Drummer Granelli's 2nd CD with his fine downtown NY septet Bandlands is a record of deep groove and relaxed intensity.

Jerry Granelli's second CD with his fine downtown New York group Bandlands (Chris Speed, Peter Epstein, Briggan Krauss, Curtis Hasselbring, Jamie Saft, J. Anthony Granelli) is a record of deep groove and relaxed intensity. The programme conisists of Granelli originals as well as several by band members and one by Wayne Horvitz. And they cover a lot of ground stylistically, from the breezy yet lop-sided lope of 'Mr. Hulot' (a vivid musical characterization of the French film comedy auteur) to the avant-jazz-meets-ambient densities of 'Cloud', a suave but darkly serious 'Tango', rousing avant-funk in 7/8 ('Yutz'), the gathering energies and compelling 6 against 2 feel of 'The Front', and the long lyrical line of 'Crowd Theory'.

As with Badlands' first release, Enter, a Dragon, the band frequently explores textures through simultaneous improvisation, but the new CD focuses more on songs and ensemble writing as well as individual solos, Jerry leading from the drumkit with his dancing rhythmic meditations. Reviewing Dragon in The Wire, Andy Hamilton commented, 'If quality was the only criterion, Granelli's small, select output would have earned him a place among the leading contemporary jazz players.'

Track Listing

• Crowd Theory
• Mr. Hulot
• Bucky
• Tango
• Scatologie
• Yutz
• The Front
• Cloud

Additional Details

Label: Songlines

Genre: Jazz

Run Time: 51 mins

Release Date: 09/14/99

UPC: 774355152621