Jon Lundbom and Big Five Chord, Bring Their 'A' Game, The EP Series

 I happily return here to report on the second in a series of four EP disks by Jon Lundbom and Big Five Chord. This one, just out, is called Bring Their 'A' Game (Hot Cup). It continues where the first, Make the Magic Happen, leaves off. (I covered that one last month here.) Yep, they continue with another vibrant set that has compositional bite with two hefty originals and once again closing with an Ornette perennial. It also has the growl of the band in improvisational fullness. Jon plays some beautiful guitar as one expects, he IS one of a kind after all. But then you get some supercharged sax from Jon Irabagon and Balto Exclamationpoint, and beautiful rhythm section effusions from Moppa Elliott (bass) and Dan Monaghan (drums).

This is take-no-prisoners out bop and more. Make no mistake. Lundbom has the subtle leadership that gets everybody to give of things their considerable all, and Jon does the same. Can I just say "chuck everything and get it"? Well I will.

The remaining two EPs will be coming out later on in the year. You can get each one as it comes out, or pre-order now for the 4-CD box set that will come out when the fourth CD does, thereabouts.

If the other two are like the first two, there is something important going on! There is already!

Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord, Liverevil

There is a group of young titans out there who intermingle in their different ensembles freely and make some great jazz music in the process. There is Mostly Other People Do the Killing, Bryan and the Haggards, and today's incarnation, Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord. The recent 2-CD live set Liverevil (Hot Cup 131) has been out for a little while and it's something.

With Jon Lundbom on electric guitar at the front, we have a potent lineup of Jon Irabagon on alto and soprano saxes, Bryan Murray on tenor and balto! saxes, Moppa Elliot on acoustic bass, Dan Monaghan on drums, and special guest Matt Kanelos on keys.

The band really benefits from the longer cuts and a sympathetic audience, it seems to me. Everybody kicks in with committment. The solos from everyone are excellent. And the tunes are extremely hip, too! There is a little bit of humor with these guys and it's more than refreshing. Yet they are serious players. Serious!!

Jon Lundbom is a guitarist who takes it out in his very own way. There is a full press of note-fullness, a way of patterning in extended chromatic territory that is quite original, and a soulful delivery. In many ways he has arrived, but then so has this band.

Two slabs of excellence, two-CDs, two for your ear-growing exercises. This is the one to get first, I think! Then get the others...