THE ZEN TRICKSTERS
''THE HOLY FOOL''
JULY 18 1996
67:53
1. Victim Of Circumstance /4:30
2. Arise /5:10
3. Done Is Done /6:20
4. Drownin' /4:33
5. Body Parts (The Anatomy Of A Breakup) /3:56
6. Shine Your Light /9:43
7. Mother Found A Gun /4:19
8. Hoodoo /4:28
9. Not Quite Enough /6:47
10. Blinding Light /4:10
11. Lay Your Love /10:21
12. Homesick /3:36
REVIEW
by Stanton Swihart
Those who have only heard Zen Tricksters' reputation as a "jam" band and not its actual music might expect the songs on its debut album to be longwinded or dominated by extended instrumental excursions. Instead The Holy Fool is surprisingly soulful with tight, though involved, song structures. In a couple of words, downright poppy, though in a skewed sense of the word, and, in comparison to their concert interplay, rather succinct. Some of the songs seem like melodically slight excuses to play a certain style or utilize a certain musical touch, but mostly the songwriting maintains a high standard. The music is certainly varied: beginning with the jazz-fusion of "Victim of Circumstance," the Tricksters switch from bouncy world music ("Arise") to rootsy folk-rock ("Shine Your Light") to the vaguely gospelish "Not Quite Enough," and "Mother Found a Gun" downright swings. "Done Is Done" riffs on a chunky, country beat, but theZen Tricksters seem incapable of playing something as straight as country without twisting it into something much more involved and fun. Though all the instrumentalists are stellar, the star of the show is Rob Barraco, whose nimble-fingered keyboards always enhance the songs in just the right way. If there is a musical point of contention on The Holy Fool, it may be that the album has an overall studio sheen that doesn't entirely reflect the band's complex, sometimes gritty, musical interaction onstage. Of course, it is natural, even expected, to soften the edges of a live show in the studio, and, if anyone's listening experience is affected, it is most likely to be someone who is already a longtime fan of the band and, thus, more used to the band's live sound. The album also might have benefitted from a consistent lead vocalist. Each member is a solid (though not scintillating) vocalist in his own right, but former lead vocalist Jen Markard (who co-wrote four songs on the album) lends her wonderful vocals to "Homesick," making that song one of strongest efforts on the album. Her presence on the rest of the songs might well have taken The Holy Fool to an even higher level than it has already reached. Still, for most listeners, The Holy Fool is bound to be an enjoyable experience because it is a solid, fun album full of vigorous melodies and beautiful playing.
BIOGRAPHY
by Stanton Swihart
Spiritual brothers of Phish and, like that band, heirs to the throne left vacant by the Grateful Dead, Zen Tricksters have spent the last decade traveling from venue to venue across the country adding new fans, young and old, with their brand of loose and involved improvisatory music. Based in New York, Zen Tricksters have their roots as the Volunteers, who began circa the early '80s solely as a Grateful Dead cover band. The band re-formed in 1988, continuing with Grateful Dead covers but also writing their own original like-minded tunes. With the loss of vocalist Jennifer Markard, the lineup was pared down to a four-piece made up of Jeff Mattson (vocals, guitar), Rob Barraco (vocals, keyboards), Klyph Black (vocals, bass), and Joe Chirco (drums). The band built up a large fan base the old-fashioned way: lots of intensely hard work touring across the country and a growing reputation as a superb live act, catching on not only with appreciative Deadheads and Phriendlies, but with general fans of exploratory jams and creative improvisation. By the mid-'90s, Zen Tricksters had played from Maine to Oregon and were packing ballrooms and large venues. They have opened for a diverse group of music acts, from Hot Tuna to Suzanne Vega. In addition, Zen Tricksters have acted as the backup band for numerous musicians, including Rick Danko and Bo Diddley. The band's primary influence is, of course, the Grateful Dead, and its music reflects that band's blend of rock, blues, folk, and bluegrass, but there are also prevalent classical and jazz influences. Zen Tricksters recorded Holy Fool, their first album of all-original songs, in 1996; two years later, it achieved wider release via the Zebra Tango label. The follow-up, Love Surreal, was recorded in 1999, featuring the same lineup. By the turn of the millennium, several personnel shifts had taken place: Barraco departed and was replaced by seasoned jam band vet Pete Levin, while Chirco was replaced by Alan Lerner (formerly of Joe Gallant & Illuminati and the Dimitri Gurevitch Quintette), and second guitarist/vocalist Tom Circosta (a former member of the Volunteers) joined up as well.
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