Todd Sickafoose: Future Flora

People like to draw sharp lines between musical genres pop, rock, jazz, classical, country, folk, world (whatever the heck that means). There can be music that crosses over, but most listeners seem confused by that kind of thing. Which is why I was so happy to stumble onto this Todd Sickafoose recording. See, my pop side (which honestly doesn't care if it gets mixed up with jazz) knew of him only as the bass player for Ani DiFranco. It turns out that Sickafoose has a whole other side, that of.....uhm...well, whatever this music is.

Some bass triplets introduce a few ringing guitar notes & scrapes before the entire group settles down into a nice, deep groove. That sense of forward motion is enhanced by the occasional break where the band drops away and those opening notes are revisited. As things proceed, instruments pop in and out to comment, including short trumpet/vibraphone unison lines, and some terrific electric guitar work. Very thought-provoking stuff from my new favorite pop/jazz/world/folk instrumental artist. Sort of.