Photo by Brian GarritySO, WHAT IS JELLOSLAVE?
With Jelloslave, cellists Jacqueline Ultan and Michelle Kinney use all 8 amplified strings to sing, squawk, scream, growl and purr their way through an eclectic repertoire ranging from Bach to Led Zeppelin, to their own improvisational, and jazz-influenced compositions. Their sound reveals their collective professional experience with some of the great names in new music today, including (on the short list...) Henry Threadgill, Brandon Ross, George Cartwright, Myra Melford, Anthony Cox and Butch Morris.
Review of Jelloslave CD: "Touch It" from Perfect Porridge 2006
Jelloslave
Touch It
Label: Sugarfoot Music
There's been some discussion lately about the avante-garde jazz scene in the Twin Cities, MN.
In addition to stellar local jazz groups including The Bad Plus, Happy Apple and Electropolis, there's another group worth knowing about... Jelloslave.
The foursome's cellos, tablas and drums make the most unique drones, squawks, moans and growls you can imagine from an oft-unexplored instrumental repertoire.
With a penchant for psych-improv with a twist, Jelloslave's new album, Touch It, is an ambiental auditory journey into the rabbit hole, with fulgent harmonies and discordant forget-me-nots coalescing into a seven-track rock opera gone wrong.
For instance, "Tangoed Up in You" is a 3 minute electronically modified super concerto you'll want to replay a few times before going to the next track.
"We improvised the first part of the Tangos and then played the Tango down...and then sped it up to warp speed!" says group co-founder Jacqueline Ultan. "Pretty wacky stuff huh? We actually did it as a joke at first but then we all loved it so there." Insane.
The album's title track is simply the best and currently picking up steam on local radio, and the group played a few dates in NYC this May.
It may have been the Beatles or E.L.O. that pioneered the pairing of classical instruments with rock music, but we prefer our cellos the Jelloslave way - trippy, fuzzed out WTF.
Check out Jelloslave in Minneapolis Friday, June 30th for the Be Girl Be Night at Nomad (backing up Desdamona), July 9th at the Kitty Cat Klub and August 11th at the Rogue Buddha Gallery.
Posted by Perfect Porridge on June 23, 2006 07:57 AM
Comments
This CD is one of the top ten Twin Cities releases of 2006!
Try a walk around Lake Harriet while you listen and see if you can do it without noticing people wondering what you must be listening to...this is headphones music at its best!
Every now and again we find ourselves buying a CD we know little or nothing about, hoping that it'll be worth the $16.00...do it with this release, it's a lot of sonic beauty and fun for the dollar. Oh...and SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS! Bryan
Posted by: Bryan Aaker | June 27, 2006 12:29 PM
Love this CD. Very well produced as well. If you like cello in jazz/experimental music, check out Jelloslave, as well as Kif, featuring Dave Fiuczynski on guitar and Rufus Cappadocia ..o.
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