Backburner

.. iTunes Link for Backburner --
.. CDBABY LINK for BACKBURNER: Azure --
Backburner: a group to follow.Backburner is a poly-stylistic jazz quartet featuring seasoned musicians including Grammy nominee Eric Funk. ............................................................ ............................................. Review from Le Jazz Hot (2/2005) – Michel Bedin------The jazz quartet BACKBURNER comes from Bozeman, Montana (USA). Its leader is the pianist Eric Funk, who is also an orchestra conductor and composer of contemporary classical music. The style, as one might have expected from a state where there are a lot fewer Afro-Americans than Native Americans or bison, is straight ahead west coast. The first CD, which was recorded in 2003, is called 12/25, which signifies Christmas in American English. The rearrangement of popular and well-known Christmas music takes on a fresh look with Backburner in songs like “Silent Night” played with the rhythms of “Take Five” of Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond. The pianist Eric Funk is excellent as in the medley linking “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” to “Ode to Joy” of Beethoven. As for the bassist, Eddie T., nd the drummer Mike Gillan, they show their prowess in “Sleigh Ride”. The saxophonist Alan Fauque (who plays all the different saxophones) is an integral part of the group in both the first and second CDs, the latter recorded in 2004: “..Might As Well Be Spring”. He excels in “Savannah Beach”, where he rivals the pianist in a number of interesting choruses. “It Might As Well Be Spring”, the CD’s title track, played in a rather disconcerting waltz tempo, opens this second recording (which also features two compositions by the bassist, Eddie T.). The result is a very bracing jazz, a popular jazz in the best sense of the term; very vibrant. Thanks to a live recording, not available yet commercially, I can tell you that in a club setting this is a quartet that really swings.Le Jazz Hot (2/2005) – Michel Bedin