THE HAAS COMPANY VOL 3

SONG FOR MIMI FEATURING SAMUEL HALLKVIST

Psychiatric Records and Tapes

Steve Haas, drums/producer; Pete Drungle, Fender Rhodes/Moog Odyssey/Mini Moog/various synths/acoustic piano/composer/producer; Samuel Hallkvist, electric & acoustic guitar; Sean Lennon, guitar & atmospheres; Guy Prat & Kirwan Brown, bass; Todd Reynolds, violin; Nicholas Draps & Jerry Goodman, electric violin; Scott Tixler, Robert Wechsler & Mark Feldman, violin.

From the very first song called “Aphelion” I am hooked on this album of inspired fusion jazz and creativity.  Pete Drungle is a multi-instrumentalist, a composer who has written every song on this project. He’s also a producer.  His music is infectious.  Every composition has a driving rhythm and a groove that accelerates it forward in a comfortable way.  The Steve Haas drums are responsible for the excitement and grooves that make my feet pat and fingers snap.

Drungle is a master on the 88- keys. During a tune called “In Cologne” he digs deeply into his European classical background, making a mind-blowing statement on the acoustic piano. But his fusion jazz is still prominent and dramatic during this arrangement.

Samuel Hallkvist is celebrated as one of the greatest guitarists in Sweden. He’s known for his jazz prowess and rock influenced playing. Samuel lived with Steve Haas for a while in Houston, Texas, as well as Pete Drungle (pianist/composer) along with bassist Kirwan Brown. They are all friends and started working on this album at the Haas house. Haas went to work in the morning, then came home to practice and play with his housemates. That’s when they began to create this album. Haas also praises Sean Lennon as an avid improvisor and easy to get along with, plus super talented.  He adds much to this project.

“Song for Mimi” was about Joanne Haas, Steve Haas’s mom. Pete Drungle composed the song as a surprise for Steve.  When it was complete, he showed it to Haas while they were all in the studio. That’s the first time Steve Haas heard the tune and it touched his heart.

This album is contemporary jazz, and fusion.  It’s masterfully played by exceptional musicians. They bring excellence to the ears, minds and imagination of the listeners.  On a tune called, “Smacky Mcbrown” the band stomps both feet into a rock & roll groove that propels us along, featuring exciting Haas drums.  I can’t even pick my favorite song, because as the music peels off this CD, each composition is so extraordinarily awesome.

The Haas Company is a high-powered quartet, headed by percussive expert, Steve Haas.  This band has a unique sound all their own.  You may think of fusion as a 1970 throwback music, but this production is innovative and absolutely twenty-first century fresh.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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