Full Review

Jared Sims, Hellbender: The Resistance Review

Jazz, Rock, and Beyond: A Daring Odyssey in Jared Sims’ Hellbender: The Resistance

Alright, jazz voyagers! Hold on to your fedoras and berets because we’re diving deep into the sonic vortex of Jared Sims’ latest creation, Hellbender: The Resistance. I hope you’ve got your jazz hands ready because this is a wild ride across genres and sounds that refuses to be boxed in by the conventional.

Imagine the smoky room of a jazz club colliding headfirst with a rock concert, splashed with dashes of dub, reggae, and funk, all while Sims wails on his family of saxes like a sailor serenading the siren sea. This, my friends, is Hellbender: The Resistance.

Kicking things off, we have “Ensuing Plight,” an ambitious opener that sways between realms like a pendulum on the edge of chaos. With a spirit echoing Rush, the track delivers a potent mix of rock energy and jazz sophistication. And let me tell you, Sims and his crew aren’t messing around. There’s a beautiful chaos in their music – chord progressions spin and twirl with all the finesse of a well-oiled jazz ensemble, but they’re rooted in rock-solid subdivisions that get your heart pumping and feet tapping.

And let’s talk about Sims’ solos; it is as fluid as water and as fierce as a raging river; his improvisations aren’t based on technical showcases – they’re heartfelt expressions, stories without words. Even if you don’t know your D minor from your G7, you’ll be right there with him, swept up in the journey of creating in the moment.

“Infinite Colossus” is another standout. With a rock riff that’ll send shivers down your spine and a pulsating backbeat that anchors the whole shebang, this track takes you on a narrative ride. Sims weaves a motif throughout his solo, building and releasing tension like a playwright setting up a plot twist. It’s pure sonic drama, baby!

But this album has a message beyond the individual tracks. Sims’ Hellbender: The Resistance is a musical odyssey that redraws the lines between genres. It’s a bold fusion of jazz’s intellectual nuances and rock’s fiery spirit, creating a kaleidoscope of refreshing sounds. From the swinging “Alpha 1” to the melodic musings of “Ground Control,” each track forms a piece of the puzzle, a puzzle that builds up to a beautiful paradox.

Our captain, Jared Sims, and his trusty crew – Andrew Stern on guitar, James Rohr on keyboards, Marc Friedman on bass, and Randy Wooten on drums – have crafted a musical universe where the laws of genre are rewritten, and music is free to be whatever it wants to be.

So, to my fellow jazz cats and rock rebels, get your hands on Hellbender: The Resistance. Because let’s face it, most music is served in predictable boxes. Isn’t it refreshing when someone comes, and rips open a side? To borrow a phrase from Duke Ellington, “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing,” and trust me, this album swings, rocks, and everything in between. Happy listening!