Stinkhorn — Stinkhorn
((Not on label) no#, 1997, CD)
by Jeff Melton, 2006-05-01:
by Jon Davis, 2000-10-01:
Stinkhorn is a Seattle jazz group with more than a little rock in their stylistic bag. Not quite as much as Kilgore Trout (reviewed in #16), but way more than is typical these days. They also have a fondness for odd meters, and not even a hint of “smooth jazz.” The four-piece consists of Brian Heaney on electric guitar, Michael Monhart on saxophones, John Morris on bass, and Howard Ouchi on drums. Heaney’s guitar is the first thing you notice, with a crunchy distorted edge, mixing dissonant noises, power chords, and quick runs that sound like they’re at the very edge of control, or even a little beyond. This makes for a great contrast with most jazz guitarists, who tend to sound over-rehearsed even when they’re improvising. Heaney does back off and play the supportive role too, with unusual ringing voicings and repeated patterns. But the guitar is not the only lead instrument. Monhart holds his own, contributing some great solos and melodies. He also pushes the limits of his instrument, squawking and overblowing from time to time, never resorting to warmed over blues clichés. Morris provides solid backing, anchoring the sometimes awkward riffs while Ouchi plays fairly freely, avoiding the trap so many drummers fall into with odd meters: repeating a small set of patterns. Improvisation offsets tighter arranged sections, and the pieces are never predictable. The band is great live, and I look forward to hearing more from them in the future.
Filed under: New releases , Issue 20 , 1997 releases
Related artist(s): Stinkhorn
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