Tag Archives: instrumental music

PREMIERE: The Mighty Calm Bring Us Sounds of Summer

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After the deep freeze we had this week in Nashville — seriously, this trash weather is absurd, even for my native Northeast in January — let’s give ourselves a chance to thaw out.

Fortunately for us, The Mighty Calm have just the thing to chase our winter blues away.

Titled “Boardwalks,” this hazy, sun-kissed surf rock instrumental will bring you the feeling of warmer days. The trio — consisting of percussionist Jonathan Moore, bassist Alan Fernald, and our good friend Andrew LaVogue on guitar — crafted “Boardwalks” to “feel like a sunny day at the beach, watching the surfers.”

“This song originated about a year ago when Jon and I were jamming on some ideas I had,” LaVogue said. “We worked out the kinks and then brought Alan on, who added a whole new layer to the song with his bass part.”

Don’t worry; summer will be here soon. In the meantime, take a stroll on these “Boardwalks.”

UMC20: Farewell, Summer (Sept. 20, 2022)

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We’ve tried to hang on to the summer of 2022 for as long as possible. And, if you’re in Nashville this week, it certainly seems like Mother Nature is thinking along the same lines.

But… it’s over. We’re officially heading into fall this week, but not before a last hurrah of high-powered summer bops. The first half of UMC20 is loaded with those, before gradually giving way to more mellow sounds befitting the cooler months.

OK… there are some Americana-tinged scorchers at the end, too. We couldn’t help ourselves!

Listen to UMC20

Review: The Dark Matter Trio – The Puzzle With No Pieces

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Artist: The Dark Matter Trio
Album: The Puzzle With No Pieces (LISTEN)
Released: September 2015
Genre: Fusion

It’s hard to nail The Dark Matter Trio down to a particular genre. The improvisation and rhythm of jazz is ever-present on the Harrisburg-based instrumental outfit’s latest release, “The Puzzle with No Pieces,” but there are heavy progressive rock and jam influences also at play.

Perhaps it is this unexpected, yet seamless meshing of styles that makes “The Puzzle with No Pieces” so interesting. You never quite know where the record is going, causing you to keep your ears tuned in and your mind at work. The band often visits several different ideas as movements in a single song. Take the triple-named Brenda Lea/Myrtle Likes to Swing/All Hallows Eve for example, which starts as an acoustic rocker with a bass and guitar double melody before heading into a folk/bluegrass movement.

Another example of the band’s versatility is the nine-minute closing title track. This jazz-inspired tune progresses gradually into a headbanging rock outro to conclude the listening journey.

In the end, The Dark Matter Trio has chosen an appropriate name for “The Puzzle with No Pieces.” Each of these ten tracks takes on a different shape in the form of varying soundscapes. Yet, it is these individual parts that comprise a complete work of art.

Track listing:
7 4 2
Sketchbook of a Melancholy Fisherman
Not About Time
Funny Little Bird
Chronologiscope
Big Red Truck
Brenda Lea / Myrtle Likes to Swing / All Hallows Eve
Slow Motion Fight Scene
Imaginautical
The Puzzle With No Pieces

VIDEO: Shawn Cav Ensemble’s ‘Glass Houses’ EP Release Party

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Last night, jazz fans and supporters of original music braved the rain to make the trip to The California Drum Shop in Bethlehem, where Shawn Cav Ensemble was celebrating the release of its new EP, “Glass Houses.” (Review here)

The jazz fusion quartet, supported by an opening set from local piano master Dan DeChellis, played selections from the new release, as well as a few standards. Musicianship was on full display as the band sounded crisp and in rhythm, with improv-based solos highlighting each tune.

In case you missed it, here’s a video taken of the band playing “Looking Busy” off of the new EP. We suggest that you get busy and pick up “Glass Houses” today.