Joel Harrison Septet: Singularity 12/17/10 Firehouse 12

Jazz meets classical with Harrison as guitar/arranger. Using a palette of cello, violin, sax, piano, standup bass, guitar , and drums, Harrison was able to weave some John Adams style orchestral pieces. This music was challenging but rewarding due to the ability to see the musicians feed off one another. Closing the fall series at Firehouse 12, this concert made me hungry for the spring series lineup. This "serious" material payed homage to Adams, Terry Riley, and Oliver Messiaen. The band flexed its collective chops with a classical take on the Allman Brothers Whipping Post!

Heavy Pets 11/30/10 Cafe Nine

Festival stalwarts Heavy Pets from Ft. Lauderdale brought some jam to the Nine. Kind of Percy Hillish with two guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards were uber-jammy. No cover songs and an annoying light show made the music difficult to receive. Seems as though this band has a formula for song craft: pop hook> faux reggae>noodle>end.