Shape of a Monster

PERSONNEL:

Erik Deutsch: Piano, Clavinet, Moog Synthesizer

Jeff Coffin: Saxophone

Andy Thorn: Banjo

Drew Emmitt: Slide Mandolin

Greg Garrison: Bass

Alwyn Robinson: Drums

Mauro Refosco: Percussion

RECORDING NOTES:

Mixed by Mario Casilio w/ Colin Bricker

Mastered by Chris Boerner

Produced by Erik Deutsch

LINER NOTES (from Erik):

I often refer to myself as a functional composer and as un-sexy as that sounds, it’s pretty accurate. What I mean by that is my songs don’t emerge from a moment of pure, unbridled, inspiration—rather from a place of necessity and functionality. So as we prepared for the recording of Leftover Salmon’s “Brand New Good Old Days” in the fall of 2019, I asked myself: what kind of song do I need to write for this record? Although I had contributed a bit to compositions on our first record “Something Higher,” LOS had never performed any of my original songs. It seemed that something fast, exciting, and technically challenging might be a fun direction to explore; something with a melody that could be played unison between multiple members of the band whilst giving our outstanding rhythm section a chance to really loosen up and play. What emerged might have seemed a little out of character with the band’s typical repertoire, but I believed it had potential. One of the most admirable calling-cards of LOS throughout it’s thirty-two year career has been the stunning range of repertoire. It often felt like there wasn’t anything we couldn’t at least try to pull off… it was with this spirit in mind that “Shape of a Monster” was born.

As fate had it, I parted ways with the band just before the ‘you-know…that-global-pandemic’ of 2020. And when LOS made preparations to release the new album (out on Compass Records May ’21), it made sense that my song wouldn’t be part of the final release. So there it was—the track in my hands—free to be whatever it wanted to be. I thought I’d add some cats… First call? All-world saxophone colossus Jeff Coffin. Next call? NYC/Brazilian percussionst-to-the-stars Mauro Refosco. Combine them with the super thoughtful and intricate mix from LOS sound engineer Mario Casilio, and we were in a place that seemed just about right for the music and vibe.

So sit back and enjoy… imagine Shakti meets Tony Rice meets Keith Jarrett meets Funkadelic at a house-party hosted by Leftover Salmon and Miles Davis in Beirut. That’s all you need to know :)

QUOTES:

"Absolutely ferocious playing from this ensemble of jazz and bluegrass heavies. Erik and his band are melding musical worlds into an amalgamation I have never heard before, but with a fluidity that belies its freshness. The monster is alive and growing!" 

—Bridget Kearney (bassist/vocalist/composer of Lake Street Dive)
 

“SHAPE OF A MONSTER sounds like being in a high speed car chase through the Taj Mahal while simultaneously being on stage rocking out with Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. What an amazing juxtaposition of sound!

It's sort of like using everything in your kitchen and coming up with the most delicious thing you've ever eaten and then you can't remember what you used to make it. This is an incredible piece of music and musicianship.”

—Jeff Coffin (saxophonist with Dave Matthews Band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones)

“Amazing!!!!! An infectious guttural song that takes you on a crazy trip.

When I first heard it I felt I was being thrown inside a washing machine with the best musicians around. WHAT A JOY!”

—Mauro Refosco (percussionist with David Byrne, Thom Yorke, Gogol Bordello)

“What an incredible new track by Erik and the crew! Insane arrangement & juxtapositions between time signatures, brilliant melodies and rhythmic interplay. Alwyn Robinson is a mad man! Another top notch composition from one of my favorite collaborators and friends. “

—Joe Russo (drummer/leader of JRAD)