''Project Z'' is the debut album by the band of the same name. It was recorded at Southern Living At Its Finest in Atlanta, Georgia, and was released in 2001 by Terminus Records. On the album, core Project Z members Jimmy Herring (guitar), Ricky Keller (bass), and

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 Lef ...

(drums) are joined by guest artists Rev. Oliver Wells (keyboards),

Derek Trucks Derek Trucks (born June 8, 1979) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and founder of The Derek Trucks Band. He became an official member of The Allman Brothers Band in 1999. In 2010, he formed the Tedeschi Trucks Band with his wife, blues sin ...

(slide guitar), Count M'Butu (congas), and Col. Bruce Hampton ("Z Phone"). According to

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

's Ann Wickstrom, the recording documented a session in which "top-drawer musicians who favor improvisation are given no boundaries, rules, restraints, pressures, or expectations... Terminus told the artists they could record anything they wanted to and it would be released." Herring recalled that the project was "about the lack of songs," with the goal being "to see how far we could get without songs. Just pure improvisation."

Reception

In a review for

, Ann Wickstrom wrote: "The intrinsic communication between the three musicians is staggering... Highly recommended." Author

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 ...

stated that the band "perpetuates the musical ethos that is the essence of Zambi," Bruce Hampton's term for "approaching music in the moment, without ego." He described the album as "a constant flow of music," and noted that "Herring and Sipe are in fine fettle, with Keller a capable running buddy."

Track listing

# "Raging Torrent" – 3:59 # "Guitargument I" – 0:24 # "Mud Bug" – 6:23 # "Extra Cold" – 0:16 # "Augusta's Ankle" – 4:23 # "Psychic Flutter" – 0:18 # "Rainbow" – 5:23 # "Guitargument II" – 0:12 # "Albright Special" – 2:47 # "The Third Man" – 0:18 # "Genetic Drift" – 1:42 # "Yachtz" – 7:20 # "Guitargument III" – 0:33 # "Utensil Oceans" – 4:29 # "She Freak" – 0:30 # "Jean" – 0:40 # "Separated Gestures" – 6:54 # "Isolated Light" – 7:36

Personnel

* Jimmy Herring – electric guitar, acoustic guitar * Ricky Keller – bass, disease piano *

– drums, percussion, underwater devices * Rev. Oliver Wells – organ, piano, synthesizer *

– slide guitar * Count M'Butu – congas * Col. Bruce Hampton – Z Phone

References

{{Reflist 2001 debut albums Project Z (band) albums