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The
Chicken or Beef? reviews are starting to come in. We've compiled them for you
consumption.
The Arts
Journal
Rifftides - Doug Ramsey
Reptet, Chicken Or Beef? (Monktail)
The method in their madness is sometimes concealed in over-the-top shenanigans,
but there's plenty of artistry, discipline and technique in this second CD by
the Seattle sextet. They meld a wild combination of musical ingredients into
tight arrangements that in some of their more structured moments recall the
combo writing of Rod Levitt, in others jump bands of the early forties and, in
many, nothing but Reptet.
Source
All Music
Guide
Chicken or Beef?
-
Reptet
Review by Alex Henderson
It has been argued that music cannot be abstract and funky at the same time—that
one automatically cancels out the other. But thankfully, there are some
musicians who refuse to be governed by either/or thinking, and the Seattle-based
Reptet has a lot of fun with avant-garde jazz on Chicken or Beef?. It is rare
that one hears the words "fun" and "avant-garde" in the same sentence, but in
fact, fun is an important part of the equation on this early 2008
recording—which is not to say that Reptet shies away from the cerebral or the
abstract. There is plenty of quirky, left-of-center experimentation on Chicken
or Beef?; this isn't exactly music that one is going to hear alongside Amy
Winehouse or Kelly Clarkson on a Top 40 station. But at the same time, these
inside/outside performances have more playfulness and funkiness—not to mention
humor—than one typically expects from avant-garde jazz. It should be noted that
Reptet experienced some personnel changes between Chicken or Beef? and their
last studio album Do This!; on Chicken or Beef?, drummer John Ewing leads a
sextet that also includes trumpeter/flugelhornist Samantha Boshnack, trombonist
Nelson Bell, saxophonists Izaak Mills and Chris Credit, and acoustic/electric
bassist Tim Carey. But Ewing is clearly the one in the driver's seat—that was
true on Do This! and is equally true on Chicken or Beef?—and this album's
healthy balance of abstraction and fun is very much a reflection of Ewing's
creative vision. It's a vision that continues to serve Ewing's band well on this
engaging CD.
Source
jazz.com
Reptet:
Chicken or Beef?
Musicians:
John Ewing (drums, percussion), Clinton Fearon (vocals), Samantha Boshnack
(trumpet, flugelhorn), Nelson Bell (trombone, tuba), Izaak Mills, Christopher
Credit (reeds), Paris Hurley (violin), Eyvind Kang (viola), Lori Goldston
(cello), Tim Carey (bass), Lalo Bello (percussion)
Recorded: Seattle, WA, January 2008
Rating: 94/100 (learn
more)
What are they putting in the coffee up in Seattle? Chicken or Beef? is one of
the craziest jazz albums I've ever heard. In 2006, Earshot Jazz gave the Reptet
its award for "Best Outside Jazz Group," and this 2008 release is certainly
"outside jazz." Half of the tunes are outside any genre I am familiar with. They
are part jazz, part classical, part serious, part parody, part free jazz, part
virtuosity – and wholly entertaining. Think Frank Zappa at his wackiest getting
together with Stan Kenton to beat up Spike Jones. The album's first half is
actually the band playing as straight ahead as you will get from this
aggregation. After that, the vocals and craziness begin. The album's title tune
and most unusual cut doesn’t come close to jazz, so I cannot review it here. But
it's impressively bizarre stuff.
Chicken or Beef? opens with the horn-heavy, tightly played chaos of "Danger
Notes." The rhythm is jam-band in nature. The solos tend to lean toward the free
school. What little texture exists is reserved for the bassist and other string
players. But no sooner have I written those words than the band is off on
another exploration, and the open spaces are gone. The tune's midsection is more
thoughtful. It soon gives way to a heavily syncopated…and then…next… I give up!
There are too many stylistic changes to keep track of. But, whoa! It ends just
like that. Cool.
Like the other first-half tunes, "Danger Notes" is a well-played trick to
totally unprepare you for the lovable nonsense that will be slapping you across
the face in a few minutes. I doubt that even my warning will soften the blow.
Need a little wakeup in life? Put this disc in your player.
Reviewer: Walter Kolosky
Source
Jazz Society
of Oregon
Review by Kyle O'Brien
Chicken or Beef? - Reptet
If you like to live outside the chords, Seattle is a good place to be. The
Emerald City has developed a reputation with its younger musicians who like to
be outside the realm of normal swing by incorporating funk beats, atonal
melodies and lots of experimentation. The sextet Reptet falls into that category
and they continue what groups like Critters Buggin’ have started -- a fusion of
sounds that is purely Seattle experimental. It’s not inaccessible avant-garde,
as the opening track, “Danger Notes” proves. In fact, it could be an outtake
from a ‘70s crime drama score. With instrumentation as diverse as baritone
guitar, euphonium, flute, saxophones, brass and “bull moose call,” you know
you’re not getting just another jazz group. This is fusion way past the jazz
meets rock variety. There is Spanish-influenced bombast (“Reptet Score!”),
Eastern-influenced horn jazz (“Eve of Thrieve”), tribal chanting on the title
track, ska (“That’s Chicken or Beef”), and plenty of other styles to keep you on
your toes. To call this jazz is confining that which can’t be kept. It’s silly
at times, always experimental, and not for the squeamish. But it can be fun if
you keep a very open mind.
2008, Monktail Records, 59.40.
Source
Sonic
Curiosity
REPTET: Chicken or Beef? (CD on Monktail Records)
This CD from 2008 features 60 minutes of jubilant jazz.
Reptet is: John Ewing (on drums, percussion bull moose call, and vocals),
Samantha Boshnack (on trumpet, flugelhorn, slide trumpet, and vocals), Chris
Credit (on saxophones and vocals), Tim Carey (on upright and electric bass,
baritone guitar, and vocals), Nelson Bell (on trombone, tuba, euphonium, conch
shell, and vocals), and Izaak Mills (on saxophone, clarinet, flute, percussion,
bull moose call, and vocals) with guests: Lalo Bello (on percussion), Mark Oi
(on guitar), Tobi Stone (on clarinet), Clinton Fearon (on frog and vocals),
Eyvind Kang (on viola), Lori Goldston (on cello), Paris Hurley (on violin), Maeg
O’Donoghue-Williams, Sari Breznau, Kevin Hinshaw, and Scott Adams (all on
additional vocals).
Blaring horns and nimble percussion form the outspoken nucleus of this lively
music. Many other instruments contribute to the gestalt, though, producing a
full palate of sound.
Among the numerous brass and woodwinds, it is the saxophone that holds bouncy
sway with strident chords and emphatically piercing notes. Although not entirely
devoid of studious melancholy, the horns generally convey a joyous sentiment.
Their blaring definition is rich with a sensuous command that becomes quite
pronounced at times. The utterances of trumpet, flugelhorn, and clarinet combine
tastefully to augment the sax.
The percussion is agile and crisp. While maintaining steadfast propulsion, the
rhythms often divert into complex tempos that fit superbly with the rumbling
basslines.
Strings provide a subtle undercurrent of classical temperament that is
frequently audible peeking through the intentional cracks in the mix. Plucked
upright bass establishes instances of cerebral sobriety that ground the
otherwise soaring sense of sonic delight.
These compositions display an exultant quality that can be remarkably
infectious. Combining elements of swing and cafe jazz, the tuneage is rollicking
and rewarding.
Source
Earshot Jazz
Reptet – Chicken or Beef?
Monktail Records MCMC8
Reptet’s new CD poses the age-old airplane- and wedding-reception dining
question: Chicken or Beef? As listeners ponder this question, Reptet
employs various antics that include shouts, grunts, group sing-alongs, and a
1980s hair rock guitar solo. And, oh yeah, there’s some good playing and writing
too.
Chicken or Beef? Is full of oddball humor and mixed genres. I love the
heavy dance-like compound meter framed by collective shouts on “Reptet Score!”
The title track, the album’s fifth, features a clarinet solo over a percussion
groove followed by chants of “chicken or beef?” The next song, “That’s Chicken
or Beef,” is straight up 60’s Jamaican ska that’s cut short by the group singing
“that’s chicken or beef,” And later on the multi-sectional “Fish Market,” Reptet
rhetorically asks: “why don’t you go to the fish market and get a fillet
tonight?” and in doing so, confuses the matter even further.
Cynics beware: Chicken or Beef? Isn’t just wacky shtick from players who
aren’t good or serious enough to play “real jazz,” as it takes some serious
chops to pull this stuff off. The group’s involved compositions and arrangements
require each player to negotiate tricky rhythms and meters as well as tempo and
groove changes – often several times within the same song. Reptet handles this
with ease.
The album features a lot of ensemble writing, and each musician’s doubling
abilities (each of Reptet’s six members are credited with no less than four
instruments, not including vocals or bull moose calls) provide many
orchestration possibilities. Add the thirteen guest musicians to the fray and
the result is an adventurous album with a wide sonic palette and range of
styles. Whether or not you enjoy tongue-in-cheek music or are vegetarian
shouldn’t matter, because one thing is for sure: Chicken or Beef? is
good, clean, irreverent fun. Hey!
-Review by Chris Robinson
Critics Agree!
Reptet's Do This! one of the finest
jazz releases of 2006
Alexander Gelfand, Jazziz
Critic's top choice for 2006:
Reptet - Do This! (Monktail)
"This Seattle sextet does it all: it grooves, it rocks, it squawks -
occasionally, it even talks. Mostly, it sounds like a New Orleans jazz band on
crystal meth."
Kenny Weir, Melbourne Herald Sun (Australia)
Critic's Top Ten for 2006:
#3 Reptet - Do This! (Monktail)
"Slinky and smart sounds from a fine Seattle outfit."
Duck Baker, Jazz Times
Critic's Top Ten List for 2006:
#9 Reptet - Do This! (Monktail)
What have some other critics been saying?
The Stranger "I like how this pianoless sax 'n' horn sextet quilts together honking asides, raggedly spirited tuttis, jazz-rock bashing, and dissonant countermelodies that would make Mingus proud."
Melboure Herald Sun (Australia) "Gorgeous mix
of beauty and brains. The band hits a sweet spot somewhere between hard bop and
the fierceadventures of more free-form improvisation...That’s a blend to which
many aspire, but few have the talent, determination or vision to fulfill."
Downbeat Magazine "(Reptet's) open voicings, jaunty
tempos and buoyant timbral mixes for two winds and two brass have a friendly
monster feel (that) achieves a bittersweet and elegiac mood of orchestral
grandeur."
Seattle Times
"The album (Do This!) has been
attracting attention worldwide."
"Always fun, always novel, these Seattle jazz guys and gals keep it hip."
All Music Guide “One of the album's (Do This!) strong points, in addition to the improvising and composing, is Reptet's cohesive ensemble arrangements."
Earshot Jazz "A juggernaut jazz band, arresting, compelling, and just plain cranked-up."
The Arts Journal “There is a sense of joy, whimsy and almost reckless abandon in much of the skilled ensemble writing and playing. Great fun!”
All About Jazz "With Do This the Seattle-based Reptet has crafted a fresh, engaging and innovative sound."
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