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Che strana miscela di influenze questi BOZO allegro.
Usano un sacco si sax e di fioti in genere, una vera micro-big-band di quelle del jazz classico, ma con fare inconsueto e informale che ricor da anche l'energia vitale delle orchestre circensi (e il classico richia mo clownesco nel loro nome di battesimo ne e testimonianza evidente).
Con tocchi caraibici, ospitate prestigiose (STEVE SWALLOW, ROB MOUNSEY) e arrangiamenti divertenti e divertiti, questi americani del Minnesota portano avanti la miglior tradizione del jazz per orchestra con allegria contagiosa e un progetto creativo unico per originalita (la loro etichet ta e la MARX MUSIC: www.marxmusic.com, e si fregia insieme del volto bar buto del KARL padre del socialismo scientifico e di quello artificialmen te baffuto del GROUCHO ideatore della comicita de,emzoale; ed e tutto di re).
(Per i curiosi, c'e anche il progetto parallelo BOZO adagio, piu progressivo e sperimentale).
***
What a strange mixture of influences these BOZO allegro.
They play a lot of saxes and wind instruments in general, a true micro-big-band of those of classic jazz, but with an ususual and informal doing way reminding also the vital energy of circus orchestras (and the classic clown recall in their first name is a clear evidence).
With Caribbean touches, bewitching guests (STEVE SWALLOW, ROB MOUNSEY) and enjoying and enjoyed arrangements, there Americans from Minnesota lead forward the best traditions of jazz orchestra with infectious cheerfulness and a creative project unique about originality (their label is MARX MUSIC: www.marxmusic.com, and it decks itself both with the bearded face of KARL the father of scientific Socialism and that artificially moustached of GROUCHO the inventor of mad comicality; and it's all said).
(For the curious, there's also the parallel project BOZO adagio, more progressive and experimental).
***
According to founder and bassist Mark Browning Milner, BOZO allegro is a
Minneapolis-based rock-jazz horn band. Which means that these are boomer-aged musicians schooled
on pop music, jazz charts, Philip Glass, Frank Zappa, fusion and everything in between. In
practice, they have developed a sense of slick, tight arrangements that show off polished
chops, a studio-savvy ensemble sound, and just enough tongue-in-cheek humor to sound hip.
To read Michael's trashing of The REVOLVER Suite, visit that album's
review page.
On Relentlessly Cheerful, the addition of ringers Steve Khan, Lew Soloff, Steve
Swallow, and Fred Wesley and a program of originals don't really change things much. There is
still this sense of a slick commercial studio band cranking out music leading up to a commercial
break on a late-night talk show. Everything is glossy and upbeat and no note is out of place.
The second tune, with a smooth tenor solo followed by a faux flute solo on electric keyboard,
ending up with a brief guitar rock out pretty much sums up what will come. There are just the
right hints of latin rhythms, and funk shuffles with a dash of screaming guitar thrash, but of
course never enough to raise too much of a ruckus. In the liner notes, Milner quotes from
Frank Zappa and Duke Ellington and states that "for us, Miles Davis is the Man". The bass
player professes to be looking for "boundaries to cross, edges to go over". This, however,
is music that seems to shy away from the edges, staying firmly in safe waters instead. You get
sanitized funk, saccharine minimalism, and even a bit of island-lite calypso, complete with steel
drum and a string of short perky choruses from the band. By the end of Relentlessly Cheerful,
one is left longing for something maybe a bit less relentless and some emotions other than just
cheerful.
Yes, that's the Bozos' CD shown above, with a look that won't
suprise those who dug their freewheeling Beatlefest, The Revolver Suite. Here,
the biggish band plays it straighter with original material. Still, they're nice and
loose, especially in "Coreatown" and, ahem, "Rise and Fall of the Glass Reich."
Horn-happy jazz/rock is alive and loud and well in the work of almost-big-band
BOZO allegro. The ambitious nine-piece group is a composer's workshop for bouncy bassist Mark Browning
Milner, a self-described "Ritalin poster child" to whom sambas, calypsos, fusion fireworks, Latin grooves
and hunks o' funk come naturally. BOZO's celebrating its second CD - the star-studded Relentlessly
Cheerful, featuring cameos by James Brown/P-Funk trombonist Fred Wesley, monster trumpeter Lew Soloff,
bass legend Steve Swallow, fusion guitarist Steve Khan and prolific session keyboardist Rob Mounsey (Steely Dan,
James Taylor, Paul Simon). They won't be on hand this weekend, but we bet the Twin Cities band will still be
as relentless and cheerful as ever, playing Milner-composed tributes to Sonny Rollins, Chick Corea, Philip
Glass, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and steamy sex.
I finally got a chance to hear the CD! Good job by everyone. It wasn't what I
expected, though I don't know what I was expecting. I guess it's just that 90% of the CDs people send me
are all rhythm section and lots of electronics. And a lot of vibraphone players, too, but that's to be
expected. So, it's nice to hear all the horn playing and a larger
ensemble for a change. Sounds like everyone is having a good time. The playing is well well done, and
everyone sounds very comfortable.
Hey.....I'm listening to it right now....it's very fun. I don't think I
have the skills to play it, but I like it! This music defies category - which I'm sure is by design. It's kind of like
taking Tower of Power, Blood Sweat & Tears, Bob James, a little Charlie
Parker, and some carribean/South African influences and putting them in a
Cuisinart and turning the switch to frappe'. And the album is appropriately
titled.....it is happy!
I love the newest one so much, I keep listening to that one over and over again.
I've been trying to come up with a favorite, although different ones strike me at different listening moments.
I guess the ones I keep returning to are: "Vertical
Smiles", "Rise and Fall of the Glass Reich", "Breathless Mornings", and the Jobim part of the Candlin suite.
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