It is seven years since the release of Riverside, the wonderful Chet Doxas-Dave Douglas record that got the essence of Jimmy Giuffre to the very marrow. Retro fiend Doxas is formidable too on new Mark Twain tribute 'Twelve foot blues' that has an airy, dancing, quality to its feel in this all-star setting that finds the saxist with pianist Ethan Iverson and double bassist Thomas Morgan drawn from Whirlwind release You Can't Take It With You. Might the widely adored Iverson who knocked us out most recently with 'Tempus Fugit' have considered instead a banjo bearing in mind the amusing outlandishness of Twain writing in the San Francisco Dramatic Chronicle in 1865 who advised ''When you want genuine music […] just smash your piano, and invoke the glory-beaming banjo!'' A studio recording, the only plucking going on is courtesy of tone poet Morgan, this was produced by Doxas and recorded in a New York studio approaching two years ago. What we know so far, in terms of lure and urge to hear more, have a listen, is ridiculously hard to resist.
Chet Doxas photo: Whirlwind on Bandcamp
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