Percewood's Onagram Ameurope CD - Import

It's not entirely fair to call JR as a jam band, as most of their songs are tightly scripted. The funk of yore provides them with their main source of inspiration, although elements of the burgeoning "live electronic" genre occasionally make their way into the mix. The disc's overall production is praiseworthy - especially considering it was tracked in a Long Island basement in a mere two days.

Most of the tunes on Japhy Ryder are solid, some of 'em even soulful. Trumpeter Will Andrews plays with a laid-back assuredness, favoring old-school cool over brassy flash. Guitarist Jeremy Kizina has more in common with Afrobeat axe men than jazzy jammers; he rarely plays chords, instead opting to echo Andrews' melodies with single-note wah-wah lines. With bassist Patrick Ormiston's portly grooves and drummer Jason Thime's crisp rhythmic articulation, the band arrives at a unique sound.

What I like most about the album is the fact that it doesn't sound forced or contrived. So many jam acts approach songs as instrumental exercises or, worse, vehicles for quirky observations and half-baked prose. The latter certainly doesn't apply here, as JR have no vocalist. But the band also understands that music requires breathing room to truly groove."W.E.S.T" - an acronym for Will's Electronic Space Trumpet - is a fine example of the band's patience. Each player is allowed plenty of space to maneuver, as the song builds on a somewhat generic breakbeat to become a neo-funk sizzler.