Leader Saft is a piano virtuoso. Local jazz legend Morris plays standup bass and electric guitar. Bobby Previte on drums and old guy Herb Robertson on trumpet and “stuff”. The second set is nearly sold out to get a glimpse of these talented multi-instrumentalists. I enter the space to see the stage crammed with instruments, the sounds promise to be many and varied. Saft is surrounded by keyboards, the F-12 Steinway, organ, Wurlitzer, and a harpsichord. Morris plays electric guitar and bowed and plucked bass. Previte’s kit was standard, but he played any and all surfaces to great effect That leaves the old guy, Herb’s array of blowables was extensive: trumpet, mini-trumpet, slide whistle, telescoping vuvuzela, double playskool illuminated megaphones, clarinet, micro-french horn, and a selection of duck calls and kazoos. The set had two extended pieces where each player was able to shine and shade. Saft moved from keyboard to keyboard with the Wurlitzer and harpsichord showing exotic flourishes. Morris is lead wrangler for the Improv Now series at Real Art Ways, a monthly showcase of top tier jazz talent. Previte has backed Tom Waits and Elvis Costello and has been a downtown drumming presence for years. Saft has a crazy CV as well. Bad Brains, Beastie Boys, film scores, and a list of A-list jazzbos too many to count. I’m not familiar with the old guy, but Saft introduces him as the “great” Herb Robertson. The music ebbed and flowed, from free jazz squiggling to churning rock throb. There was one point where electric guitar and Wurlitzer got into a rock and roll tussle and I saw every head in the audience start to bob. Saft has a ZZ Top beard and it’s a wonder he doesn’t bump into it while playing. I learn that Jamie was raised an Orthodox Jew, makes sense as he is a regular fixture in the many John Zorn Tzadik label Jewish related projects. Had this one circled on my calendar for months, these four visionaries did not disappoint.
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