Album Notes

Uforkestra's "MEN in JAM" roars, purrs, whistles and gyrates --- a CD package stuffed to the last byte with deliciously eclectic improvisations.

The album is distilled from hours of studio and stage improvisations by guitarist Doug Sprei, electronic percussionist Jamie Bryce, and layerbassist Dirk Malavase. Guest artists came and went, some never to return.

In the studio via SoundForge, marathon jams were condensed into windsprint-sized nuggets; others remained untouched. Digital surgery ranged from light cosmetic to industrial sex change-grade.

Highlight: A 12-minute unedited segment from Uforkestra's performance at Rochester's legendary Blue Sunday coffeehouse, capturing the band's forced departure from its set list after Dirk Malavase's right index finger went into rigor mortis -- the result of hours of repetitive motion syndrome on a Zeta upright instrument. Crafty prog rocker that he is, Dirk resorted to tapping bass pedals (remember those, Genesis and Yes fans?) with his feet while the band switched gears toward a roaring cascade of just-in-time music creation.

The 26 tracks on MEN in JAM reflect Uforkestra's unique knack for musical conjuring on the fly, which the band's burgeoning global fan base has come to appreciate.