Customer Reviews

Live 3

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Volume 3 (5/11/02, Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO) is energetic and tasty. "Thursday" is a slice of Rhodes-fried groove that sounds like Steely Dan with Prince on vocals. "Stoked On Razaki" is a frantic exercise in speed-jazz that features Jamie Janover on his custom-made "Mini-Kit", adding more depth to the undulating rhythm. The whole thing ends with an instrumental cover of Madonna's "Material Girl" that spans 17 minutes. Without a doubt, this version explores every possible reach of this precious melody of the 1980's. Using the vocal lines as a road map, Haque urges the band into several sections of differing dynamics that range from thick and funky to tear jerking. You won't know whether to laugh or cry by the time Levy inserts a delicate keyboard solo into the sonic space that the band has wrestled out of this odd cover song.

I have recently been turned on to Garaj Mahal. This band is one that makes me wonder what other great music I am missing. These guys are a tight, multi-faceted band that gets incorrectly dumped onto the critics' jam band pile. To me, they are the most refreshing jazz combo I have heard in quite some time.

While this is the last disc of theirs I bought, it quickly moved to the top of the play list and stayed there. I just love the bluesy Thursday. And my wife even likes the 14 minute Material Girl - an adventure where you hear all of the spirits the girl has to offer.

While Blueberry Cave is the crowd favorite, this disc is my favorite.