Credits:

Butcher Brown

Description:

Butcher Brown, also known as the Garage Punk Jazz Band, plays mellow and funky in this live band-inspired work! Butcher Brown, based in Richmond, Va. This five-piece jazz band, consisting of Devon Harris (keyboards), Corey Fonville (drums), Morgan Barth (guitar), Andrew Randazzo (bass), and Marcus Tenney (saxophone, trumpet), has a post-hip-hop sensibility and sound orientation, The band is very contemporary, combining a post-hip-hop sensibility with old-school, artisanal musicianship. Their live album "Camden Sessions," released in 2018, is now being reissued in a special Japan edition. Recorded at Mark Ronson's Zelig Sound Studios in London with no editing or overdubs, the album vividly captures the band's true charm. After the introduction, the band plays "Fiat. The song, with Corey Fonville's powerful drums and Morgan Barth's wah guitar, is a funky tune reminiscent of the soundtrack to a '70s blacksploitation movie, but here the session is nearly twice as long as the original version, and the band is back with a glitzy, ornate set. Isaac Hayes seems like he's about to make an appearance, and he does so with a passionate performance.Rose's solo by Devon Harris at the end of the song, which was not on the original version, is also excellent. The following "Street Pharmacy" reveals another of their charms, with a hip-hop/R&B beat by Vonville and Andrew Randazzo. Combined with the mellow songfulness of Barth's cutting guitar, Harris' clavinet, and Marcus Tenney's trumpet, you get the feeling of neo-soul. Barth's guitar is also impressive on the interluded "Camden Square," which has an R&B essence to it. Be sure to watch the session video of Harris playing acoustic piano on this song. The final song, "918," which features a perfect ensemble while spinning solos, is a song that could serve as their greeting to the audience. The band accompanied Kamasi Washington on his US tour as support after the release of this album, and I am sure they played this song as well. Butcher Brown is a remarkable contemporary band that combines the sound-oriented sensibilities of the post-hip-hop generation with the old-school craftsmanship of a player. While the studio version, which shows the band's attention to detail, is excellent, the live version is the best way to directly experience their abilities as players.

Tracklisting:

1. FIAT
2. STREET PHARMACY
3. CAMDEN SQUARE
4. 918