Idle Hands
© Copyright-noflomusic
(800314110620)
Record Label: Devil's Workshop Big Band
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Devil's Workshop Big Band is a 17-piece improvisational band dedicated to blurring the boundaries between jazz, rock, funk and all the other territories of today's Balkanized music scene. Formed just before Christmas 2000 by saxophonist Stephen Norfleet, the group started playing regular Monday night gigs in September 2001 in it's hometown of Richmond, Virginia, where it built a strong grassroots following that has remained loyal, even during the band's current hiatus.
Cramming into a smoky, boisterous ex-speakeasy, playing among gyrating fans and harried waitresses every week allowed the band's sound to develop very rapidly. The result of their first year's efforts is "Idle Hands," their debut CD produced by founder/leader/saxophonist Stephen Norfleet. Holding over 70 minutes of music, it features group improvisation, tons of original material, and covers of Radiohead's "Morning Bell" and John Hiatt's "Have a Little Faith in Me.
FOUR STARS- Downbeat Magazine
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concert reviewI
author: david kurz
I saw The Devil's Workshop open up for Brass Construction in 1976 at the Morris Civic Auditorium in South Bend,Ind. They were a 7 piece funk band and perhaps the greatest live act I've ever seen! I wonder if that's where the Devil's Workshop Big Band got their inspiration...and name???!!!
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Unbelievably tight horns
author: Bo Wilson
This CD is currently the only one available from this band,
and that's a crying shame... because this is a splendid
collection of music from some splendid musicians. The fact
that it's a live mix makes it especially impressive, because
no matter how much post-production sweetening you throw on
something, there's no substitute for getting the dynamics
correct in real time. These folks are clearly _listening_
to each other while they play, and you'll never hear a live
blend that's any better,especially when you consider how
many horns are blowing on most of these tracks.
Two things keep me from giving it five stars-- track six
contains a rap which is pretty inventive most of the time,
but which falters and tries, indelicately, to make a joke
out of it, to the detriment of the track as a whole. Track
one may mean more to deeply-schooled jazz afficianados, but
I couldn't tell whether they were were tuning up or playing;
just when they would settle into a groove I could enjoy,
they'd jump to something else, and I never got comfortable.
(It may be worthy of re-consideration whether they the first
track of their first disc quite so inaccessible--I hate to
think that people might give up at that point, but you never
know.)
But please understand-- these are one-percent quibbles
which leave me scoring them a 98 instead of a perfect 100.
There are a great many better-known jazz artists who have
already been surpassed by The Devil's Workshop, and I can't
wait for their next effort.
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DWBB skillfully uses improv and orchestration
author: Trevel Beshore
This CD was a refreshing change from the current groove-jazz-jam wave that has been part of the college circuit for the past few years. The orchestration and composition really sets this band apart from other funkified jazz acts.
This disc is worth the price just to hear their amazing rendition of "Morning Bell"!
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Henceforth a beautiful masterpiece
author: Reed Kendall
They rock out with certain objects that rhyhme with rock out as well...capiche?? Any one of these strapping men could woo a straight man gay...I think. Do kids read these reviews?
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