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Jon Lundbom's Big Five Chord: No New Tunes
ByThe band's membership has remained pretty stable for the past few years, and the musical chemistry at work throughout No New Tunes is readily palpable. The only personnel shift since 2009's Accomplish Jazz (Hot Cup) has been the departure of drummer Danny Fischer. Here, he's quite ably replaced by Dan Monaghan who, like Lundbom, is comfortable and creative in any sort of musical setting. His slow-drag pile-driver beat underneath the tidal pull of Moppa Elliott's irresistible double-time bass line makes "The Other Third One" a wholly remarkable experience. Along with Lundbom, saxophonists Jon Irabagon and Bryan Murray form one of the most explosive frontline combinations in modern jazz today, outside of label-mates Mostly Other People Do the Killing. Speaking of MOPDtK, bassist Elliott also holds down the bass chair in that stellar quartet. Here, he seems a little freer and less constrained to a support role. His duet with Lundbom on the album's sole ballad, "And Be Made Visible (Part 1)," displays a depth, warmth, and virtuosity that might be overlooked in the hurly-burly of MOPDtK's fervid explorations.
Lundbom, a native Chicagoan who has studied with guitarists Ben Monder, Jack Wilkins and John Scofield, is a wildly unpredictable and aggressive soloist. Occasionally there's a soupçon of Scofield's bluesy phrasing, something especially evident on "The Bad! Thing." The frantic rapid fire stutters and manic strumming on "Talent for Surrender" brings edgier players such as James Blood Ulmer and Sonny Sharrock to mind. On "The Other Third One," Lundbom waxes both brainy and raucous, stopping just short of heavy metal shredding. Both saxophonists have plenty of opportunity to shine and stretch out, though their most remarkable playing may actually be the duet that closes out the swift 6/8 hard-bopping "The Bad! Thing." Here, Irabagon, on soprano, and Murray, on balto (an alto fitted with a baritone mouthpiece), twist and skirl around one another, thrillingly raising the improvisational ante right up to the piece's abrupt end.
Despite its self-deprecating insider-joke title, No New Tunes virtually crackles with excitement and, well, newness.
Track Listing
The Bad! Thing; Talent for Surrender; And Be Made Visible (Part 1); And Be Made Visible (Part 2); The Other Third One; Of Being Done To.
Personnel
Jon Lundbom: guitar; Jon Irabagon: alto and soprano saxophones; Bryan Murray: tenor and balto! saxophones; Moppa Elliott: bass; Dan Monaghan: drums.
Album information
Title: No New Tunes | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Hot Cup Records