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Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
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Reviews

Geordie Haley’s Every Time Band — The Green Suite and Other Stories
((Not on label) no#, 2005, CD)

by Sean McFee, Published 2006-05-01

The Green Suite and Other Stories Cover art

Formerly of Fredericton’s tiny music scene, jazz guitarist Geordie Haley now takes up residence in Toronto with the Every Time Band. The line-up is rounded out with vocals, drums, bass, sax, and laptops. The music is arty and rather experimental while retaining a sense of groove and swing, not far from some of Henry Threadgill’s mid-90s efforts perhaps. Female vocalist Christine Duncan is one of the main focal points; sometimes she reminds of Emily Hay or Suzanne Lewis, at other times she goes into a scat-singing frenzy closer to Irene Papas’ contribution to Aphrodite’s Child, often miming the melodies and timbres of the others. I’m not fully on board when the grunting and barking starts, and towards the end of the album it can get patience-testing, but apart from that it’s an interesting flavor for the sextet. The group dynamic is excellent, the breezy atmosphere belying the serious chops and arrangements. Haley writes all the compositions and plays some pretty mean guitar, although he’s nice enough to give everyone else plenty to do. In fact, I get the sense that the same ensemble could release another album and it would sound little like this one. Likely destined for obscurity, if there is a group of people who can appreciate stuff like this it’s our readers, so there it is.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 33, 2005 releases

Related artist(s): Geordie Haley

 

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