Something of a spin-off of Fully Celebrated Orchestra, the Fully Celebrated is a threesome that applies danceable rhythms to twisty, thorny, life-afirming avant-garde jazz. Alto saxophonist Jim Hobbs plays in a hearty style descended from masters Ornette Coleman and Eric Dolphy, while respective bassist and drummer Timo Shanko and Django Carranza lay down flexible, heartfelt grooves and beats. Hobbs's edgy playing meshes well with the elastic, somewhat wacky, sometimes danceable rhythms. DRUNK is ideal for those who yearn for creative sounds to have an earthy feel. Fully Celebrated Orchestra: Jim Hobbs (alto saxophone); Timo Shanko (bass instrument); Django Carranza (drums).

Fully Celebrated Orchestra albums. The first large-scale (well, at least medium-scale) release from this long-standing free jazz outfit, Marriage of Heaven and Earth displays the Fully Celebrated Orchestra exactly as they are: exciting and misunderstood. The recording was done live in a club. People talk and glasses move around while the quartet gives everything they have. There are flaws, but in general the energy of the performance covers up its shortcomings. Even though the group is led by alto saxophonist Jim Hobbs (he writes all the material), Taylor Ho Bynum, a young cornet player, steals the spotlight. At ease both in the bop and out-there vocabularies, he spits out lines that continually twist conventions (one is reminded of the young Toshinori Kondo). The pieces generally fall in the free jazz category, the energetic post-bop heads opening up on freer accompanied solos. The influence of Ornette Coleman is obvious (Hobbs approaches melodies with the master's harmolodics technique). There are two exceptions though, "Ol' Sow Rooted 'Em Up" and "Aware of Vacuity" (this one with a percussion solo from Django Corranza), both much more danceable, swinging numbers. "The Kelpi" and "Reconciliation of Heaven and Earth" are the undisputable highlights, the latter displaying the kind of energy usually coming out of Seth Misterka's projects. By the time of that closer, the audience has shut up -- who wouldn't? ~ François Couture Recorded live at Green Street Grill, Cambridge, Massachusetts in August 2001. Includes liner notes by Jacob Baverman. Personnel: Jim Hobbs (saxophone); Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet). Audio Remasterer: Preston Wright. Recording information: The Green Street Grill, Cambridge, MA (08/2001). Arranger: Fully Celebrated Orchestra. Fully Celebrated Orchestra: Jim Hobbs (saxophone); Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet); Timo Shanko (bass); Django Carranza (drums).

Fully Celebrated Orchestra music CDs. Fully Celebrated Orchestra includes: Jim Hobbs (saxophone); G. Densley (guitar); Billy Ruane.