Blog By James

I know I’m always going on about metal bands and rock shows, etc. Truth is I’m a bit of a jazzer at heart and have been since I started playing music 26 years ago. I will now take this opportunity to say that if there are two jazz records that you should buy this year, it should be these two…

bug: The Gadfly

OK so Brian Hamada is the f’n man. I took some drum lessons from him as a kid and at the time I had no idea the genius I was experiencing. I’ll be the first to say that today, I couldn’t swing my way out of a wet paper bag. But this would be absolutely no reflection of his instruction. Everything I’ve ever heard the man play is superb and this record is no exception. Although the drumming alone is worth the price of admission, “The Gadfly” is jam packed full of dynamics, musicality, brilliant melodies and some of the best playing I’ve heard in quite some time.

Highlight tracks for me include “Dark Matter”, “Invernessence” and the title track. None of that old stuffy purist rubbish going on here, oh hell no. This is the good stuff people. Hear and buy it here. Watch here and here.

Benny Greb: Brass Band

I was late to the party and only discovered Benny Greb’s music (”Grebfruit”) early this year. When it comes to the hippest and tastiest grooves around, this guy is the master. You might be thinking… But what about *drummer name here* or *another drummer name here*? Afraid not. Come on, *drummer name* is reall..SHHH! Nope. Greb. Master.

“Brass Band” is made up of brass (tuba, trombone, trumpet) and drums, two of my favourite things in life. The recording sounds amazing and the songs get stuck in my head all the time. Not only is Benny Greb a world-class drummer, his songwriting is just as awesome. Check out a little medley of this CD over here.