1. Blueprints
Composed and arranged by Scott Anderson
“Blueprints” is a 16-bar (!) blues, inspired by two jazz classics that have been part of our repertoire since the very beginning… “Footprints” by Wayne Shorter and “Blue Bossa” by Kenny Dorham. It’s mostly in a Latin-influenced style, with a surprise (oops!) double-time swing section featuring an altered version of the head melody and the saxes and drums trading fours.
Mike: soprano sax; Mona: tenor sax; Scott: fretless bass; Brandon: drums
2. Poor Sephanie
Composed and arranged by Michael Wilson
The ii-V7-I progression is a quintessential element of jazz. But what if you just keep looping it in a descending fashion? The result is “Poor Sephanie.” (Get it?) This tune includes a section with just Mona on tenor and Brandon on drums, reminiscent of classic moments like Sonny Rollins’ version of “Surrey with the Fringe on Top” or “Countdown” by John Coltrane.
Mike: alto sax; Mona: tenor sax; Scott: 5-string bass; Brandon: drums
3. Monkfish Blues
Composed and arranged by Scott Anderson
The first original we ever performed live, this Thelonious Monk-inspired tune originally appeared on Scott’s 2015 Half-Life album. Our version strips out the too-obvious piano and kicks the tempo up from 110 BPM to 140.
Mike: alto sax; Mona: tenor sax; Scott: fretless bass; Brandon: drums
4. Delayed Resolutions
Composed and arranged by Scott Anderson
A study in harmonic procrastination. This tune features a light bossa nova vibe reminiscent of Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66.
Mike: tenor sax; Mona: alto sax; Scott: fretless bass, percussion, Mellotron; Brandon: drums
5. Voice Mail
Composed and arranged by Michael Wilson
A classic jazz vocal feature, with a not-so-classic lyrical theme. Guest vocalist Anne Lippin nails the style. Put on your satin smoking jacket and raise your martini glass.
Mike: tenor sax; Mona: alto sax; Scott: fretless bass; Brandon: drums; Anne: vocals
Note: Tracks 5 through 8 segue together on the CD and when downloaded; they may appear to start or end abruptly when playing back in the embedded player.
6. Telephone
Composed by Michael Wilson; arranged by Michael Wilson and Scott Anderson
From the first sounds of ambient synths, you can tell this is not a classic jazz vocal feature. Taking inspiration from the production work of Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois on U2’s classic The Joshua Tree album, this smoldering ballad pays tribute to true love… of technology.
Mike: tenor sax; Mona: alto sax; Scott: Jaguar bass, electric guitar, Alchemy synth; Brandon: drums; Anne: vocals
7. Gomphothere
Composed and arranged by Michael Wilson
An homage to an extinct lineage of elephants that used to live worldwide, including in the Americas, before humans killed them off. This tune introduces the theophone, a six foot tall mass of PVC pipe that Mike’s son Theo assembled into a musical instrument, with a tenor sax mouthpiece stuck on with modeling clay. No keys, it’s all about the harmonics.
Mike: soprano sax, theophone; Mona: alto sax; Scott: bass clarinet; Brandon: drums, chau gong
8. Noxious Throne
Composed and arranged by Theodore Wilson
An original by Theo Wilson (inventor of the theophone), this tune features angular melodies, slippery fretless bass, and the return (revenge?) of the theophone!
Mike: tenor sax, theophone; Mona: soprano sax; Scott: Jaguar bass, fretless bass; Brandon: drums
9. Torpor Tantrum
Composed by Michael Wilson; arranged by Michael Wilson and Scott Anderson
Inspired by the retro vibe of ’90s trip-hop acts like Portishead, this tale of romantic ambivalence once again features excellent vocal work by Anne Lippin, plus a great flute solo from Mike!
Mike: flute; Mona: tenor sax; Scott: Jaguar bass, Mellotron, Vox Continental, electric guitar; Brandon: drums; Anne: vocals
Note: Tracks 9 and 10 segue together on the CD and when downloaded; they may appear to start or end abruptly when playing back in the embedded player.
10. Dark Matter
Composed by Michael Wilson; arranged by Michael Wilson and Scott Anderson
Some “interstellar rock” by Mike, with lyrics featuring two distinct interpretations of the title.
Mike: soprano sax; Mona: tenor sax; Scott: Jaguar bass, bass clarinet; Brandon: drums; Anne: vocals
11. Rhymes & Missing Meters
Composed and arranged by Scott Anderson
Inspired by jazz-rock from the ’70s (perhaps Steely Dan?), this tune features a 6/4 beat and an irregular 18-bar form, with a keyboard breakdown reminiscent of late ’90s IDM acts like Boards of Canada.
Mike: alto sax; Mona: soprano sax; Scott: 5-string bass, bass clarinet, Yamaha Reface CP, Yamaha Reface CS; Brandon: drums
12. Funk 2 School
Composed and arranged by Scott Anderson
A fun jazz-funk tune based around a jam we did while warming up for an early morning gig (!) welcoming the Minneapolis South High students back on the first day of school.
Mike: alto sax; Mona: tenor sax; Scott: Jaguar bass, Yamaha Reface CP, percussion; Brandon: drums
13. Paris Troyka
Composed by Michael Wilson; arranged by Michael Wilson and Scott Anderson
This composition that began as a mix of funeral dirge and klezmer dance tune turned into a grab bag of styles… a way of acknowledging our signature mashups while keeping it all original. You may hear stylistic traces of Camper Van Beethoven and The Police, as well as some thrash punk and heavy metal.
Mike: alto sax; Mona: soprano sax; Scott: 5-string bass, electric guitar; Brandon: drums, vocals
14. When I Look Back
Composed and arranged by Michael Wilson
A perfect closer, this barroom singalong (if it had words) was inspired by Mike’s reflections on life in his home town. Special thanks to the enthusiastic crowd at Acadia, cheering us on! (Fortuitously, this song and “Purple Rain” end on the same note.)
Mike: tenor sax; Mona: alto sax; Scott: Jaguar bass; Brandon: drums
