Jazz is a funny creature. It has so many different flavors that
it’s almost a guarantee you’ll like certain forms and hate others.
Think of jazz as a musical ice cream parlor.
Kudu, a four-piece outfit fronted by vocalist/bassist Sylvia
Gordon, kind of makes me think that this is what Manhattan Transfer
would have sounded like had they gotten their noses dirty – and if
they had gone for a more roots-based sound. The end result, the
band’s self-titled album, is not the easiest thing to listen to at
times.
In fact, don’t be surprised if you find it difficult to get
through the first three songs without having to push the “stop”
button on the CD player. What makes Kudu a little harder to adjust
to is the fact the group has no guitarist, but two keyboardists
(Nick Kasper and Peter Stoltzman… drummer Deantoni Parks rounds
out the group). Gordon’s multi-tracked vocals occasionally go into
non-resolving progressions, which only serve to further confuse the
listener.
Tracks like “Temptation” and “Surprise” might have worked a
little better had Gordon tried to deliver them in a scat vocal, and
not merely layered harmonies which tried to be more earthy. At the
one-third mark of the CD, things honestly don’t look bright.
But Kudu seems to know their genre well, and the level of energy
and intensity picks up quickly. Tracks like “Cannibal,” “Tell Me A
Bedtime Story” and “Relax” all seem to have a better groove about
them, and everything musically falls into place for Kudu. If only
it hadn’t taken as long for everything to click.
Maybe the reason I cast a suspicious eye towards
Kudu is that it
isn’t cookie-cutter music – but then again, would we really
want it that way? Gordon and crew might not be the easiest group to
appreciate straight out of the box, but their individuality should
be applauded and appreciated. Besides, everything does seem to work
out in the end, so it can’t be all that bad.
