Conspiracy Deliracy
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
The bassist and composer Andrew Binder pens a very unique listen here, where jazz sounds are mixed with pop music icons, their music and conspiracy theories, and he welcomes some of the Midwest’s best musicians.
“Squatch Watch” opens the listen with Maxwell Osawa’s crisp drums alongside Brian Stark’s bright sax and Binder’s flowing bass, and “Stevie Isn’t Blind” follows with plenty of grooves, as Frank Niemeyer’s animated trombone adds much richness to the climate.
Further along, the intimate “Moonwalk” spotlights the soft brass and Kurt Reeder’s warm keys, while “Dark Side Of The Mattress Firm” benefits much from Stark’s dreamy flute, not to menton the marching band style drumming and Jose Gobbo’s fluid guitar lines.
Nearing the end, “Avril Is Dead” comes with a dynamic and sometime cautious appeal from the rhythm section amid the soaring sax, and the alternate take for “Rush For Area 51” exits with a rumbling demeanor that uses Justin Dyar’s strategic trumpet via the tense, cinematic finish.
A creative listen that’s insightful about today’s abundance of misinformation, the help that Binder has with him makes for some exciting and textured modern jazz.
Travels well with: Three Story Sandbox- Artful Dodgers; Steve Snyder Trio- Prime Vantage