 |
| Too Many Zooz Trumpet: Matt Muirhead Drums: Dave Parks Baritone Saxophone: Leo Pellegrino |
The evening of Sunday 13 August was a very special one for Exeter Phoenix. A trio of musicians from the Manhattan School Music celebrated the tenth anniversary of the formation of their busking 'brass house' collaboration 'Too Many Zooz'. This reference to New York's policy of having a zoo of some kind in every borough is also a great name for a band - and rightly so.
For many years now the founder members, Leo Pellegrino (baritone saxophone), Matt 'Doe' Muirhead (trumpet) and Dave 'The King of Sludge' Parks (portable drum kit) have performed for passing audiences at stations on the New York underground system. The resulting videos have attracted a large audience online, and great demand to see the performances live. We are very fortunate that they chose Exeter Phoenix as on of the venues on the anniversary tour.
Apart from Matt's blistering trumpet solos, and Dave's mesmerising drum and cowbell accompaniments, the main feature is always Leo's virtuoso baritone saxophone compositions and improvisations - always combined seamlessly with his hypnotic dance style. Early performances of 'Flightening Live' in the Union Square subway station led on to the fabulous 'Bedford' video which features the trio boarding and subway train in Brooklyn in the middle of the night and astounding the passengers with their explosive performance before disembarking, still playing uproariously, on the opposite platform at the next station.
On 24 August 2017 Leo was invited to the Royal Albert Hall for a Charles Mingus retrospective with the Metropole Orkest, conducted by Jules Buckley, and a second soloist, trumpeter Christian Scott. In a mauve whistle and trademark pink mohican, Leo gave an absolutes sensational performance with an amazing repertoire of masterclass classical, classic brass house, and wildly impossible sounds - all combined with the magical footwork for which he was already so well known.
In 2023 as the start of the British tour approached Leo regrouped with his 2006 colleagues in 'Lucky Chops', a fabulous multi-instrumental ensemble where Leo is joined by two other baritone saxophonists, Adrian Condis and Daro Behroozi (Rogerst Charles alto), Joshua Gawel provides the exhilarating trumpet plus Ben Holcomb and Cyzon Grifffen drums. Nora Nalepka's sousaphone adds something 'unusually different' and the unexpected star turn is the casually dapper Josh Holcomb stealing the show with his outrageous trombone solos. Their subway set at 34th & 6th was legendary, and their cover of the Lipps Inc hit 'Funkytown' is unforgettable.
When Leo, Matt, and Dave arrived at the Exeter Phoenix that wonderful Sunday evening a sell-out crowd were waiting in excited anticipation for what was guaranteed to be a night of non-stop joy and excitement. Even the no-show of support act 'The Showhawk Duo' could not dampen the audience enthusiasm.
The Zooz did not disappoint. All the energy and invention of two decades of innovative busking in New York translated into a non-stop set of overpowering sound and fury which had the entire audience dancing in a fever. To have such an exclusive line-up providing that wall of magnificent sound was surely one of the best high points of the Phoenix calendar for the year.
After nearly three hours of the very best dance music the trio were finally allowed to leave a hugely satisfied and grateful audience. The band also provided copies of their latest triple album including tracks from 'F Note EP', 'Fanimals' and 'Brasshouse Volume 1 - Survival of the Flyest'. Tracks regularly feature at the close of each 'Classical Journey' programme on Phonic FM (alternate Fridays 2-4pm) to welcome Pat Bensberg and his extra helping of the 'Eccentric Selection'.
All the performances mentioned above are available as online videos, and many more - including the delightful 'Lucky Chops' cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Shall Survive", which opens on Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn (leading appropriately to the Prospect Park Zoo) with Leo, Matt (with full beard), and Dave Parks playing as they walk along. Then, one by one, the other 'Chops' players join the peripatetic players, including not only Josh Holcomb's trombone, but also a special appearance by Kevin Bernstein playing melodica.
Do listen out for 'Too Many Zooz' on Phonic FM, and their ever increasing online catalogue. These Manhattan graduates are truly a sensational new musical phenomenon.
No comments:
Post a Comment