“A progressive sax date that sounds like it could have come directly from the loft jazz/free jazz years in New York… Lundbom knows what progressive ears are looking for and delivers straight with no chaser here.”
George W. Harris, ‘Jazz Weekly’ 05/05/16
“Lundbom brings together his Big Five Chord band for a pair of EPs that mix flexibility and swing… While the sound is loose, it’s never incoherent and disarrayed… [JL&BVC] walk the tightrope without a net, teetering but never falling on this white knuckler of joy.”
Grego Applegate Edwards, ‘Gapplegate Guitar & Bass Blog’ 04/04/16
“[‘Bring Their ‘A’ Game’] has the growl of the band in improvisational fullness. Jon plays some beautiful guitar as one expects, he IS one of a kind after all. …This is take-no-prisoners out bop and more. Make no mistake. Lundbom has the subtle leadership that gets everybody to give of things their considerable all, and Jon does the same. Can I just say ‘chuck everything and get it’? Well I will. …There is something important going on!”
Tim Niland, ‘Music and More’ 03/24/16
“A thrill ride featuring shimmering guitar and burning saxophones pushed forward by excellent rhythm. The album clocks in at twenty seven minutes and keeps you riveted throughout. This is an excellent group and the music that they play is both high energy, and emotionally engaging, which works well in these short compact bursts of music.”
Karl Ackermann, ‘All About Jazz’ 03/17/16
★★★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.”