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High Plains Drifter: 13 Cents

By Stephen Richardson
April 15, 2004
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High Plains Drifter burst forth onto the jam scene like an elephant busting a nut across the Serengeti. This is a solid, concise and well produced debut. High Plains Drifter is led by the funk inflected guitar of the media savvy Jay Cleary, once part of hard working Aaron MacDonald Band. Mixing jam grooves with wild world rhythms, High Plains Drifter has begat a new and exciting combination, somewhat like soft taffy lost in an old lady's hair.

13 Cents opens with the extremely catchy “Ron's Requiem.” This track displays High Plains Drifter’s talent, experience and fresh approach to the jam scene. Ashley Chambers is well versed in the rhythms needed to make the High Plains Drifter experience authentic and James Dalzell fingers the piano with soul as thick as Lanny Macdonald's moustache.

“Well we wanted our JAMS to be... to be more like JELLY," says bassist Carl Laudadio, "We wanted it all to quiver with the heft of a full young breast." Well baby, the beats are tight, the grooves kicking, the soul is as slick as new phlegm and the musicianship alive. The sax sounds of Nick Fisher on this album are another highlight. “Funky Zucchini” has a melody line which will have patrons lining up for this sassy garden staple and the extra performance tracks... These cats are here to make you groove like a vegematic.

Personnel

High Plains Drifter

Album information

Title: 13 Cents | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Independent Records

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