This is the News and Review Page...

After a couple identity changes, the deput release from Jeff Davis & the Confusionists "Happy Cat Make You Lucky", has been released. To hear sample audio files, go to the Buy It! page.

Review of Happy Cat Make You Lucky

by Jodie Littleton (Word Up),

Think about the last day you woke up with a yen to forsake the ordinary. The kind of day that made you want to miss your exit and keep on driving, to hide in the bushes while the carpool honked, to seek out some insight from an unimagined source. Happy Cat Make You Lucky, the debut release from Jeff Davis & the Confusionists, is the soundtrack to that day. This contemplative collection of well-crafted originals is an album of contrasts, a mellifluous melding of the familiar and the unexpected, of influence and originality, of intense introspection and unadulterated joy.

In its upbeat, melodic, accessible compositions, Happy Cat Make You Lucky is fusion at its finest. Funk and bebop horn jams weave a freeform architecture atop the rock-solid foundation of Davis's bossa nova guitar, fretless bassist Pat Drews's jazz riffs, and drummer Bud Hayman's Weckel-inspired rhythms. Keys, percussion, and vibraphone add pop, samba, and rock elements to the 17 tracks, all inspired by a broad array of musical genres that have influenced and excited Davis since childhood.

A bassist for most of his musical career, Davis teamed up with Hayman for several years as the rhythm section for No Flies oN Frank, a Pennsylvania-based trio that achieved modest success with the release of two albums. It was while playing with Hayman in an altogether different group, in an altogether different role, that Davis was inspired to begin work on Happy Cat. "Just having this camaraderie really clicked for me," he said. "Bud had never known me as a singer, songwriter, or guitarist. It was a fresh experience and a new musical relationship that allowed both of us to develop this material."

And the material is a fresh experience as well, both musically and lyrically. Seven of the 17 tunes feature Davis's soothing, understated vocals, which contrast with yet complement the high-energy runs of the horn players. Beneath the upbeat tempos lie intensely introspective, autobiographical lyrics that examine life from a Zen perspective and imply that the joy's in the journey instead of the destination. "It's the Little Things" examines a relationship and concludes that while the big picture's in trouble, the little nuances that comprise the big picture are pure and are able to bring happiness. The final track, "Carousel," likens life to a merry-go-round and urges the listener to enjoy the ride without knowing the outcome.

Although Davis's lyrical tracks shine, it's the composition and musicianship that take center stage on this release. The result of unique instrumental pairings, time signatures, and blending of styles is pure dharma jazz, inspired fusion that reminds one all at once of old-school Chicago, Medeski Martin and Wood, and the Legendary Jim Ruiz Group after a bout of spiritual ecstasy. "Missing Miss Darcey" is a beautiful, mellow piece featuring vibraphone lines reminiscent of music box melodies. In contrast, the vibe solos on "Iced Latte" are decidedly funky jazz, mingling with strong bass and drum lines and vibrant jazz trumpet. And in "Take Me Down River," strong horn, bass, and guitar lines intertwine in a soaring crescendo to create the album's most hummable track.

Characterized by its high caliber of improvisational interplay, its dark beauty, and its humbleness in the face of bliss, Happy Cat Make You Lucky is an impressive solo debut that would be right at home on any jazz radio station. Its tasty hooks and delicious pop moments are far from ordinary, and its ability to show the listener a good time could raise Davis from local-hero status to national recognition.