Hupp Project, Carl - Hyper Statue

Year of Release: 2004
Label: Long Point Records
Catalog Number: LP-010262-1
Format: CD-DVD
Total Time: 76:47:00

This CD should motivate you to check out your local music scene. The Internet has allowed musicians to have their music heard by thousands of people. One of those truly deserving musicians (as any hack can put up a music site) is drummer/composer Carl Hupp. Based in Baltimore, the Carl Hupp Project is an incredible CD/DVD of instrumental music infused with jazz, rock and other influences. Hupp surrounds himself with a lot of talent (including Tony Levin and Stan Whitaker), but a CD is nothing without good material, and Hupp delivers.

"Hyper Statue" has a terrific energy throughout. The atmospheric "Red Light Syndrome" tricks you into a mellow mood until Hupp quickly shifts gears pounding out the drums to open the title track. Tasty guitar licks chew up the first two minutes, and just as you begin to think this needs a change, that bouncy stick playing of Tony Levin takes you into a horn laden section that sets a powerful groove. "Skeleton Crew" has a melody that you find yourself humming almost immediately. Stan Whitaker of Happy The Man is featured on guitar, and a video for the song is also on the accompanying DVD. "Paper Or Plastic" adds some blues with clean punchy lead guitar, harmonica and trumpet.

One of my favorites is the Dixie Dregs influenced "Quadrant 4", and the fine cover of Bruford's "Five G." Even with the number of musicians used, there is a cohesive feel to the music. Hupp's songs connect very quickly, something that does not always happen with instrumental music.

If all that is not enough, Hupp includes a DVD with lots of extras. You get an informative interview, studio session clips of the various musicians (this is great to watch), and a video (mentioned above). An extremely top-notch production from start to finish. Get out and support your local bands/musicians, there may be some music in your own backyard that surprises and inspires you.

DVD Running time: 85:10

Tracklisting:
Red Light Syndrome (2:00) / Hyper Statue (7:30) / Revenge Of The Chair People (5:31) / Skeleton Crew (7:04) / Five G (5:14) / Riff Raff (4:00) / Seven For Seven (6:51) / The Better Angels Of Our Nature (4:22) / Paper Or Plastic? (7:48) / Air-Ride Suspensions (4:07) / Black Tie Affair (6:42) / Quadrant 4 (4:20) / Mind Sweeper Part II (5:15) / Tagged & Enveloped (5:31)

Musicians:
Carl Hupp - drums, percussion, bass, guitar, keyboards
Brad Chatterton - guitar, keyboards
Chuck DeFontes - bass, guitar, keyboards
Dave Fairall - tenor, soprano & alto saxes
Angelo Cammarata - electric & acoustic basses
Kurt Froberg - keyboards
Stanley Whitaker - guitar
Clyde Johnson - congas, percussion
Ben Sherman - guitar
Ivan Smart - trumpet
Tony Levin - Chapman Stick
Justin Hupp - percussion
Jeff Avery - guitar
Dave Bell - guitar
Ron Zebron - guitar
Charles Wright - guitar
Mike Pryor - bass
Dave Capozzoli - bass
John Thomakos - percussion
Spike Settles - harmonica
Paul Soroka - tenor sax

Discography:
Great Train Robbery - 1984-1992 (oop)
Ben Sherman - First Light
Hyper Statue (2004)

Genre: Fusion-Jazz Fusion

Origin US

Added: March 14th 2007
Reviewer: Eric Porter
Score:
Artist website: www.carlhupp.com
Hits: 5278
Language: english