Cootie Brown
On the first two albums of their three-disc trilogy issued last fall, State College/Vermont-based septet Cootie Brown progressed from funky groove-based jamming to more structured compositions and arrangements; maintaining a fun and adventurous spirit through it all. On the final chapter of the trilogy, “Out Of The Bleu”, Cootie Brown has matured towards a jazz-geared style and sound. Their compositions are even tighter and more compact, and the group has elevated the level and maturity of their overall musicianship. The album title itself references the venue – State College’s Bar Bleu – where the group honed their jazz chops. Over the album’s eight mostly instrumental tracks, Cootie Brown smoothly executes on a variety of jazzy styles. They offer a light and airy shuffle on “Coffey Break,” improvise along a Dave Brubeck “Take Five”-like 5/4 meter on “Brutus,” and conjure a New Orleans-meets-swing vibe on “Dirty Duds.” The group doesn’t completely abandon their earlier funk and jam tendencies, though. They mix funk and jazz flavors on “The Cat’s Pajamas” and the punchier title track closer “Out of the Bleu.” And they still stretch out, jam and improvise on the Grateful Dead/Steely Dan-flavored “Grind” and the blues/jazz excursion “Say What?” Cootie Brown raises the bar of their performance on this set, with drummer James DeVoss, sax/flute player Michael Fortunato and keyboardist Jordan Thompson especially elevating their game with spirited, tasteful playing and colorful interaction on their instruments. While the overall presentation is tighter and closer to the vest, these musicians still sound like they’re enjoying themselves; but now with more confidence and a greater sense of control. Again, the sound mix allows the instruments to speak, with the players’ own improved skill levels smoothing some of the rougher edges displayed on the earlier two discs. Out Of The Bleu successfully caps the three-album evolutionary story of Cootie Brown, showing that although they have progressed, grown and expanded their musical vocabulary into jazz, they still show a sense of adventure, and leave the door open to more possibilities for their musical creativity. (The CD can be purchased through the group’s website, www.cootiebrown.net.)
CD Review
“Out of the Bleu” (Breeze Records)
