Heretic Blues

They Say...

Review by Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide

Joining the Gen X jump blues bandwagon, drummer O'Donnell's Quality Six swing harder than most, and find an area where jazz meets tomfoolery. Clearly an on the job training AAA squad, they nonetheless have a different, off-kilter sound. Andrew Bird's vocals sound slightly inebriated, but his outstanding violin work compares quite favorably to Stuff Smith in tone and style. Alto saxophonist Chris Green also is a comer, he has a great quality that reflects bop and swing à la Phil Woods. The rest of the band, bassist Josh Hirsch, guitarists Colin Bunn and Jon Williams (alternating on tracks), and trombonist David Dieckmann are along for the ride. The six switch up between rock informed traditional jazz-oriented instrumentals, a few popular numbers, and their own original jumpin' dance tunes. They start with a sauced, off-key version of "Moten Swing," upgrade to a pretty good, upbeat "My Friend Eddie," a loping sax-violin tandem with guitar (Bunn) on "Blues for Andrew," and rip through "Candy Dish Stomp." The pop tunes are "Lady Be Good" and "Stagger Lee" (mislabeled "Stack O'Lee.") Best of the originals are the swing blues bedroom brawler "Could You Please Move Over?" the hard swinging "Red Boa" with better vocals from trombonist Dieckmann, and the poignant love song "Margaret" with singing by Bunn. With the bass consistently out of tune and the vocals a bit strained, Quality Six need more experience and practice. Bird, who has recorded with Squirrel Nut Zippers, is the jewel, and the rest ain't bad. In the liners, O'Donnell, who admits to be drinking whilst writing, states "if you don't care for the way we play it, that's cool. Ha Ha." When they shed the Beavis & Butthead attitude, maybe then they'll get down to some seriously fun music. One can hope, for the talent is there.