It seems like heavy metal guitar is bringing a major influence into modern jazz. Here are three approaches to this new infusion of fusion, or as we used to call it, “jazz rock.”
Serbian born and Barcelona based, guitarist Dusan Jevtovic fronts a classic “power trio” with Bernat Hernandez/b and Marko Djordjevic/dr through a collection of hard hitting originals. Hard rocking blues busters such as “You Can’t Sing, You Can’t Dance” and “Drummer’s Dance” come from the Metallica side of life, while Jevtovic displays some deft finger work on the cleaner “Third Life” and some string bending on “One on One.” Playing with pedals and knobs come into play on the distortioned “Bluesracho” and “If I See You Again” while some spacey sounds are emitted on “In the Last Moment.” More for the Rick Derringer jazz fans.
Reza Ryan/g, Adi Wijaya/key, Enriko Gultom/b, Alfiah Akbar/dr and guest Nicholas Combe/sax team up for the I Know You Well Miss Clara Band. (How are they introduced on stage?) While there are moments of garage guitar rock and distortions, they are kept as part of the mix and as accents or climaxes, as on the interesting “Open the Door, see The Ground” and “Reverie #2” which mixes the guitar with intriguing keyboard concepts. Moody interplay and theme changes take part in themes such as “Conversation” while free form sax gently collides in the multi-directioned “A Dancing Girl from the Planet.” Sort of a jam band with a leaning towards experimentation.
The Wrong Object (just who DOES name these bands?!?) consists of Michel Delville/g-Roland, Antoine Guenet/key-voc, Marti Melia/ reeds, Francoise Lourtie/sax-voc, Pierre Mottet/b, Laurent delchambre/dr, Benoit Moerlen/vib-mar and Susan Clynes/voc. Lots of thick and murky reeds form a wall of heavy metal sounds as on the intensely rocking “Detox Gruel” and potent and high pitched “Yantra.” A three pieced “Jungle Cow” consists of electronics, wah wah guitars, wailing saxes and then more saxes, whel “Glass Cubes” provides a respite of piano and vocals. Don’t use your highbeams on a fog this thick!
Moon June Records