Are The Dead Kenny Gs a jazz band? If the trio's namesake represents one extreme edge of the jazz spectrum then the Dead Kenny Gs surely belong in precisely the same spot at the opposite end of the chart.
Operation Long Leash, scheduled for a March 15 release, contains funk, punk and more than a little bit of jazz. Just as the music of the smooth jazz star pacifies its listeners, the aggressive attack of the Dead Kenny Gs agitates. The project appeals to fans of Rage Against the Machine much more than to aficionados of Al Hirt.
None of this comes as any surprise to adventurous Kansas City music fans. Mike Dillon, the trio's acclaimed percussionist, was a member of the locally-based avant-jazz band Malachy Papers. He also occasionally shows up in Kansas City as a member of the touring bands of artists like Ani DiFranco.
Plastic Sax readers who don't already know which side of the fence they're on need only watch a few seconds of this recent live footage to determine if they're down with the noise.
(Original image by Plastic Sax.)
2 comments:
I like Al Hirt.
Memories of a childhood trip to New Orleans in the '70s- raw oysters, Al Hirt and women's breasts. Lots of 'em.
Post a Comment