''Jeff Sipe Trio'' is the debut album by the group of the same name, led by drummer

Jeff Sipe Jeff Sipe (born January 31, 1959), also known as Apt. Q258, is an American drummer. He is a rock and jazz fusion drummer but is proficient in other styles. He is a founding member of Aquarium Rescue Unit with Bruce Hampton. He was a member of Le ...

. It was recorded in August and September, 2013, at

Washington and Lee University , mottoeng = "Not Unmindful of the Future" , established = , type = Private liberal arts university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.092 billion (2021) , president = William C. Dudley , provost = Lena Hill , city = Lexingto ...

in Lexington, Virginia, and was released in 2014 by

Abstract Logix Abstract Logix is an American record label, based in Cary, North Carolina, which specializes in jazz fusion, world and jam band music. As of late 2022, Abstract Logix has released 66 titles from musicians spanning the globe. In 2019 they were vot ...

. On the album, Sipe is joined by guitarist Mike Seal and bassist Taylor Lee. Concerning the contents of the album, Sipe commented: "The song choices that were made for this record all stressed the importance of having strong melodies... in both the compositions and the way we improvised. This material is strong enough to stand on its own – these are songs, first and foremost."

Reception

In a review for ''

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

'', Mark Sullivan wrote: "While always technically impressive, these tracks all sound like songs... A strong debut recording from a group that sounds as if they have been playing together much longer than they have. Their eclectic, contemporary fusion approach fits right in with the rest of the Abstract Logix roster."

Dean Budnick Dean Budnick is an American writer, filmmaker, college professor, podcast creator and radio host who focuses on music, film and popular culture. Budnick, who is editor-in-chief of Relix,"Editor's note" ''Relix'' October/November 2013 grew up in ...

, writing for ''

Relix ''Relix'', originally and occasionally later ''Dead Relix'', is a magazine that focuses on live and improvisational music. The magazine was launched in 1974 as a handmade newsletter devoted to connecting people who recorded Grateful Dead concert ...

'', stated: "By turns tender and invigorating, the album highlights the group's range, guided by a bandleader who describes himself with a laugh as 'a jazz drummer in the land of the banjo.'"

Track listing

# "Trumpet" (Mike Seal) – 3:00 # "Alberta" (Taylor Lee / Jeff Sipe) – 4:17 # "Banana Pudding" (Jaron Bradley / Taylor Lee) – 5:27 # "April" (Mike Seal) – 3:17 # "Lighting Man" (Taylor Lee) – 6:03 # "Renee" (Mike Seal) – 3:35 # "

Naima "Naima" ( ) is a jazz ballad composed by John Coltrane in 1959 that he named after his then-wife, Juanita Naima Grubbs. Coltrane first recorded it for his 1959 album ''Giant Steps'', and it became one of his first well-known works. History Col ...

" (

John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of br ...

) – 5:10 # "Home Town" (Mike Seal) – 4:26 # "

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" is a song written and recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams in 1949. The song has been covered by a wide range of musicians. Authorship and production Various writers quoted Williams a ...

" (

Hank Williams Hank Williams (born Hiram Williams; September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, he reco ...

) – 3:40 # "Happy Evil Happy" (Jeff Sipe) – 2:45

Personnel

– drums * Mike Seal – electric guitar * Taylor Lee – bass guitar

References

{{Reflist 2014 debut albums Jeff Sipe albums Abstract Logix albums