Skerik: Husky

Popular tenor sax phenom Skerik—fresh off of a 2005 tour with Mike Clark's Headhunters—adopted the name for his septet, whose new album Husky further cements the leader's reputation as one of the heavy hitters of the post bop/trip-hop movement.

Recorded in Los Angeles in the span of just one day, Husky serves not as a showcase for Skerik alone, but rather as a chance for his unique tone (which at times sounds like the wicked stepchild of Dexter Gordon's) to mesh with the septet's formidable horn section. What makes this aspect of the ensemble so unique is the often evil tone of baritone player Craig Flory, whose low-register bursts supply the album with instances of atonality that cause it to transcend the genre of funk, with which Skerik is normally associated.

That shouldn't suggest, however, that the album isn't funky. On the contrary—here's plenty of funk to go around, especially on tracks that feature trombonist Steve Moore doubling on Wurlitzer, creating a sound that immediately recalls the later work of Medeski Martin and Wood. However, drummer John Wicks' fascination with incorporating various time signatures into a single song gives the listener nary a chance to settle into an individual frame of mind.

Although it was recorded in a studio, Husky emanates a simultaneously relaxed and intense improvisational feel that will only motivate the listener to seek out the group in person, as well as to undergo repeated listens in order to truly fathom the various sonic layers impossible to comprehend in just one sitting. Long live the Taint!

Comments