Album Notes

The San Francisco Chronicle called Todd "a captivating improviser, imaginative composer, and master of collaboration".

Here on Blood Orange (his 2nd record) he's at the helm, with a band which explodes the boundaries of jazz, groove, rock and improvisation with its grand melodies, gorgeous shifting textures, and subversive beats. This is smart original music played with commitment, humor, and an explosive free-jazz spirit.

"Stark grandeur...Sickafoose is a bassist and composer fond of rough edges and rounded forms, as evidenced on his evocative new album...the feel is loose but precise...a compelling dose of hazy atmosphere." (New York Times)

"Melodic and venturesome...full of surprise, funkiness, and post-Mingus charms." (Santa Barbara Independent)

"***** (of 5) Blood Orange: what a perfect title for such a luscious, deeply colored and sensual album which lulls its listeners through a trippy and dreamy mix of jazz, psychedelic chill and suggestions of pop. With melodies that trail like smoke through dimly lit corners of space and sparkling, harmonic echoes that delicately trail along the edges of each soundworld, the Todd Sickafoose Group captures exquisite atmospheres with absolute ease and holds their beauty within the smallest of places- a simple sax line, a looping guitar pattern, just the right touch of reverb. You might call this headphone jazz. It's nothing short of a magical album where within each song, some unseen bud of inspiration is lying hidden under a frosty, frozen layer of reflection." (CD Baby)

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Musicians: saxophonist Ben Wendel (Kneebody), trombonist Alan Ferber (Don Byron/Charlie Hunter), guitarist Justin Morell (Peter Erskine), drummer Ches Smith (Secret Chiefs 3/Marc Ribot). Plus guest musicians Nels Cline (Wilco), Steve Moore (Skerik/Sufjan Stevens), Adam Benjamin (Dave Douglas), & Mark Ferber (Ralph Alessi).