The album is great! Definetly worth picking up if you're into that
> Bitches Brew/Head Hunters style jazz. This is closer to straight acid
> jazz than it is to Tortoise.
> This album is getting my vote for most underrated album of the year.
> However its only underrated in the jazz/acid jazz circles (its very
> overrated in the indie rock circles...but thats a complaint that I
> wont
> go into unless any of you care for me to clarify).
> Anyway, let me just say Isotope 217 throw a very 90's spin on the
> whole
> funk-jazz style without simply making jazz you can dance to (thats not
>
> the motive here at all). THere are some very interesting
> post-production
> techniques which after all is said and done might as well make brown
> and
> rice full fledged members of the band.
>
> this is getting long winded, sorry. but PICK THIS ALBUM UP!!!!
> (and if you live in chicago I believe they have a weekly gig somewhere
> in
> town)
> scott
>
> ps. don't sleep on that Directions 12"!!!! And keep your eyes out for
> the
> new Tortoise album, TNT, hitting stores in march. these guys are
> amazing!!!!
>
>
> On Tue, 6 Jan 1998, Mark Turner wrote:
>
> >
> > > Does anyone know about an outfit called Isotope 217? I heard one
> of their
> > > trax - a funky break w nice trumpet that morphed into a funky
> synth
> > > outro....any ideas?
> >
> > It seems to be a Tortoise side-project. Their album, THE UNSTABLE
> > MOLECULE, is out now on Thrill Jockey, and has been getting good
> > reviews in the UK press.
> >
> > --
> > Mark Turner
> > mturner@netcom.com
> >
>