(That is so baddass)

The traditional organ trio, as far as I understand it, is comprised of Hammond B3, drums and guitar or sax.  Think about Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Joey DeFrancesco – they used the awsome power of the B3 to carry the bass on the left hand and go nuts with the right for leads and melody.  Darediablo proved that the format could work well in a rock setting.  In the world of jazz fusion, the great example is Tony Williams Lifetime of 1969.  The twist there was that the organ, normally dominant in such contexts, had to play second fiddle to Williams’ drums and McLaughlin’s guitar.  Even though Jack Bruce came along to play electric bass, that lineup never gelled.  The true genius of Lifetime was the trio – no bass.

Then comes Medeski Martin and Wood.  This is not an organ trio, because Medeski is playing everyhing in sight, so long as it has black and white keys, not just the B3.  Medeski’s the focus and and it all goes through his playing, but now there is a bass.  Wood is almost always on a stand-up acoustic, but it doesn’t take away from the funk.  When that band wants to get down, it gets down.

Now I arrive at Elephant9.  Things are different in Scandanavia.  Fusion is not a dirty word.  Progressive Rock is an art form, and not an insult.  And in Norway, Stale Storlokken absolutely burns on keys.  This is a band that has not one but TWO Joe Zawinul covers on the same record.  There is no hiding the influence.  This is a direct decendent of early 70’s Miles Davis and Weather Report.  Storlokken’s ability to conjure a fiery groove is matched only by his seemingly limitless technical ability.  The drums and electric Fender Bass add pure muscle.  This is not subtle music.  And then you hear the variety of synths and other sound generators in Storlokken’s arsenal, and you can understand why these young men embrace a prog identity.

In 2008 I discovered Beardfish – an amazingly talented group from Sweeden.  That love of Zappa and old Genesis has not gotten old, and I wait with bated breath for the time when I can see them live.  But Elephant9, and particularly Storlokken, feels like the next big thing for me.  I have not been this excited about young musicians in many months.