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

Jugalbandi — The Cram and Stuff Method
(Bandcamp no#, 2000/2015, DL)

Jugalbandi — The View Is Always Better from the Top of the Food Chain
(Bandcamp no#, 2000/2014, DL)

Jugalbandi — Yellow Star Mailing List
(Bandcamp no#, 2000/2014, DL)

by Jim Chokey, Published 2002-04-01

The Cram and Stuff Method Cover artThe View Is Always Better from the Top of the Food Chain Cover artYellow Star Mailing List Cover art

Jugalbandi is a style of Indian music involving two performers — typically featuring one on sitar and the other on tabla. There’s no overt Indian influence in this American band’s music, but the name still seems apt for the duet of Greg Segal (guitar) and Hyam Sosnow (drums). The two have been playing together for quite some time, but these CDs are their first releases under the Jugalbandi name. There are three unique albums here, but all three were recorded at the same studio over the same four-day period, using the same techniques (straight to DAT without any re-mixing, overdubbing, or editing whatsoever). The music, furthermore, is all improvised — although, to paraphrase Animal Farm, some tunes are more improvised than others. While some pieces are wholly spontaneous improvisations, others grew out of a set of basic chord or riffs that had been created in advance.

Stylistically, Jugalbandi can be described as rock fusion — but, except for some shorter pieces (like “Valley Plaza” from Yellow Star Mailing List and “Erwin Park” from The View Is Better from the Top of the Food Chain), that term does not really summarize the diverse breadth of the band’s material. Throughout these three disks, there are nods to funk, power metal, blues, swing, and various ethnic traditions, not to mention frequent ventures into space rock. There are also some moments that can only be described as “progressive rock.” On some pieces, like “Reciprocal Demonology” from The View and the 25-minute jam “Gidget Goes Canine” from Yellow Star, it’s not too hard to hear echoes of the various Crimson improvs on The Great Deceiver box set. Crimson’s ProjeKct recordings also come to mind.

In spite of being just two guys, Jugalbandi never sounds sparse or thin. On the contrary, it’s easy to forget that there are only two players on these disks. This is, in part, due to the battery of electronic devices and loops that Segal uses on his guitar, enabling him to invoke multiple timbres and play multiple parts simultaneously. Credit also needs to be given to Sosnow’s astonishing drumming. Only rarely does he keep time or lay down a constant beat. More often, he treats his kit as “lead” instrument that is capable of articulating musical ideas that are as expressive, sensitive, and, yes, as melodic as those coming from his bandmate. More than anything else, though, the musical depth of the pieces recorded here comes from the interplay between Segal and Sosnow. It’s easy to tell that these guys have been playing together for a long time because they really listen to each other and work off each others ideas in ways that are truly skillful, subtle, and responsive. The fact that they’re both outstanding individual players as well doesn’t hurt matters either!

Though the disks were recorded at the same time, there are some notable differences among them. The View, for example, tends to have slightly shorter tracks than the others. Only two of its tracks, for example, are over ten minutes long. Personally, my favorite of these three is Yellow Star Mailing List, but that’s really just a matter of taste. Any of these three disks would be a fine place to start exploring this duet’s work. Highly recommended to fans of all-instrumental prog, rock-fusion, and great improv work.

Filed under: Reissues, Issue 24, 2015 releases, 2000 recordings, 2014 releases

Related artist(s): Greg Segal, Jugalbandi

More info
http://gregsegal.bandcamp.com/music

 

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