City Of Refuge

Drumbo | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: November 18, 2008
• Label: Proper Records
• Copyright: 2008 Proper Records Ltd.
• Genres:
• ASIN: B001KWEXFU
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-Have For Unconventional Music Lovers, February 1, 2010

By 

Fred Rayworth (Las Vegas, NV United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: City of Refuge (Audio CD)

After hearing samples on Drumbo's MySpace page, I couldn't wait to get this CD. As a huge fan of Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band, I'll admit I have a built in bias toward anything the original Magic Band members are doing. However, after just one listen to this CD, I came away with a real sense of joy and why I love music in the first place.

There is no doubt about the Beefheart influences heard throughout the twelve songs here. There are times when one might think it actually is the Captain in a more up-to-date version of himself. However, this is pure Drumbo. In fact, it sometimes makes me wonder how much of Trout Mask was actually Beefheart versus John French. The influences are unmistakable. However, don't get the idea that this is a Beefheart tribute, or John just copying that style. John French can't help but have a similar vibe because he helped create that style in the first place.

The CD is a unique blend of quirky blues mixed with freeform jazz. The bluesier numbers dominate the first half while the second half leans more toward free-form jazz and the trademark Trout Mask influences.

The CD starts out with Boogeyman, which takes a bit to get a feel for the groove, but once you do, it just clicks and the song really rocks. Then my next favorite, Bus Ticket Out Of Town kicks in with a more conventional blues vibe, while still retaining John's quirky timing and growly vocals.

I have many favorites here and they include Bus Ticket, City of Refuge, Abandon, and Boogeyman. However, all of the tracks are great.

This is the type of music to sit back and absorb. There are multiple facets to the songs and it will take many listens to hear and discover all the little details. This is definitely listening music, yet there is still a toe tapping accessibility that should satisfy those that go for the more conventional.

City Of Refuge is like a fine wine with a complex bouquet that can take more than one sip to absorb and identify. I'm not a big jazz fan, and though I appreciate the blues, I usually don't listen to it either. This CD is both yet neither, unique enough that I can listen to it and like it for its unconventionality. For me it transcends both styles in a way that keeps my ear glued to the sound system.

The musicianship is top-notch, the timing and playing perfect, and John's voice is powerful and fits perfectly with the mix. The production of the music is top notch and no voice or instrument is buried in the mix, all striking the perfect balance. He enlists the help of former Magic Band members including Zoot Horn Rollo, Rockette Morton, Ella Guru, and John Thomas (who wasn't in the Magic Band long enough to get an AKA). All of them help John to bring out the best in each song.

If you are looking for something different, something that will keep you absorbed listen after listen, you can't go wrong with City of Refuge. Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doctor Magic Band, November 19, 2009

By 

Jean-marie Croizat "Spacebassman" (Besançon, France) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: City of Refuge (Audio CD)

Ce n'est plus du Beefheart, mais encore et déjà du vrai Magic Band. John French-Drumbo mieux que personne peut résumer cet itinéraire musical, lui présent depuis Miror Man et j'espère leader du Magic Band Drumbo. Le plus abouti des projets post Van Vliet avec une touche personnel qui me plait énormément. Vivement un deuxième et une tournée en Europe. Ces gars là c'est du solide et du rock comme j'aime : trépident !

5.0 out of 5 stars Beefheart Fans - Check This Out, January 10, 2012

By 

E. Robinson (Lancaster South Carolina) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: City of Refuge (Audio CD)

If you are "Beefheart literate", you'll probably like this cd a lot. I figured it would be "interesting" since John French (Drumbo) was the musical director of Captain Beefheart's band during the Trout Mask Replica days and played with Beefheart off and on for much of Beefheart's career, but it's way more than interesting - I think it's a great CD.

Note: I haven't heard any of the other recordings done by Beefheart alumni musicians so I didn't have anything to compare it to except the original Captain Beefheart recordings. It does NOT bother me that the vocals by French are done in the Beefheart style - what's wrong with that? John French plays drums, sax, and harmonica on these recordings, in addition to his excellent vocals.

Congrats to all the musicians on this cd: guitarist Bill Harkleroad (Zoot Horn Rollo), guitarist Greg Davidson (Ella Guru), bassist Mark Boston (Rockette Morton), and keyboard bass player John Thomas. If you are not familiar with Captain Beefheart, check out youtube, wikipedia, reviews on amazon.com, and the british video documentary available on netflix. Folks who don't like any of Captain Beefheart's music may not like this cd. Never heard of Beefheart? He was a high school friend of Frank Zappa in Lancaster, California back in the late 1950s and early 1960s.