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Jeff Lederer's Brooklyn Blowhards: Brooklyn Blowhards
Albert Ayler
saxophone, tenor1936 - 1970
Now picture Ayler with a copy of Moby-Dick; or, The Whale tucked under his arm. Reading the 800-plus pages of Herman Melville's opus has been attempted by many, but completed by a few (probably more than Joyce's Ulysses, but less than Pirsig's Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance). Ayler would have endured, reading and incorporating the whaling novel into his ethos. Well, at least that is what the sea shanty cover band Brooklyn Blowhards are telling us.
Saxophonist
Jeff Lederer
woodwindsMary LaRose
vocals
Matt Wilson
drumsb.1964
But what of Ayler and sea shanties? Actually, the combination is quite congruent. Ayler's marching themes and love of anthems were all the constructs of work songs, just as these shanties. The disc opens with the classic Ayler composition "Bells." A parade of drums escorts the Blowhards into the hyperspace squeals and shrieks of the brass chase. But there is also Art Bailey's accordion on board, adding to the maritime theme. Ayler covers only comprise five of the fourteen tracks, but as with Albert's music, traditional songs—folk music—was a big part of his repertory. "Shenandoah" spreads out under the mellifluous voice of LaRose, Lederer's Mary Maria Parks and
Gary Lucas
guitar
Brian Drye
tromboneb.1975
Kirk Knuffke
trumpet
Allison Miller
drumsThe joy is how a cover of "Omega" yields itself to a shanty, and "Shanty Anno" or "Black Ball Line" could easily be mistaken for Ayler originals. Cheers to the Brooklyn Blowhards, and Lederer, who needs more "Arrr's" in his name. ">
Track Listing
Bells; Haul Away Joe; Dancing Flower; Black Ball Line; Shallow Brown; Santy Anno; Island Harvest; Heavenly Home; Hail On The Bowline; Dancing Waters; Omega; Shenandoah; The Language Of Resistance; Insular Tahiti (“The Seaman’s Hymn”).
Personnel
Jeff Lederer: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone; Petr Cancura: Jeff Lederer: tenor saxophone; Kirk Knuffke: cornet, slide trumpet; Brian Drye: trombone; Art Bailey: accordion; Matt Wilson: concert percussion, ship’s bell, chum bucket, chain; Allison Miller: concert percussion, ship’s bell, chum bucket, chain; Stephen LaRose: concert percussion, ship’s bell, chum bucket, chain; Mary LaRose: vocals (5,7,10,12,14); Gary Lucas: guitar (5,10,12).
Album information
Title: Brooklyn Blowhards | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Little (i) Music
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