Granelli follows his own muse, with an eclecticism that combines an array of styles. This is his first recording with his group called Badlands, and the drummer/leader mixes offbeat compositions with scintillating solos for each of the 15 tracks. Of course, it does not hurt to head a septet whose members include such outstanding improvisers as saxophonists Briggan Krauss, Peter Epstein, and Chris Speed, and a trombonist as savvy as Curtis Hasselbring. Through it all, drummer Granelli manages to improvise duets with each of the musicians, including his talented son, J. Anthony Granelli, who plays acoustic guitar and electric bass, and deft pianist Jamie Saft, who doubles on clavinet, accordion, and slide guitar. Moods change with the drop of a coin, yet there is a coherent quality to it all that draws the listener into a magical world where just about anything goes. ~ by Steve Loewy, AMG.
Songlines Recordings, SGL-1521-2,
1998
Recorded 13th & 14th
September, 1997 at Systems Two, Brooklyn, New York
Musicians:
Jerry Granelli - Drums, Bells
Curtis Hasselbring - Trombone
Briggan Krauss - Alto
Saxophone
Peter Epstein - Soprano Saxophone,
Alto Saxophone
Chris Speed - Clarinet, Tenor
Saxophone
Jamie Saft - Piano, Clavinet,
Accordion, Slide Guitar
J. Anthony Granelli -
Electric Bass, Bass Guitar [Acoustic]
Tracks:
01. Enter, A Dragon {Jerry
Granelli} (3:21)
02. Haiku I {Peter Epstein,
Jerry Granelli} (2:10)
03. Berlin Sky {Jerry
Granelli} (7:50)
04. Shih {Jerry Granelli}
(4:56)
05. Bou Noura {J. Anthony
Granelli} (8:39)
06. Haiku II {Jerry Granelli,
Curtis Hasselbring} (1:39)
07. Haiku III {Jerry
Granelli, Jamie Saft} (2:15)
08. Sting Thing {Jerry
Granelli} (7:25)
09. Black Montana Cheer
{Curtis Hasselbring} (3:56)
10. Haiku IV {Jerry Granelli,
Briggan Krauss} (1:34)
11. Fainting Sheep {Jerry
Granelli} (7:37)
12. Haiku V {Jerry Granelli,
Chris Speed} (2:05)
13. Haiku VI {J. Anthony
Granelli, Jerry Granelli} (1:53)
14. The Dragon {Jerry
Granelli} (9:18)
15. Rhythm Aces {Jerry
Granelli} (2:29)
Total Time: 67:19
Credits:
Producer - J. Anthony
Granelli, Jerry Granelli
Executive-Producer - Tony
Reif
Recording, Editing &
Mastering - A.T. Michael MacDonald
Artwork [Drawings &
Writings] - Jerry Granelli
Design, Photography
[Brooklyn] - Heidi Bullinga
