Full Review

Andrew Binder’s Conspiracy Deliracy, Conspiracy Deliracy Review

In today’s jazz, tradition often intertwines with contemporary sounds and influences, Andrew Binder’s latest project, Conspiracy Deliracy, is a compelling-sounding project with this dynamic interplay. Binder, a bassist and composer rooted deeply in the jazz tradition and modern compositional techniques, leverages his extensive academic background and practical experience to craft an eleven-track album that is as intellectually stimulating as it is musically engaging. With a lineup of seasoned musicians, each track on Conspiracy Deliracy is a thoughtful jazz commentary on the era of misinformation and conspiracy theories that permeate our modern discourse.

At the forefront of this album is Binder’s ability to seamlessly integrate elements of modern jazz with the whimsical and often surreal world of conspiracy theories. Tracks like “Squatch Watch” and “Birds Aren’t Real” are compositions with narratives encapsulating the essence of their titular conspiracies through intricate musical storytelling. Binder employs a sophisticated blend of reharmonization, contrafact, and thematic development, drawing inspiration from jazz legends such as John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter, and melding these with the lore of modern myths. This approach demonstrates Binder’s reverence for jazz history and showcases his innovative spirit, reimagining these tales through today’s jazz lens.

Moreover, the album delves into the absurdity of popular culture’s conspiracy theories, with tracks like “Stevie Isn’t Blind” and “Katy is a Lizard” offering a tongue-in-cheek musical exploration of these bizarre claims. Binder’s ingenuity lies in his ability to distort and reinterpret the works of Stevie Wonder, Katy Perry, and others, creating a familiar and disconcertingly alien soundscape. This juxtaposition invites listeners to reflect on the nature of belief and skepticism in an era dominated by misinformation.

The composition “Mandela Effect” has a stirring thematic variation as its vehicle for musical storytelling. Through seven iterations of a melody, with each variation subtly altered, Binder captures the essence of collective false memories, a phenomenon as intriguing as it is perplexing. Like the rest of the album, this track shows Binder’s compositional creativity and his ability to convey complex ideas through jazz.

Binder’s ensemble, a collective of Midwestern jazz cats, injects vitality into Conspiracy Deliracy with a blend of virtuosity and expressive clarity. Alongside Justin Dyar’s evocative trumpet and Brian Stark’s fluid saxophones and flute, Frank Niemeyer’s trombone contributions add color to the proceedings. Jose Gobbo’s guitar work weaves intricate textures, while Kurt Reeder’s keyboards provide the harmonic foundation that ranges from subtle to soaring. Maxwell Osawa’s drums anchor the rhythm section as he propels the music forward with dynamic energy. Andrew Binder’s bass lines are at the heart of this ensemble, a solid foundation, guiding the listener through a myriad of musical landscapes with grace and authority. Together, these musicians navigate Binder’s intricate arrangements with precision and soul that bring the album to life, their performances imbuing Conspiracy Deliracy with a sense of immediacy and emotional resonance that invites listeners into the very core of each composition.

In Conspiracy Deliracy, Andrew Binder brings jazz listeners an album featuring celebrities of jazz’s past and a commentary on contemporary culture. Through his sophisticated compositions and the ensemble’s dynamic performances, Binder invites listeners on a journey through the whimsical, the absurd, and the profound. In doing so, he affirms that jazz, with its inherent capacity for innovation and reflection, remains a vital medium for exploring the complexities of our time. That’s the short of it!