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Jacob Garchik: Ye Olde

By Mark F. Turner
October 7, 2015
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In Ye Olde, trombonist Jacob Garchik uses progressive rock, jazz and plenty of imagination to create what might be a mashup of Game of Thrones and 21st century music. He's performed with

Henry Threadgill

woodwinds
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Henry Threadgill and

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Konitz and produced the outstanding 2012 solo project The Heavens: The Atheist Gospel Trombone Album (Yestereve Records). These proclivities continue in his fourth date as a leader about an imagined faux-Gothic Flatbush/ Brooklyn architecture brought to fruition by a forward thinking band who handle the unusual subject matter's theme and touch of humor with seriously executed performances.

Not one, but three guitarists (

Brandon Seabrook

guitar
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Brandon Seabrook,

Jonathan Goldberger

guitar
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Jonathan Goldberger, and

Mary Halvorson

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Halvorson) bring the sweet noise while the tunes are pumped by drummer

Vinnie Sperrazza

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Vinnie Sperrazza. Things begin with "Ye Olde of Flatbush" and conclude at "The Throne Room of Queen Anne" two unadulterated samples of colorful faux-Medieval themes driven by power amped guitars and Garchik's sonorous horn.

But there's a wealth of other peculiarities. Funk-rock meets 'Nawlins Second Line in "The Sinister Scheme of Mortise Mansard." Brief Harlequin-esque snippets "A Clue Wrought in Stone" and "Stained Glass Transoms Illuminate a Hidden Crypt" are video game-like contain humor, whereas "The Opossum King of Greenwood Forest" is a full-fledged groove of power drums and unusual noises. One of the most memorable tracks is "Post-Modern Revival" a hypnotic tune with Garchik's wailing trombone and some serious guitar shredding. Then there's the joint called "Refuge in the Ruins of Castle Martense" which might be a nod to electronica with its syncopated rhythms and loop sampled trombones making Garchik's progressive jazz-rock fantasy one of the most interesting releases of the year.

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Track Listing

Jacob Garchik �C the Barrel Maker: trombone, alto horn, tenor horn; Brandon Seabrook �C the Trickling Stream: guitar; Mary Halvorson �C the Guardian of the Rock: guitar; Vinnie Sperrazza �C the Merchant of Iron: drums; Jonathan Goldberger- the Mountain of Gold: guitar, baritone guitar.

Personnel

Jacob Garchik

trombone

Ye Olde of Flatbush; The Sinister Scheme of Mortise Mansard; A Clue Wrought in Stone; The Lady of Duck Island; and Meanwhile; The Elders of Ocean Pathway; Stained Glass Transoms Illuminate a Hidden Crypt; The Opossum King of Greenwood Forest; Crenulated Corbels; Post-Modern Revival; while Meanwhile; The Battle of Brownstone Bulge; Refuge in the Ruins of Castle Martense; The Throne Room of Queen Anne.

Album information

Title: Ye Olde | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Yestereve Records

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Jacob Garchik Concerts

Sep 20 Sat

Mary Halvorson: Amaryllis

Solar Myth
Philadelphia, PA

Apr 21 Tue

Stephan Crump - Slow Water

Krannert Center For The Performing Arts
Urbana, IL

Apr 24 Fri

Stephan Crump - Slow Water

The Cleveland Museum Of Art
Cleveland, OH

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