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The Waz: Organigalactic

By Jim Santella
September 1, 2000
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With a live performance at The Mohawk Place in BeauFleu, New York, this exciting band follows last year’s debut with more fun. Some of it is dance music; some of it simply pure energy. In places, the band amuses with creative hijinks. Sharing a free spirit and improvised action with the jazz world, this drummer-led band prefers enthusiastic rock and hard-core funk as its focus. Using tapes with altered speed & vocal pitch, electronic sound distortion, shouting, spoken word; as well as the more traditional thumping electric bass, powerhouse drum set and high-voltage electric guitar, the band pumps up the audience and brings them in as a part of the recording. Sound and video clips from this album are located at http://www.thewaz.com .

Two classic jazz compositions receive personalized treatment. John Coltrane’s "Impressions" is revered, but with back beats and half-baked saxophone daydreams. Eddie Harris’ "Freedom Jazz Dance" gets along fine with a rock-steady drum set, organ and bass holding down the fort. The band adds vocal raps, alto saxophone wails, and fiery guitar licks to the mix. These are free spirits, having a good time. Today’s performers have been exposed to a wide-ranging palette of musical styles that range from jazz, blues & classical to rock, rap & world. It’s up to the individuals to decide which ones they wish to incorporate. The Waz has elected to take a little here, a little there – and build it into his own sound. It’s working.

Track Listing

Impressions; Dig?; Bubble Rump; Freedom Jazz Dance; ?; Freshouttabedlook / Sex Machine.

Personnel

The Waz

David "The Waz" Wasik- drums; Eric Crittenden- vocals, alto saxophone; Stuart Fucha- guitar.

Album information

Title: Organigalactic | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: WAZ Records

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