After enjoying some great acoustic tunes and the glorious smells of craft beer and artisan pizza (that I swear I’ll treat myself to, one of these months) at Scratch, it was time to head to Catasauqua’s Unicorn Theatre. That’s where Shawn Cav Ensemble was beginning their crowdfunding performance in support of their upcoming second album.
While Shawn Cav Ensemble makes preparations to take their game to the next level with a new record in 2017, the jazz fusion quartet used one of 2016’s final Saturday evenings to show why the new project is one worthy of your support (which you can offer here).
If you’re a jazz fan and a supporter of local music, you’ve surely checked out Shawn Cav Ensemble’s “Glass Houses.” If you haven’t, you should. Here’s a link.
Once you check that out, you might find yourself hungry for a follow-up. As it turns out, Shawn Cav Ensemble shares your sentiments. They plan to record this winter, but they need your help to make their second album even bigger and better than the first.
The arctic winds are expected to roll into our region this week. However, those of us on the Lehigh Valley music scene are a resilient bunch, and we won’t let it stop us from going outside.
Especially not, when you consider these…
It ain’t live, but it will do! This week, The Dark Matter Trio joins us to talk about their album, “The Puzzle With No Pieces.” Learn about the band, their process, and how they’ve come to their unique place in the musical landscape.
Plus, we have plenty more great music, Stupid News, Somethin’ Good, and a brief tribute to Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez.
Track listing:
REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become (Opening theme)
Lemonade Kid – Bully
The Dark Matter Trio – Brenda Lea / Myrtle Likes to Swing / All Hallows Eve
The Dark Matter Trio – The Puzzle Wth No Pieces
The Everglows – She’s a Mystery
UVTraveler – When the Sun Gets In Your Eyes
John Hufford – Hideaway (Promote next Monday)
Lauren Marsh – Dear Love
AVYLON – Don’t Look Back
Elwood James Band – Black Cherry
Joe Scheller – Two Weeks Notice
Sunsets North – out_of_CTRL
Slumlord Radio – Bullwhip
Doctor Ransom – Hook & Cross
Oh, Easton. You always give me more than I bargain for.
My night began a hair after 8 p.m. when, after I found parking just off the circle, I walked over to Connexions Gallery to catch Shawn Cav Ensemble’s latest performance. I was surprised, then, when I walked into the gallery to find it empty, except for a couple of pets and, of course, the artwork hanging throughout the room.
As I wandered back, I noticed the sound of Dan DeChellis’ keyboard getting louder. I then stumbled upon a back room leading to an outside courtyard which, lo and behold, was the venue for this evening’s performances.
I have to say, I really dig this performance space. It has a summer night’s ambiance which was enhanced by the tunes being brought forth on this muggy night. I arrived for a few selections of DeChellis’ piano mastery to open the evening before things changed over to Shawn Cav Ensemble.
The Ensemble, as always, brought its best, performing a mix of selections off of its new album, “Glass Houses,” as well as some unreleased tunes. I always find myself blown away by saxophonist Matt Truscott in particular, whose improv ability is some of the best you’ll find in the Valley or elsewhere.
After a while, I looked at my phone to find that it was 9:30. Admittedly, the Bayou-style humidity had me feeling a bit sluggish, and my ill feeling was probably compounded by the fact that I hadn’t eaten anything since meeting my sister at Mesa for lunch earlier in the day. Realizing that my busy schedule had kept me from sustenance for much of the evening, I decided to address that, moving onto the next stop: Two Rivers Brewing Company, where LVU’s fellow Mega Power Dustin Schoof was playing with his acoustic duo, Blue Jean.
I walked uphill for a few blocks, deciding too late that driving would have been a better option, to join Blue Jean mid-set. Upon arriving, I found out two things:
Upon hearing that second point, I quickly grabbed a menu and ordered the first thing that caught my eye – a buffalo chicken flatbread that, as it turned out, was bangin’. I wolfed that down alongside glass after glass of water – yes, I went to a brewery, and all I drank was water – as I enjoyed a mix of covers and originals from Blue Jean. I also briefly caught up with Dustin for a few minutes, discussing things that only we Mega Powers would understand… for now. #foreshadowing
After hanging out at Two Rivers for a while, I settled up and decided that I WASN’T. FINISHED. YET! (I love doing that…)
I embarked on the next phase of the evening’s journey, walking a few blocks down (and further away from my car) to Porters’, where AKP was in the midst of an intimate trio show.
As always, the music – another healthy mix of covers and originals – was on-point, but what stuck out to me even more at this stop were the conversations I had while I was there.
Talking to those in attendance, I realized that there is a great hope for our music scene, and a gratitude for the fact that things really seem to be coming together for everyone involved. Folks seem appreciative of the fact that people like Dustin and I provide meaningful, hyper-local media coverage of the Lehigh Valley’s true music scene – that is to say, the artists and people who make it what it is every single day.
It made me even more grateful to do what I do through Lehigh Valley Underground. The thing I’ve come to understand is that this scene has, for quite a while, been in need of a unifying force to connect the dots and help place emphasis on the hidden talent that is rampant throughout our region. It is an honor and a privilege to be one of the people to facilitate that, while getting to meet great people and enjoy the varied and many talents of this area’s performers multiple times per week.
As I said, I got more than I thought I would out of this night in Easton at the outset. Of course, I was expecting a nice time and some great tunes. That’s par for the course. In addition, however, I had a spring in my step. As I walked back to the car just after midnight, I knew that I had received another inspiring reminder of why we do what we do at LVU.
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
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.
Artist: Shawn Cav Ensemble
Album: Glass Houses (Pre-order)
Release Date: Jul. 30, 2016
Genre: Jazz Fusion
On July 30, break out your good headphones and listen to everything happening on Shawn Cav Ensemble’s “Glass Houses.” The eclectic Easton quartet showcases its musicianship and improvisational abilities to speak volumes without saying a word.
The band displays its ability to move between ideas – and even genres – on the new release. A perfect example is opening track, “Four Years in a Box,” which is underscored by groovy rhythms and a tradeoff between Steve Collins’ guitar and Matt Truscott’s tenor sax that walks a tightrope between jazz and rock.
Another highlight is “Faces,” a funk-fueled track with a hooky bass line where Collins and Truscott both take turns speaking lyrically through their instruments. In contrast, title track “Glass Houses” is mellow in a way that ties the effort together, revolving around Shawn Cav’s bass to build a climax and achieve the EP’s resolution.
Track listing
Four Years in a Box
New Beginnings
Faces
Roll Call
Looking Busy
Glass Houses
