Velvet Coup

LOOSE WIG: Velvet Coup
self-released, 2007

MODERN JAZZ – Intriguing Berkeley quartet with a moody collective sound, complex original material and a good dollop of improvisational attitude casually slipped in. Most cuts composed by bassist Sam Bevan.

Ben Fajen - tenor sax
Mike Abraham - guitar
Sam Bevan - bass
Bryan Bowman - drums

* * * | Fo’s Picks: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11

1. 4:57 – lumbering stride, quietly free interlude, sharp sax & guitar dialogue
2. 6:35 – relaxed, thoughtful melody; calm bass solo, daydreaming guitar
3. 5:33 – lilting African sound with quiet rhythm, very spacious middle section
4. 5:17 – swinging 1950s style ditty, flowing sax solo, guitar flits & flutters
5. 5:26 – touch of menace: striding 4-note riff, rolling drum solo, guitar effects
6. 5:47 – nearly silent start, very slow drifting melody, builds up strength
7. 5:09 – snappy strut, sax rides on walking bassline, guitar surfs rolling drums
8. 4:34 – relaxed meandering stroll, bass solo takes it easy, sax mulls it over
9. 5:20 – slow, slinky tune: spy-surf reverb guitar gets a bit noisy, comes back
10. 4:34 – furtive, with subtle twists & turns: sax & bass mark the path clearly
11. 6:22 – march-like procession, solos wrap around the angular melody

[ Fo ] 06/20/09