Fusion goes further out--thanks to Austin, Tex., experimental jazz/post-rock combo Concentric. Tortoise, indeed, meets Yes in the adept hands of the foursome, with some ace violin work to boot. Confident, seamless experiments with electronics recall DJ Spooky's more jazz-based explorations.
What's at the center of the circle connecting free-jazz, electronica, and experimental fusion? Is it a bass-drums-sax-violin quartet? Concentric s unique brand of acid jazz breaks down the boundaries of various musical genres to construct a new kind of cohesive creative music. The four current musicians of Concentric have spiraled through the country Philly, Detroit, Amherst, Boulder, Cincinnati - all along the way absorbing influences & ideas to utilize in Austin, resulting in an ideal instrumental brew of intellect and intensity. By melding of synths, samples and familiar sounds, the result is fresh and defiant melodies over infectious grooves. By fusing live spontaneity with modern technology, the group captures elements of electric Miles Davis, Tortoise, and DJ Spooky. In Fall 2003, Concentric released an eponymous CD that captures 13 fresh, ingenious, and original songs. Now, in 2004, they explore more new territory and perform their spontaneous mind-bending jazz around Austin.