SKIP HELLER
Bear Flag (Dreambox)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Guitarist Skip Heller is one of those rare artists who isn't single-minded in his approach to his music, and even calling him eclectic nearly won't cover it. A devout student of music in general, Heller absorbs the best of jazz, blues, exotica, film music, and even classical, and what comes back through his filter is extremely satisfying. For a few years he's been working primarily in an organ trio format, performing live and recording with different duos in different regions.

Bear Flag, Heller's first album of original compositions in three and a half years, was recorded with his LA crew, organist Joe Bagg and drummer Ryan Doyle. Better music through chemistry. The three click perfectly on the set of beautiful, mostly sultry jazz tunes. Soloing or not, the instrumentalists are always just a few feet back in the mix; the dreamy ambiance they create is at the forefront creating perfect atmosphere for spine-tinglers like "Plaid Hat, Red Wagon," "Philadelphia," and "Letter Home To My Wife." My own favorite, "Weatherbirds of Prey," is a wonderfully exotic piece with an instantly memorable guitar melody and a cool little solo quotation from "A Hard Day's Night" in the final moment; unexpected, out of place yet perfect.

Most of the words I've used so far to describe the sound of this music can be said of a number of modern releases. What sets Skip Heller's music apart, and the one thing you can always count on, is that it will swing like a sonofabitch. The forgotten ingredient in most of today's jazz is the overhand right in Bear Flag.

© 2005 - DJ Johnson