J.A.M., Inc. is an instrumental rock band which features Mordechai Kleidermacher on guitar, Tony "Vinny" DeGennaro on bass, and John Favicchia on drums. The band hails from Brooklyn and Long Island, New York. The music is mostly influenced by Seventies fusion but probably more from the rock end of that spectrum like Santana and Jeff Beck rather than the heavier jazz groups like RTF or Mahavishnu. There's also, as the name implies, a strong jam sensibility a la late '60s/early '70s rock bands like Ten Years After, Blodwyn Pig and The Allman Brothers Band in their more purely instrumental forays.
Review from "Jazz Improv" Magazine by renowned stick player Steve Adelson:
"Groove" and "in the pocket" are two phrases that immediately come to mind upon first listen to "Sweeet!" by a band called J.A.M., Inc. Not a typical jazz-guitar recording, this CD presents a jazzy, bluesy power trio with touches of home-grown soul. No tricks, nothing fancy. Just danceable rhythms and very singable melodies. I hear some Santana and some Coryell mixed with traces of of perhaps Brian Auger? It's not your typical ii-V-I cycle of fifths, let's-get-through-the-changes kind of deal. Friendly but somewhat aggressive sounds. And of course with a name like Mordechai Kleidermacher, the guitarist on this CD is destined to follow Prince's path and be known as "the artist formerly known as...." Long Island's own John Favicchia supplies the great drum chops and Tony "Vinny" DeGennaro does a good job in the bass department. The recording has 13 tunes and there's enough variety to keep the listener smiling throughout. With song titles like "Big Funky," "Hell Yeah!" and "Funky Muffin," you can anticipate where the music may go. Toe tappin' and head boppin' might be easy phrases to describe what this reviewer heard and experienced. I look forward to hearing more catchy tunes in the future from "the artist..." and his friends.
--Steve Adelson
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