Polish guitarist Sebastian Sterkowicz, formerly with "Head in a Bottle Says Who's Stupid" - it sounds better in Polish... well, probably ...claims Jim Black as an influence. Drummer Steve Rushton, on the other hand cites Ringo Starr. Steve comes from Liverpool so what could we expect. Well - it's the Wirral really but who's going to quibble? Noel Taylor is from the North East of England, well Newcastle to be precise - well not even there - Heddon-on-the-Wall - famous for its wall, as well as Foot and Mouth Disease. Noel likes to imagine that his clarinet playing is an unlikely fusion of late Jimmy Guiffre and Captain Beefheart. All three like to improvise.
Their combination results in a slightly spare and spikey style that sometimes flies off in completely unexpected directions, careening unsteadily between genres, and just a little tipsy on the impulse of the moment.
Our CD (see below) has just been released in October 2007!
'I discovered this little gem of a recording by Uncle Rabbit while exploring Gutbucket's youtube site looking for new trends in jazz. I recently saw Gutbucket perform at Ann Arbor's Edgefest 2007 and I was impressed with the quartet's innovative sound which was labeled "hyper jazz": over-amplified electric sax, guitar, bass and drums played at a frenzied tempo.
But innovation comes in varied forms and Uncle Rabbit proves the premise.
Made up of Noel Taylor on reeds, Sebastian Sterkowicz on guitar and Steve Rushton on drums, Uncle Rabbit is a perfectly balanced ensemble that has eschewed wild frenzy in favor of disciplined craftmanship. In the process they have created an uniquely-modern sound that I would catagorize as "contemporized chamber jazz". Taylor, alternating between woody clarinet and electric sax, is the trio's masterful melodisist on the CD's 14 original pieces. And Sterkowicz and Rushton, while playing traditional jazz rhythm instruments, do so in nontradional ways. Sterkowicz's guitar work is exceptional for its versatility. In each piece he finds a way of conjuring up unique sounds that gives the piece a new twist and thus elevates it to a new level. Sometimes it is the sound of a trashy metallic guitar, a spanish guitar or an indian sitar, among others that may be strummed or plucked from a guitar. Likewise, Rushton brings a fresh approach on the traditional drum kit. While his drumming is prominent, with decidedly rock roots, it is appealingly restrained and varied. Like Sterkowicz, he finds a way of contributing uniqueness such as adding a raggedy snare or thumping tomtom beat.
The pieces themselves are all melodic and vary between playful and contemplative. Each has been carefully crafted and played with refreshing restraint. This may sound like "easy listening," which it is, but it is new, different and intelligent. I highly recommended this CD to those looking for fresh new sound' Joe Szeremet
Heborn, Ky, USA.