Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » David Fiuczynski: Jazz Punk

127

David Fiuczynski: Jazz Punk

By

Sign in to view read count
David Fiuczynski: Jazz Punk
Guitarist David Fiuczynski has done projects all over the map. His straight-ahead jazz work established him as a versatile and articulate player. His crossover projects, including the notorious Screaming Headless Torsos and Black Cherry Acid Lab,integrated improvisation with a rock/funk feel.

On Jazz Punk, Fuze plays standards. But not the way you'd expect. Here's the concept: tunes from Frederic Chopin, Pat Metheny, Jimi Hendrix, Shannon Jackson, and John Phillip Sousa, to name a few, are twisted, contorted, and stretched into unrecognizable reinterpretations. Fuze plays with three different bands, adding even more of a sense of open-endedness. One band is essentially the core of the Screaming Headless Torsos: a deep-groove funk quartet. The second band is new to these ears: a trio featuring the multi-talented drumming of Zach Danziger, who demonstrates his proficiency in the drum-n-bass idiom on Metheny's "Bright Size Life." It's quite refreshing to hear a live drummer work with a style born in electronica. Finally, the third group contains Fuze's long-time collaborator Santi Debriano on acoustic bass (!) and the more straight-ahead drummer Billy Hart. This group lays down a more jazzy sound.

Like any of Fuze's projects, Jazz Punk displays refreshing openmindedness. Due to the variety of the program, it's a bit hit-or-miss... but mostly hit. Regardless, you have to admire his audacity for arranging a Chopin Prelude for guitar and drums. This is the kind of boldness that forces an artist to self-release his record instead of putting it out on a major label. Jazz Punk is available from David Fiuczynski on the web.

Track Listing

Bright Size Life; Third Stone From the Sun; Prelude Opus 28 No. 4; Red Warrior; African Game Fragment; La Fiesta; Star Crossed Lovers; Jungle Gym Jam; Stars and Stripes Whenever; Hipgnosis.

Personnel

David Fiuczynski, guitar; Fima Ephron, bass; Daniel Sadownick, percussion; Gene Lake, drums; Tim LeFebvre, bass; Zach Danziger, drums; Rufus Cappandocia, cello; Santi Debriano, bass; Billy Hart, drums.

Album information

Title: Jazz Punk | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: FuzeLicious Morsels

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

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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