A mind boggling musicianship
Planet Zambie (formerly The Fiji Mariners) is the newest incarnation
of jamming mayhem surrounding the figure Col. Bruce Hampton. After thirty-plus
years fronting The Grease Band, The Late Bronze Age, and The Aquarium Rescue
Unit. Hampton has developed a unique perspective on the blues and folk traditions.
This vision combined with mind-boggling musicianship, wicked humor is enough
to keep the compass needle spinning madly out of control. One of Hampton's
main criteria in the music is that is has to, "have the potential of collapsing."
"It doesn't necessarily have to implode entirely,but the threat of collapse
must be present." This precariousness has been exhibited in the latest album
as the Fiji Mariners, LIVE on Capricorn Records. According to keyboardist,
Dan Matrazzo, this is the closest thing to experiencing their music. "In
the recording studio you end up doing all these multiple takes, but by perfecting
the music you're also taking the soul out of it. On this album there are
no overdubs or anything: it's as if we're naked--showing ourselves the way
we really are." |
