Jaimoe's Jasssz Band - Renaissance Man

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2011
Time: 64:12
Size: 147,7 MB
Label: Self Released
Styles: Jazz-Rock/Blues
Art: Front

Tracks Listing:
 1. Dilemma - 8:49
 2. Drifting and Turning - 7:48
 3. Leaving Trunk - 6:32
 4. I Believe I'll Make a Change - 6:36
 5. Rainy Night in Georgia - 5:44
 6. Hippology - 4:20
 7. Laurie Ann Blue - 5:57
 8. Melissa - 5:43
 9. Simple Song - 7:03
10. Points of Friendship - 5:36

Hypothetically, let's say someone put on this album for you without telling you who it was. Your first reaction would be: "If this isn't an Allman Brothers side project, I smell a lawsuit." Upon learning that the bandleader is Jaimoe, you would relax and take the music on its own terms.  Musically, this album is actually closer to the Allmans' sound than many other Allman-affiliated projects. Jaimoe calls the group, "Jaimoe's Jasssz Band," which suggests Allman-style fusion in the mold of Sea Level, but the jazz elements on this album are rarely more prominent than on Elizabeth Reed, with the primary exception being a piece by keyboard player Bruce Katz called Hippology. Interestingly, Jaimoe played this piece along with Bruce on Ronnie Earl's "Colour of Love." (Side note-- Gregg has a guest spot on that album too). Most of the rest of the album sticks close to the jazz-inflected Southern blues rock jam band style pioneered by the Allmans. In fact, some of the album sounds like what would happen if the Allmans brought in a few horns. The singer sometimes even sounds a bit like a less gruff version of Gregg, particularly on a version of Melissa. Really, though, the album sounds like Jaimoe's effort to showcase his new discovery-- almost-definitely future Allman Brothers guitarist/singer Junior Mack. He has soul, chops and versatility. He can play blues straight or with jazz elements. He can play conventional or slide. He can sing kind of like Gregg when he wants to. And, while he can obviously play the Allmans' style, the tone and attack of his guitar work instantly distinguish him from any current or past Allmans' guitarist. Occasionally, he even has a guitar conversation with himself, alternating styles and sounds to mimic the kind of conversation that Duane and Dickey used to have (and that has been picked up by each subsequent guitar lineup in the group). Also, seven of the ten songs here were written by group members (although Katz has recorded Hippology before, as mentioned earlier). Of those seven, four were written by Mack. Apparently, the guy can do it all. Keep an eye on Junior Mack. Incidentally, Junior Mack appears on a new release by a collective called Heritage Blues Orchestra. It sounds nothing like this, but fans of classic blues and jazz with an open mind should definitely check it out.

Renaissance Man