For a number of years, tenor saxist/composer Frank Macchia released some wonderfully lyrical material that melded strings alongside his warm tenor. He also did a couple very clever albums dedicated to animals, with each song a tribute to a specific specie. Lately, he’s delved into R&B and New Orleans funk. If you ‘ve never heard his previous stuff, you’d think that he might have grown up being a member of the Average White Band or a sideman for Dr. John. This album of 13 originals, has him with a whole conglomerate of reeds and brass along with a snapping rhythm team of Peter Erskine/dr , Bill reichenback/tuba and Brad Dutz/perc. Some top flight sax guys are on hand such as Eric Marienthal, Brandon Fields, Bob Sheppard and Sal Lozano, while Wayne Bergeron/tp and Alex Iles/tb are the biggest brass men.
Songs such as “Buckin’ Bronco” “Bad Juju” and “Fat Cat” have a 70s New Orleansish funk to it, while some Fabulous Flames riffs sneak out along with some Stevie Wonder grooves on material such as “Sauggles.” Cartoonish material like “Chicken Neck” sounds like something from a Carl Stallings soundtrack, and with all things tenor, the ballads are served best as on the fluffy “Bucket o’ Tears.” Macchia even sings a bit in the Dr. John vein on “Zombies Ate My Grandma” (what is this? A reference to a Zappa song?). Macchia’s now done three albums in this style, so my guess is he’s on his way onto another genre for his next world to conquer, if history is an indication of the future. An intriguing catalogue is in the making!
Cacophony Records