Forty Fort

Jazz | Jan 2010

Reviews

Fo
Reviewed 2010-02-21
MOSTLY OTHER PEOPLE DO THE KILLING: Forty Fort
Hot Cup, 2010

AVANT-GARDE – They’re at it again: Bassist Moppa Elliott’s quartet of musical madmen continue their winning formula of making overt references to jazz history and then utterly demolishing them. Trumpeter Peter Evans and sax man Jon Irabagon are in top form, each blasting holes in Elliott’s solid yet twisty basslines and Kevin Shea’s multi-pronged drum attack with unexpected turns and weird blowing effects. Anarchic fun, loaded with obscure musical quotes and other surprises.

* * * * * | Go for any track. Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9

1. 7:33 – twisted quasi-boogaloo; drums bash as horns blare; insane ending
2. 6:57 – fun, thumping groove: horn solos chew it up & spit it out. Yow!
3. 9:20 – breezy theme: chatty trumpet slides into bizarre swirl, chugs to finish
4. 5:01 – a waltz through the junkyard; weirdo horns; gotta love the drums
5. 6:35 – clumpy groove; sax gets into wild squeaks; builds to huge peak, falls
6. 8:29 – constantly switches gears: name a jazz style, it’s in here somewhere
7. 6:36 – jolly march collapses into open spaces; keeps thumping back to life
8. 5:56 – wacky circus music: trumpet solo slips into buzzy drone under sax
9. 3:40 – cover of a Neal Hefti swing tune; very silly minimalist drum solo

[ Fo ] 02/21/10

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Charting

2010-02-21 — 2010-04-25 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
Apr 25 1
Apr 11 2
Apr 4 1
Mar 21 2
Mar 14 2
Feb 28 1

Track listing

1. Pen Argyl
2. Rough And Ready
3. Blue Ball
4. Nanticoke Coke
5. Little Hope
6. Forty Fort
7. Round Bottom, Square Top
8. St. Mary's Proctor
9. Cute