Saturday, August 9, 2014

Evolution/Revolution: A Review of Jorge Arana Trio's "Oso"




A minute-and-a-half into Oso you realize the Jorge Arana Trio is hungry again. Hungry with the same primeval fire and shredded, sweaty guts that made Mapache a jazz fused triumph. 

Oso tears at the listener like a dying warrior-animal fighting for every inch of it's precious and dignified life. It's homage to the frantic fever of John Zorn's lunatic pacing evident in the break-neck gallop of tempo and tone.

Oso is the best thing this band has done so far & Mapache (their debut) was damn near perfect. Arana's newest is more emotional & personal. The echoes of surf-rock sprinkled amongst fuzzed out freak beats and spaghetti western nightmare fizzles give the listener small glimpses into the band's psyche.

Jorge Arana and his trio have managed to grow technically as musicians and arrangers and it shows. Every inch of canvas is carefully plotted and planned to manufacture an EP of transcendent chaos. The band seems hellbent on not only preserving the art form of jazz but elevating it as well.

Oso is simply perfect. It feels like a prize fighter who rallies in the twelfth round. It swings wild but with a skill and determination unmatched by most men. It's this dignity that make Arana and his group distinct from most. They are not a band. They are a trio. A small group of professionals slugging it out in the ring. Every note is the jab as homage and every 90 degree, tempo turn an upper cut for evolution.

The evolution of the acid-jazz, freak scene for the jaded, hipster Internet crowd.
Evolution as revolution.
Press play and get ready.

Get "Oso" here:


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