★★★1/2
“The three long tracks make for adventurous listening. The group radiates with hard bop sensibility and a methodical madness that’s almost impossible to turn away from. …[JL&BVC] often choose unexplored paths to interpret these pieces. The democratic group approach allows each of these top-tier innovators to stretch while their interplay and group dynamics are flawless. Complex and angular lines are contrasted with the full sound of reeds; Lundbom’s notes and phrases move in and out of focus while Monaghan manages to hold all of together. It’s a high-wire act that doesn’t let down.”
Grego Applegate Edwards, ‘Gapplegate Guitar and Bass Blog’ 03/17/16
“If I make a point of covering everything JL&BVC comes out with, it is because the music they make is simply and OBJECTIVELY wonderful. …[‘Make the Magic Happen’] is a rousing start to things. As important as anything [JL&BVC has] put our way and some Lundbom guitar that will get you searching your pockets for a pick with play air guitar with. In short, excellent music!”
Dan McClenaghan, ‘All About Jazz’ 03/13/16
★★★★
“[‘Bring Their ‘A’ Game’ is] a mix a free jazz and and tight grooves, as music that blends the moods of surf rock with Bluesman Big Joe Turner’s backing band… The music is satisfyingly elemental: bass, guitar, drums and a couple of free flying saxophonists. No pretense here. Rock solid sounds out of the American jazz/rock/blues/free jazz tradition, from a fearless group of music-makers.”
Chris Haines, ‘The Free Jazz Collective’ 03/07/16
★★★★
“Chromatic passages mixing it up with free-funk motives and a gradual and well-worked development of the material that eventually leads to a noise based saturation point. The phrasing in [Lundbom’s] playing is a real joy and the way it sits within the rhythm will have you toe tapping before the track is out, worth getting just for [‘Ain’t Cha’]. …The emphasis is clearly on the tracks as a vehicle for improvised solo melodic lines and there is plenty of space for each of the soloists to stretch out and express themselves. …There is some great playing from the guitarist across these two EPs.”
Karl Ackermann, ‘All About Jazz’ 02/09/16
★★★★
“BVC expertly juggles boisterousness and refinement in an atmosphere of controlled chaos. …Lundbom is a master of animated and intensely concentrated improvisation and his playing is capable of producing a full range of moods. …JL&BVC tread dangerous waters on their recordings. The cooperative nature of improvisations and the willingness to play outside the formal limits of jazz, combined with touches of humor all make for challenging navigation. Nevertheless, they pull it off with largely successful results. If ‘Make Magic Happen’ [sic] is an indication of the upcoming EPs in the larger collection, it promises to be one of the significant music events of the year.”
Chris Spector, ‘Midwest Record’ 02/09/16
“Sounds church basement walls could not contain. This bunch has set sail for Mars and they’ve left enough room in their starship for you to join them.”
Dan McClenaghan, ‘All About Jazz’ 02/03/16
★★★★★
“One of the most adventurous, schizoid, raucous, rip-roaring rock/jazz/bass-and-drum-thumping/wild-men-at-the saxophones wailing/soaring guitar amalgams you’ll hear in modern music. …There is an underlying tightness and continuity of vision that holds this set together. …Odd and innovative, and compelling. Music that hits you in the gut.”
Jason Gubbels, ‘Cerebral Decanting’ 12/31/15
150 Albums: The Best of 2015, Roughly Ranked
37. Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord ‘Jeremiah’
‘Avant Music News,’ 01/02/16
Avant Music News Best of 2015
Honorable Mentions
Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord – ‘Jeremiah’
Jim Macnie, ‘Lament for a Straight Line’ 12/26/15
10 Fantastic Jazz Albums – 2015
At any given moment, these coulda hit the list. They are beauties all:
Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord – ‘Jeremiah’