OFF: Wayne Krantz

[Chris Warburton]

I saw this guy last night and was completely blown away.  This was "power
trio" music of the finest kind but very difficult to describe, and almost
impossible to categorise.  They consider themselves to be "jazz" musicians,
and to take a "jazz" (hate that word - causes too much pre-judgement)
approach to group improvisation, though they're rhythmically rooted in the
rock/funk/blues camp.  The emphasis is definitely on improvising, they are
not a "jam band" noodling away for hours over shuffle rhythms, they're
doing flik-flaks on a musical high wire.  His guitar tone is sometimes
reminiscent of Hendrix or SRV, but then as soon as you think you've got him
nailed down he takes off in another direction entirely.   These guys fly,
very high.  UK list members have a couple of chances to catch this
astonishing guitar man in Cardiff & Kendall over the next few days.  Any US
listmembers in the NYC area should be able to find him on Thursday nights
in The 55 Bar in Greenwich Village - I think he said it was the corner of
7th Ave. & (St.?) Christopher Street.

He did say that he gave up record labels because, despite their claims of
"wide distribution", fans were always complaining that they couldn't find
his albums.  He then said that releasing and distributing independently
meant that for the first time ever he'd been able to pay his rent out of
album sales last month!  So go to http://www.waynekrantz.com - you know it
makes sense!

Cheers,
ChrisW
NP: Everyman Band
Next Up: Wayne Krantz - Greenwich Mean (of course)