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ODD

ODD - is not particularly strange

About Me

« I was not alone in being delighted by them. They were fresh, quirky, unpredictable, swinging at adifferent angle, and fun. »
(Michael Bourne, Down Beat Magazine)
« Rarely is music this charismatic and enticing, whatever the genre, but almost never can a group pull off such an articulate, coherent effort using such a rich breadth of material.»
(Nils Jacobson, All About Jazz)
After winning the Grand Prix de Jazz General Motors at the 25th annual Festival International de Jazz de Montrealand major press recognition, bandleader Jocelyn Auger and band mates Martin Lavallee (drums), Mathieu Desy (double bass) and Jonathan Cayer (Fender Rhodes) entered the studio and have now emerged with Liberte 54, their first recorded work released on Justin Time Records.
Founded in 2000 by Jocelyn Auger , saxophonist and composer, the aim of ODD from the start was to create a free, modern, group esthetic while allowing each member to display his own unrestricted individuality. ODD, or the ODD Jazz Group as they were sometimes known, are one of the most dynamic young jazz ensembles to have emerged from Quebec (Canada) in the past several years.
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Promo video on YouTube

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/10/2006
Band Website: oddjazzgroup.com
Band Members: alt="MySpace Layouts" border="0" /
drums-sax video! (Nomade)

Influences: OPEN-ENDED APPROACH TO JAZZ STYLES FROM FUNK TO BOP TO FREE
Sounds Like: By Nils Jacobson: All About Jazz
The ODD Jazz Quartet, as this Canadian group is also known, is not particularly strange about the way it plies its open-ended approach to jazz styles from funk to bop to free, all cleverly merged on Liberté 54..which for some reason has only been released in Canada. The words ..unusual.. or ..inventive.. would better describe the music on this nine-track, fifty-minute album.

After a scintillating performance at last year's Montreal Jazz Festival, ODD won the festival's grand prize, which included cash money and studio time, utilized here in a most eager fashion. Jonathan Cayer's Fender Rhodes shares front line space with Jocelyn Auger's alto saxophone, though Cayer usually prefers to integrate himself within the rhythm section, providing accents and counterpoint to Martin Lavallée's peppery, versatile drumming.

On Auger's ..Analytique,.. the quartet digs deep into a funky groove, exploring an angular theme atop a bedrock backbeat foundation. The next tune is jazzier and much dreamier, though not slow-paced, leaving holes and open ends throughout its conversational interplay. Bassist Mathieu Désy plays an important melodic role and seems to relish regular opportunities to bounce into the upper register to offer spontaneous reactions. It's fun to sit back and listen to the way the piece evolves over time through joint effort.

Meditational moments appear on Wes Montgomery's ..Four on Six,.. which stays focused on melody and swing, without making any dramatic trips out. Similarly, Coltrane's ..Naima.. is like pure butter. The closing ..Liberté 54.. presents some heavy contrasts, exploring outer reaches of tone and attack, Auger getting right in your face more than a few times along the way.

Despite changes in pace, mood, and style, the overall vibe of Liberté 54 is one that optimistically celebrates possibilities. Rarely is music this charismatic and enticing, whatever the genre, but almost never can a group pull off such an articulate, coherent effort using such a rich breadth of material.

BUY THE CD
Track listing: Liberté 54, v.1; Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers; Analytique; L'eau de Jupiter; Four on six; Naïma; Nomade; Black Berry; Liberté 54.
Record Label: Justin Time Records
Type of Label: Major

My Blog

I Forgot my sax in a cab before the opening of Mc Coy Tyner show..

********************************************************Last year, my band ODD was hired at Ottawa International Jazz Festival. That was for the opening of the great Mc Coy Tyner band. The thing is...
Posted by ODD on Tue, 27 Mar 2007 08:26:00 PST

ODD is not particularly strange!

The odd thing about this blog is the odd one out. To be the odd one over is not particularly strange in music but in jazz, it's definitely ODD!Welcome to all of you, friends and others. -ODD Come vis...
Posted by ODD on Wed, 22 Nov 2006 07:52:00 PST