Bringing you quality whatchamacallit since 1978
“Not Acker Bilk, Acker BROTHERS, you nit-wit!”…was the voice
message from my editor, after I had just submitted what I considered to
be a superior piece of journalism. I cringed…Not that Fuzak outfit out of
Boston!..I sighed, and set myself to the task. After all, one must put food
on the table mustn’t one? In fact, I had covered and critiqued the
brothers in a former life at the (Jazz) Examiner, where my work was
under-appreciated, and it was agreed that I was free to explore other
opportunities.
To the point: Yet again, the ever-indefinable Acker Brothers—masters of
the marginal—have assembled a collection of utterly unrelated musical
nuggets. The opening cut (Cherries Jubilee) will have you waxing
nostalgic for the days of slippery backbones and purple polka-dot
punch-bugs. The remainder of this angular musical sojourn will have you
bouncing like a pinball through brooding ballads, stripped-down
swingers, handsome hoedowns, carnival nights, and electronic
assaults. Like a box of chocolates for jazz lovers—you never know
what’s inside each piece until you take a bite (or poke a hole in the
back).
The stable of skilled players on-hand for this project brings substance
and verve to the overall performance, however beware: Moldy-fig Jazz
purists may find this record as appealing as Bordeaux in a box. But if
you can dig it…then dig it.
Herb Fountainbleu - Akron After Dark
