Gutbucket

Thanks to the engaging harmolodics of Ornette Coleman and the intense rhythms of Afro-Cuban music, Ken Thomson discovered new exciting ways to express jazz improvisation in his group Gutbucket. Gutbucket, which consisted of Thomson (sax), Ty Citerman (guitar), Eric Rockwin (bass), and Paul Chuffo (drums), celebrated the release of its debut CD, InsomniacsDream (Gut Records), -- available at www.gutweb.com -- in 2000. Devoted to soft melodies as much as high-energy rhythms, Gutbucket coursed through the playful circular movement and rapid-fire banter of "Insects" and the sweet, laid-back Latin rhythms and melodies of "Don't Fall on Dirty Mary" to the quiet, dreamy spaces of "Ornette's Computer People" and the slow, bluesy shuffle and screaming antics of "Rock 'n' Roll." Gutbucket formed in 1999 when three of its members decided to leave their former band, the nine-piece soul-jazz group called Ex Caminos. All three graduated from Columbia University in fields ranging from music theory and history (Thomson) to psychology (Citerman) to English literature (Chuffo), and they were looking for someone to join them in a tighter-knit band. That's when a friend of theirs introduced them to bassist Eric Rockwin, who had just graduated with a degree in music from N.Y.U. The band debuted to a packed house at Baby Jupiter in April 1999 in New York City. A live broadcast over WFMU two months later solidified a following for the group, which later performed at the Knitting Factory, Wetlands, CB's 313 Gallery, and at the Bell Atlantic Jazz Festival and CMJ Music Marathon in New York City. Gutbucket continued to explore its eclectic interests in music, which ranged from jazz and hip-hop to Afro-Cuban music, '70s soul, indie rock, and 20th century classical music. ~ Robert...