Level
Jazz
| Aug 2011
Reviews
Fo
Reviewed 2011-08-14
Reviewed 2011-08-14
ERIC HOFBAUER & THE INFRARED BAND: Level
Creative Nation, 2011
AVANT-GARDE – The mythology of duality and the universal search for balance is the inspiration for guitarist Eric Hofbauer in this diverse set. The music isn’t as obscure as that may sound, but it’s unusual stuff to be sure. Postbop, free improvisation, and even a little blues get tossed into the pot for a weird but vaguely appealing stew. Hofbauer’s quartet is light on its feet and keeps things hopping.
Fo’s Picks: 1, 4, 6, 9
1. 5:58 – a nearly-straight stroll: melodies interweave over a quirky rhythm
2. 8:00 – slow, scattered: 12-tone guitar in center, band is in far-flung orbits
3. 1:35 – interlude: serene sax & bass vs. twitchy guitar & drums
4. 5:48 – sneaky groove based on a scene in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”
5. 7:26 – slow, stretched, pained bass & sax: includes a bizarro stroll section
6. 11:16 – open solo guitar into oddball riffs, quick bop, free interludes in solos
7. 0:55 – brief “structured improvisation”
8. 2:09 – a short jumble of porch blues, African rhythm, bebop and free jazz
9. 8:01 – hops calmly around the edges of jazz and free improv, wacky solos
[ Fo ] - August 2011
Creative Nation, 2011
AVANT-GARDE – The mythology of duality and the universal search for balance is the inspiration for guitarist Eric Hofbauer in this diverse set. The music isn’t as obscure as that may sound, but it’s unusual stuff to be sure. Postbop, free improvisation, and even a little blues get tossed into the pot for a weird but vaguely appealing stew. Hofbauer’s quartet is light on its feet and keeps things hopping.
Fo’s Picks: 1, 4, 6, 9
1. 5:58 – a nearly-straight stroll: melodies interweave over a quirky rhythm
2. 8:00 – slow, scattered: 12-tone guitar in center, band is in far-flung orbits
3. 1:35 – interlude: serene sax & bass vs. twitchy guitar & drums
4. 5:48 – sneaky groove based on a scene in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”
5. 7:26 – slow, stretched, pained bass & sax: includes a bizarro stroll section
6. 11:16 – open solo guitar into oddball riffs, quick bop, free interludes in solos
7. 0:55 – brief “structured improvisation”
8. 2:09 – a short jumble of porch blues, African rhythm, bebop and free jazz
9. 8:01 – hops calmly around the edges of jazz and free improv, wacky solos
[ Fo ] - August 2011
Recent airplay
The Faction
No Cover, No Minimum — Oct 14, 2011
The Faction
No Cover, No Minimum — Oct 07, 2011
Surely Some Revelation...
Memory Select — Sep 28, 2011
These Two Things
Rebop — Sep 24, 2011
These Two Things
No Cover, No Minimum - Coltrane Day — Sep 23, 2011
Ghosts And Giants
Memory Select — Sep 21, 2011
Charting
2011-08-14 — 2011-10-16
Jazz
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Oct 16 | 1 |
| Oct 9 | 1 |
| Oct 2 | 1 |
| Sep 25 | 3 |
| Sep 18 | 1 |
| Sep 4 | 2 |
| Aug 28 | 2 |
| Aug 21 | 2 |
Track listing
| 1. | These Two Things | ||
| 2. | La Ligne De Chance | ||
| 3. | Castor And Pollux | ||
| 4. | The Faction | ||
| 5. | Murder For A Jar Of Red Rum | ||
| 6. | Surely Some Revelation... | ||
| 7. | Spy Vs Spy | ||
| 8. | Ghosts And Giants | ||
| 9. | Pocket Chops |