Fat Mama
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Fat Mama In the spring of 1996, after a record shattering 23 hour NHL '95 Segathon in which Ray Borque connected for 73 goals and 86 assists, tenor saxophonist Brett Joseph collapsed into an 8 hour catatonic state. He woke with the realization that he would form a band to help soundtrack his psychosis. His dreams were lucid and other worldly and, at the same time, as American as playing a two-dollar Lotto scratch ticket and winning a buck. Getting the idea? And so, Fat Mama was born. A collection of talented and creative young musicians, residing and studying in Boulder, Colorado came together to make a new sound.*******Looking ten years back, perhaps audiences were not quite ready for the avante, techno jazz style that Fat Mama was introducing. "What, no vocals?" listeners would question. But Fat Mama forged ahead using their own twisted logic, blending old-school bebop and jazz with their almost futuristic fascination with electronic sound. After regular regional appearances and a few national tours, Fat Mama became recognized as young musical pioneers. It soon became clear that Fat Mama could please crowds at both a reserved-seating-only jazz club in the big city, as well as a late night, freaky-ass throw down at a local club. They were, at the root, sophisticated jazzmen committed to a craft, technique, and discipline. But they were also deviously youthful, mutating tradition and redefining music for their generation.*******Oh, and nickleless and road-weathered, which despite their utter tour-readiness, forced the band to break up in the last month of 2000. The boys went their separate ways and the Fat Mama moniker became shrouded in mysticism, a footnote in discussions of the Benevento/Russo Duo, Deutsch's County Road X and participation with the new Charlie Hunter Trio, Jonathan's Big On Sleep and film scoring, Gray's Cabaret, Simon's needles and sessions, Kevin's BIG YES, and the Raptor's sunless stooping, among many other projects big and small. And somehow they became huge in Japan?*******All seven Mamas recently shared the stage for the first time in over six years to celebrate Kendrick's 30th birthday with his new group A BIG YES... and a small no in New York (http://www.glidemagazine.com/hiddentrack/?p=350). They couldn't rehearse without slipping into FM musical nostalgia with the likes of “Lurkin'” and “The Plan Man.” It became apparent that Fat Mama would have to again reconvene sometime in the near future to play the music of Fat Mama.*******And it's happening. Fat Mama will be playing the closing event of the Green Apple Music Festival in NYC April 22nd, an early Sunday show at the Knitting Factory. Will this be a one-time blowout or the beginning of somewhat periodic reunions? Mama knows best.