"Fanatics" is the sophomore solo effort by Los Angeles drummer and composer Matt Mayhall. This time out, Mayhall leads a trio with two towering figures of modern improvised music: guitarist Jeff Parker (Tortoise, Brian Blade Fellowship) and tenor saxophonist/clarinetist Chris Speed (Human Feel, Endangered Blood, Claudia Quintet). Grammy-winning producer Paul Bryan (Aimee Mann, Meshell Ndegeocello) produced, engineered, and mixed the sessions.
Mayhall has placed himself squarely within a burgeoning improvisational music scene in Los Angeles that rivals that of any city’s in the world. In addition to playing in West Coast bands led by his cohorts Parker and Speed, he has worked alongside many jazz heavyweights including bassists Tim Lefebvre and Eric Revis, trumpeter Ralph Alessi, Kneebody keyboardist Adam Benjamin, and guitarist Anthony Wilson. But Mayhall is a player whose professional duties have taken him well outside the jazz world, touring with The Both - a power-pop trio with Aimee Mann and Ted Leo, with Mann in support of her Grammy-winning album "Mental Illness," and with folk singer Dar Williams. He also spent several years in Josh Haden’s alt-country/slow-core band Spain.
With "Fanatics," Mayhall continues his exploration of the same woozy atmospheric textures, lush harmonies, and skittering rhythms that earned him critical acclaim on his debut album, "Tropes" (Skirl Records, 2016). But while "Tropes" eschewed conventional jazz improvisation in favor of tight, cinematic statements, "Fanatics" is a decidedly more freewheeling, less backbeat-driven affair. Mayhall states:
“'Fanatics' is basically a blowing record. Jeff and Chris are such distinctive, great improvisers. Both of them have achieved what seems to me to be the ultimate goal of every jazz musician, which is to have an instantly recognizable sound. I wanted to honor that and have that be the focus of the record.”
There are some “tunes,” like Mayhall’s glacial jazz ballad “Heliotrope” and Charlie Parker’s “Dewey Square.” But form and meter go out the window in favor of energetic group improvisation on cuts like “Polly and Elton” and “The Fanatics.” “Longview, TX,” the album’s opener, has Speed and Parker trading phrases over a riff in 6/4 time while Mayhall holds it down and makes his presence felt at just the right moments. Atmosphere and melody are explored to the hilt on the drone-like “Yr,” Mayhall’s personal favorite track.
credits
released February 7, 2020
Matt Mayhall - drums & percussion
Jeff Parker - guitar
Chris Speed - tenor saxophone and clarinet
recorded in May and Sept 2019 at Mayberry PCH
engineered, produced, and mixed by Paul Bryan
mastered by Dave Cooley at Elysian Masters
all songs (c)2019 Matt Mayhall Songs, BMI
except "Dewey Square" by Charlie Parker
album art by Jamie Breiwick @ B Side Graphics
www.bsidegraphics.com