While there have been some big names in world of jazz violin (Stephane Grappelli, Joe Venuti, Billy Bang, Jean-Luc Ponty, Regina Carter), Jeff Gauthier seems to bridge the gap between the traditional (Grappelli) and the avant garde (Billy Bang). The opening track, "Ahfufat - For Wan)", actually recalls early Jean-Luc Ponty, but with the group interplay of electric-era Miles Davis.
The Goatette turns out to be quite the flexible outfit. With Nels Cline (now playing with Wilco, also has a stellar "out-there" past) on guitar, David Witham (piano, keyboards, effects), Joel Hamilton (bass) and Alex Cline on drums, this group seems at east with traditional structures ("Solflicka"), angular back 'n forth ("Don't Answer That"), and extended forms (the uptempo "Rina Pt. 1" and the more pensive closing track "A Corner of Morning").
By the time I'd finished this review, the rain had moved in again. Fortunately, my mind will forever associate the music of Jeff Gauthier with this spring day's charms.
Article comments
1 - Mat Brewster
So I probably won't be buying this one. I can dig some rather out there music, but the wife does put me on some kind of budget, and I do have to get somewhere near it. She might let me slide with the Paul Simon but anthing like the noise this sounds like it resembles will put me in for some couch sleeping.
Nice review though.
2 - godoggo
Actually, most of their stuff is pleasant melodic fusion, though they do occasionally vear off into freedom and noise. Entirely coincidentally, I was listening to some mp3s of them (at download.com and Hype Machine) just before I came here, so you can easily hear what I mean.
They play pretty frequently here in L.A., and I've seen them I guess 4 or 5 times - they're probably my favorite setting for Nels Cline's playing. The best show had them complemented by a a classical woodwind ensemble to play a magnificent (and pretty out) composition by Nels's old bass player Stuart Liebig - I think it's the same piece that comprises his Pomegranate album.
3 - Connie Phillips
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