Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Reptet: Do This!

262

Reptet: Do This!

By

Sign in to view read count
Reptet: Do This!
I looked up "reptet" in the dictionary. It's not there. The words skip from "reprove" to "reptile"... no "reptet" listed. Maybe I don't have a big enough dictionary, or maybe the Seattle-based sextet made it up. And why not? The music on the group's second CD is all about spontaneity and improvisation, unfettered, exuberant energy and rubbery, loose-limbed grooves—on the one hand they don't sound like they're taking it all too seriously, while on the other, they make some very fine modern-sounding music.

Various group members wrote the all-original compositions, and the influences have a broad base. "Zeppo," the opener (penned by trumpeter Samantha Boshnack), has a nicely cluttered Charles Mingus feel. "Bad Reed Blues" (by multi-reedist Tobi Stone) is a whimsical weave of reed (bass clarinet) and brass in a sort of New Orleans/Allen Toussaint horn arrangement—after, maybe, the great arranger has had a glass of wine or two—with brass and reeds swirling in and out of the mix without fighting each other, each finding their own space. Everybody's assertive, but in a cooperative way, like a careening musical Roller Derby team.

"Harpo"—there's a Marx Brothers theme going on here—includes special guest Bron Journey on harp. The delicate, classical-sounding beginning evolves into a hard-trudging, bass/drum-heavy forward momentum behind obstreperous horn solos. You'll hear a bunch of different small percussion instruments shaking and rattling in and out of the mix throughout the disc, suggesting a Art Ensemble of Chicago influence—with a strong sense of fun.

With Do This the Seattle-based Reptet has crafted a fresh, engaging and innovative sound.

Track Listing

Zeppa; Bad Reed Blues; Ro; Harpo; Chico; Groucho; Munia's Lament; Little Caesar; H.R.; Do This!

Personnel

Reptet
various

Samantha Boshnack: trumpet, slide trumpet, flugelhorn; Ben O'Shea: trombone, juju seed rattle; Tobi Stone: baritone, alto and tenor saxophone, clarinet; Izaak Mills: alto and tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, flute bull moose call, frog, maraca, mini bell, tamborine, train whistle, wooden ratchet; Ben Verdier: bass; John Ewing: drums and percussion. Special Guests: Lalo Bello: congas, bongos, mini maracas, shekere; Bron Journey: harp

Album information

Title: Do This! | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Monktail Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.