The J. & F. Band

Star Motel: An American Music Experience

Long Song Records / Bandcamp

Ever imagine what Lowell George and Little Feat, Ornette Coleman, B.B. King, Los Lobos, Benny Goodman, Frank Zappa, and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band might sound like mashed together and propelled by a drummer steeped in Gene Krupa and The Allman Brothers Band and a bassist adept in all manner of jazz? Likely not, so welcome to the incredible, no holds barred and thoroughly interlocked world of The J. & F. Band.

“The Jaimoe Jam,” which concludes the second of the two hour-long CDs that comprise Star Motel: An American Music Experience, offers context besides cool groove. Titled for the nickname of the 80-year-old drummer born John Lee Johnson, the “J” in the band name and the last surviving member of the original Allman Brothers Band, it presents twelve minutes of stout, sprightly, and spacey jazz improvisation. Joining the still agile drummer are renowned jazz bassist Joe Fonda (the “F”), drummer and composer Tiziano Tononi, tenor sax player Jon Irabagon, violinist Emanuele Parrini, keys player Paolo Durante, and guitarists Craig Green and David Grissom. Quite a diversified crew there, working out on a full circle journey. Jaimoe was a jazz lover as a teen and was Otis Redding’s drummer before taking a serious left, but very right, turn with guitar visionary Duane Allman in 1969.

That mesmerizing jazz is preceded by one heck of a variety-packed and thrilling American Music Experience. The players, from both sides of the Atlantic but anchored in Italy, convened in Jaimoe’s home state Connecticut for the sessions. They set out first on a unique reworking of Bobby Troupe’s immortal “Route 66,” spotlighting Grissom and Bobby Lee Rodgers digging clamorously on guitars. Rodgers, who plays a major role in the first set, had played with the late Col. Bruce Hampton and sings in as menacing a tenor as he plays. In Rodgers’ title song, featuring beautifully nimble-fingered and soulful guitar work, he ties his Hamptonization directly to Zappa. A long and winding take on Jimmy Reed’s “You Got Me Running” finds Texas slinger Grissom in his element and making the most of it.

Although Jaimoe had a firsthand relationship with the members of The Marshall Tucker Band back in the day, the rendition here of Tucker’s “Take the Highway,” although daring, does fall short. But the wild salsa rhythms of “Formula One,” and “Lighthouse,” with a liquid funky groove so thick it could stand on end, finish off the first set powerfully.

The second set flows and churns on expressionistic jazz. In addition to “The Jaimoe Jam” it includes the challenging “The Rez Active Resistance!” and an eight-movement suite titled “Passion of a Man: The Mingus Medley.” Four of the numbers within the latter are Charles Mingus interpretations, the remaining composed by Tononi honoring Mingus. Some may discover that Mingus’s “Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting,” in hyperventilating jazz form here, certainly influenced the Allman Brothers when they collectively composed their instrumental, “Hot ‘Lanta,” ten years after Mingus debuted his number in 1960.

Long Song Records owner Fabrizio Perissinotto produced the album as he did the J. & F. Band’s previous three, as live as can be, the details and nuances clear and punchy. Star Motel: An American Music Experience is for the adventurous and open-minded, and for Allman Brothers fans, an absolute necessity.

Tom Clarke for MAS

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