Eric’s Quick Picks – DJ Harry – Collision

I am astonished and impressed by the self-contained world growing up around the jam bands: for a bunch of dopers they sure have it together in the professionalism and business acumen departments. We just announced AmsterJam 2005 yesterday, complete with travel packages to Europe’s ganjaville, Phish just conjured a portable city for their farewell extravaganza, Bonnaroo is a massive success, and on the High Seas (pun intended), Jam Cruise 3 caters to salty moneyed groovers.

And musically, they keep absorbing amoeba-like anything with a politely insistent groove and inclusive worldview. I am totally digging on DJ Harry, who dwells under the shelter of the String Cheese Incident’s SCI Fidelity organization.

Harry’s Collision will be in stores August 31, but those who pre-order here will be entered into a contest to have Harry come to your house and spin for a little backyard party action. And the first 50 pre-orders will get a copy o hte disc autographed by Harry himself.

What makes DJ Harry a jam band DJ is his organic groove. Check out the lead track from Collision, “All My Life,” here and note the gently gyrating Edie Brickell-vibe of fresh new singer Lissie, and the jangly, percolating guitar in the forefront of the mellifluous mix. It’s enough to make you push away from your computer and rise to do the acid dance.

Another track, “Galactic,” is chunky, funky and thick with meaty mid-tempo beats, organ and interlacing electronics in a neo soul-jazz modus operandi. Maybe we can get Harry to DJ our next party – that would be sweet.

Harry will also be on Jam Cruise 3 in January (fewer than 40 cabins left).