Star Chamber, the

Large group from L.A. that draws from traditional jazz ideas but infuses some silliness along the way. Upbeat, accessible, and very likeable, with most tracks getting crazy or goofy at some point. Lots of solos in a '50s-swing motif.

Composer Andrew Durkin creates complex pieces that traverse multiple moods in each song, always leaving room for some straight-jazz soloing. Most tracks get crazy or goofy at some point. They each cover so much territory, you can't go wrong picking one at random.

1- Midtempo, kind of a dramatic swing. Includes a soft kazoo-sounding segment. Soft flute/piano intro.
2- Midtempo. Goofy overlappping swing lines, then a free-jazz break.
3- Fast and choppy, with an Asian tinge
4- "Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboy-Presidents" .... Mid/fast and a bit silly. Bebop first, then a goofy cowboy march.
5- Fast quiet flute dance, then stern regal horns. Mid/fast
6- Bright and mid/fast, with a confusing modernistic kind of melody (cool!)
7- Midtempo with lots of phases. Starts sultry; later dips into a ragtime time warp.