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Juzz — Juzz
(Bandcamp aMarxe no#, 2019/2024, CD / DL)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2024-06-28

Juzz Cover art

Juzz. Kind of like jazz, but it rhymes with fuzz. Seldom do I encounter a new band (at least to me) that’s already been out there six-plus years — especially a band of this caliber, that’s completely flown under my radar. This is in fact a reissue of the band's debut self-titled album that was released originally in 2018, then only available on LP with four tracks, now reissued on CD with two additional cuts. Juzz is a six-piece group from Pontevedra, Spain, led by composer and guitarist Virxilio da Silva, with Álex Salgueiro on Hammond B3, Felix Barth on bass guitar, Xan Campos on Fender Rhodes, Rosolino Marinelo on tenor sax, and drummer Iago Fernández, with João Mortágua on alto sax on one track, “Lamento Fuzz.” These guys are amazingly great players, their style encompasses an aggressive hard jazz that makes itself  known on the opening track, “Rathenow Towers,” where one might well encounter something like The Inner Mounting Flame if Jimi Hendrix were in the band, but after the keyboards and sax take the lead, one detects this is a pure jazz with heavy progressive rock leanings and the absence of any vocals; nine minutes later the listener is ready for that proverbial cigarette. “Dead Water” is another smoker that was once the closing track on the LP; now promoted to the number two spot, the piece goes through several moody sections, all reminiscent of some of the late Larry Coryell’s early works, the conversations between guitar and sax are nothing short of stunning. The new closer is the ten-minute “Outro Tempo,” a number that takes its time to develop, with some genuine Canterbury hints as it proceeds forward and builds strength. The two bonus numbers are just a little over seven minutes each, “Plateau Grzegorz” starting with a gentle touch, sax and guitar wandering through the forest guided by bass and drums until the keys come in and build it into something more powerful, and “Udrawoe Starship VI,” perhaps the most rockin’ piece on the album that could have come straight off Electric Ladyland, though the band’s jazzier sensibilities take the helm for several extended sections. Taken in total, this expanded edition of Juzz’ debut truly delivers the goods.

Filed under: Reissues, 2024 releases, 2019 recordings

Related artist(s): Juzz

More info
http://amarxe.bandcamp.com/album/juzz-expanded-edition

 

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