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by rick grant
rickgrant01@comcast.net
Chad Jasmine is a musical chameleon who is always changing, evolving, and writing new music, not limited by any musical genre. For two years I’d lost touch with Chad, so it was timely indeed to catch up with his latest musical incarnations at the Landshark Café.
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For the Landshark gig, Chad brought in his frequent musical collaborator, Kip Kolb on keyboards, pennywhistle, and harmonica, Chris Gibbs on bass, and Brian Jenkins on drums. Chad Jasmine, as usual, was on lead vocals, guitar, saxophone, and harmonica. Chad’s ad hoc gig ensemble actually makes-up Kip Kolb’s own band called Kolb. He just released an album called Missing Link, featuring Kip’s catchy, hook-heavy compositions.
This Sunday the gig included a fusion of Kolb’s own music and Chad’s eclectic material, performed with Chad’s usual off-kilter swagger and accented by his witty quips. Undoubtedly, Chad is in a category all his own. After seeing some mediocre posers on Jay Leno, my wife asked me a pertinent question, “Why is Chad not on Jay Leno?” Why, indeed.
Some artists like Chad are just not adept at self-promotion. Chad is a brilliant singer/songwriter and free thinker who is so into his music he hasn’t the time or inclination to hire a manager or seek a record deal. He is an artiste laboring in local obscurity. However, the word is getting out that someone with connections in the biz should come to Jax to witness Chad Jasmine perform. Something so extraordinary just can’t be kept secret forever.
Aside from Chad Jasmine’s Landshark gig, Chad’s main project is The Bath Party, with Chad doing his thing, Sagi on bass, Greg on drums, and Pars on trumpet and electric piano. The Bath Party’s new self-titled CD is a wonder to behold. It features music in the tradition of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and The Clash with Chad’s distinctive mojo mix.
Clearly, this music is commercially accessible but distilled by Chad’s cynical and progressive philosophical viewpoint. The title cut declares “My favorite thing to do is to take a bath.” featuring interesting changes in rhythm and melody. The song conjures up images of the Beatles meet Frank Zappa. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
“We ain’t afraid...we’re happy in the USA,” opens the second cut ‘USA.’ Par’s avant-garde trumpet comes in and out with a frantic rhythm. Cynicism reigns supreme in the lyrics of this song.
‘Be Free’ expresses Chad’s angst at getting older and realizing that things are more screwed up than he thought. “Be free, be free, be free” is the mantra, No matter what, be free. “I used to think the world was revolution every night, now as I get older, I realize... yeah, yeah, yeah” It’s clear, Chad is saying “be free.” The song is a cool breeze on a hot summer day when all one’s worries are negated by the striking beauty of the day. Then I realize that Dr. Phil is still on TV, and the image is broken.
On ‘The Bomb,’ an alarm-like guitar riff segues into a hooky refrain, “Why don’t we drop the bomb!” Again, the song is dripping with biting satire expressed musically and in brazen lyrics. “TV sucks...you wonder why the world is alcoholic.....why don’t we drop the bomb!” The song speaks for itself as an ultimate cynical anthem. Hello Dr. Strangelove!
“You ask me why I stick around when you and I can’t be found...because you excite me, yeah you do!” So goes the lyrics of this little love song, ‘You Excite Me,’ with Pars’ trumpet mixed way back in the spectrum. It’s jazzy and jumpy, like a vivacious young woman who hasn’t yet been beaten-up by life. The seven other cuts are equally as intriguing and raise questions which have no answers, except in the context of the songs. On ‘How Insane,’ as we travel on our way “...we’ll surrender what we have.... in the end we’ll celebrate...funny how that works, how insane, how insane.” And so on and so on. This album is a joyous, thought-provoking collection of Chad’s most excellent songwriting.
Yes, Chad articulates one’s thoughts with a surprise package of musical goodies that “will make you free.” This album will get heavy rotation on my car stereo as I travel the dark streets of this city, wondering about how I reached this point in my life’s journey. It’s a miracle.
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