Big Blast

Description

EDITORIAL REVIEWS Big Blast [Audio CD] Kombo REVIEW Keyboardist Ron Pedley and guitarist John Pondel co-lead Kombo, which also includes electric bassist Matt Bissonette and drummer Gregg Bissonette. In the late '80s, Pedley and Pondel, based in L.A., were members of the fusion band Uncle Festive. Later, Pondel moved to New York, where he got involved in acid jazz, but they've been reunited here by Verve producer Bud Harner, a former Uncle Festive drummer. Kombo can be seen as part of the hammond b-3 revival movement, rooted in the traditions of Jimmy Smith and Booker T & The MGs, but it has some distinctive qualities - most obviously a more laid-back, if funky, approach than most groups of its type. Pedley is a relaxed keyboardist and thoughtful improvisor who doesn't mind being subtle, as he demonstrates on "Ladies Man." Although he mostly plays B-3, he also plays electric piano, Farfisa organ, and clavinet. Like John Patton, he can play quite melodically. His work on "Never There" shows that he can swing hard, too. Like Pedley, Pondel is a technically proficient performer - dig his double-timing on "Green Onions" - who blends jazz and R&B influences smoothly. Incidentally, the last track on this CD, "Hidden Blues," is deliberately not listed and doesn't begin until about a minute of silence has elapsed on the selection. It's not clear that this makes sense because it's the best cut on the CD, a straightahead 1960s-type blues on which Pedley and Pondel play tasty, gem-like solos. --- Harvey Pekar, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc. -- From Jazziz