MJ12
MJ12
Gonzo
2016
MJ12, short for “Majestic 12”, (supposedly a group of 12 scientists and engineers assembled in the late 40’s to investigate UFO’s, that could have been real or an urban legend) is a band that features Brand X’s legendary bassist Percy Jones (also Soft Machine, Eno, Hackett etc.) among other virtuoso players.
Drummer & trombonist, Stephen Moses after having spent a good few years, as part of “the loft jazz scene” in NYC with the likes of James Chance, John Zorn, Phillip Johnston, Ken Simon, Dave Hofstra (and many others) and jazz/rock in the CBGB’s scene with Giant Metal Insects and Quality Trio with Jim Matus & Percy Jones to be followed by the formation of Alice Donut after that as well as tours with Rasputina, proves to be an ideal rhythm partner for Jones, able to play off his ideas quite brilliantly.
Guitarist David Phelps, currently a member of Peter Apfelbaum’s 11-piece band The New York Hieroglyphics and also the leader of his own band the Eclectic Troubadours, has studied with Rich Matheson and Jack Petersonas well as Dave Liebman and Dave Holland (both Miles Davis alumni) some of the greatest Jazz men around, not to leave out John Abercrombie, Steve Coleman and Kenny Wheeler which aficionados will also recognize.
Last but not least, saxophonist Chris Bacas started over 3 decades ago and has played in the Glen Miller Band, the Tommy Dorsey Band, the Artie Shaw Band, and Buddy Rich’s legendary Big Band until Rich’s passing in 1987.
The band’s eponymous debut release is choke-full with some of the finest Jazz-Prog fusion material I’ve had the good fortune to listen to lately. Very Improv and spontaneous like, but still with some “grand design” in mind, it’s unpredictable and interesting and breaking new and exciting ground for those who’ve followed Jones around, while keeping in broad touch with his collective past.
Drummer & trombonist, Stephen Moses after having spent a good few years, as part of “the loft jazz scene” in NYC with the likes of James Chance, John Zorn, Phillip Johnston, Ken Simon, Dave Hofstra (and many others) and jazz/rock in the CBGB’s scene with Giant Metal Insects and Quality Trio with Jim Matus & Percy Jones to be followed by the formation of Alice Donut after that as well as tours with Rasputina, proves to be an ideal rhythm partner for Jones, able to play off his ideas quite brilliantly.
Guitarist David Phelps, currently a member of Peter Apfelbaum’s 11-piece band The New York Hieroglyphics and also the leader of his own band the Eclectic Troubadours, has studied with Rich Matheson and Jack Petersonas well as Dave Liebman and Dave Holland (both Miles Davis alumni) some of the greatest Jazz men around, not to leave out John Abercrombie, Steve Coleman and Kenny Wheeler which aficionados will also recognize.
Last but not least, saxophonist Chris Bacas started over 3 decades ago and has played in the Glen Miller Band, the Tommy Dorsey Band, the Artie Shaw Band, and Buddy Rich’s legendary Big Band until Rich’s passing in 1987.
The band’s eponymous debut release is choke-full with some of the finest Jazz-Prog fusion material I’ve had the good fortune to listen to lately. Very Improv and spontaneous like, but still with some “grand design” in mind, it’s unpredictable and interesting and breaking new and exciting ground for those who’ve followed Jones around, while keeping in broad touch with his collective past.