THE TREEHOUSE PROJECT
The Treehouse Project (Independant)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

---

Chicago's Treehouse Project are playing some very interesting things on their debut, self-released, self-titled CD. The first track fools you into thinking you're in for some funky acid-jazz, but as the disc spins on you find yourself winding down a lot of roads with this band. It's all jazz, but the window changes tints, from blue and sultry to smooth and vibey to the outside roads less traveled, and from acoustic to electric and combinations of both.

Saxman Dave McDonnell and guitarist George Kalantzis take turns laying clever solos over the foundation created by Matt Thompson (bass) and Michael Reed (drums). McDonnell can play smooth and conservative and he can let fly with wild flights of fancy on either soprano or C Melody sax. The overall vibe is ethereal and thought-provoking no matter what style they're playing, but I think they're at their best when they go outside the lines, as they do on "Tornado Watch." Their creative harmonies over exotic scales float me away. The music is unraveled until it breaks down to sporadic silence and is then reconstructed in unexpected ways, and just when you think the sax is stopping just short of shattering, Kalantzis kicks it over the edge with a jagged, distorted chord that takes you by surprise.

The Treehouse Project is a mighty fine debut. It's challenging, always interesting, and always intelligent jazz, and it's well worth your attention.

© 2000 - DJ Johnson