Guitarist Eric Hofbauer and drummer/percussionist Dylan Jack get together for a collection of ten intuitive interpretations of jazz and rock classics. Don’t expect to be able to “ name that tune” in the first 8 bars, as some of the pieces are more based on inspiration than interpretation.
Hofbauer has a loose sound to his strings, plucking on a spacey read of Sting’s “Walking On The Moon” and relaxed for Charlie Parker’s bopping “Klactoveedsedstene.” Jack’s brushes are frisky for a rustled read of “Nardis’ and the two get angular for “Let’s Call This.” Most alluring is the exotic read of Duke Ellington’s “African Flower” that mixes Eastern African strings with a lovely cadence, while the team is nimble on “Word From Bird.” It’s possible that if these songs were not associated with the original compositions that they might be appreciated more on their own terms.