Hey, Hey, Hey!
By Rick Harrison
I was never schooled in the fine artistry of jazz composition. I don’t have the Ph.D. of Dr. Funk or the historical breadth to dissect every hook and phrase to appraise its originality. But, in an admittedly perhaps lowbrow manner, I knows what I likes. And that would include a good portion of the most recent offering from Santa Cruz locals netwerk: electric.
Their sophomore effort, Expression Sessions supplies a good deal of the hook-based fusion of jazz, rock, funk and acid-rock noodling that makes them such a fun and inventive live draw. Guitarist Jason Concepcion tends to take the lead of band mates Justin Fagnani-Bell (keyboards), Dave Menez (bass), Michael Jaramillo (drums) and Kevin DiNoto (percussion), often drifting into the netherworld of loopy, ethereal solos. However, the band works best when rooted in the bopping, propulsive world of funk one might associate more with a “What’s Happening” Rerun flailing limb dance than a Garcia-esque trip into space.
The album, available for order along with free music downloads and other merchandise at www.netwerkelectric.com, supplies both in ample quantity as well as a fair share of curious surprises. “Receive & Transmit” is punctuated by some reggae breaks. Elsewhere, a quote of the jazz standard “You Ain’t Got a Thing” found almost slipshod in a Concepcion solo is a nice homage to the tradition of our only true American art form while it is simultaneously entirely unnecessary. Like the word “simultaneously” in that sentence.
However, when doing what they do best, the band hits exactly the right mood. Sticking out as especially and giddily Rerun appropriate is “Lifted,” a track featuring guest Karl Denson on tenor sax and aided by attentive band interplay and Fagnani-Bell’s more grounded organ solo work. Ah, that’s the good stuff. Maybe it’s just me, but the funk for me is the funk that conjures up images of Mabel King lovingly demanding, “Give Mama some sugar!”
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