By Frank Alkyer | Published October 2024
Saxophonist Jeff Lederer and his marauding posse of aberrant musicians (called the Band Formerly Known as Swing n’ Dix) have decided to storm into this year’s election with “GUILTY”!!!, and, yep, you know who they’re talking about. With smiles on their faces and cutting political satire on their minds, the group slashes through 10 blistering songs that leave no doubt about how Lederer feels about this year’s presidential contest. Most of the tunes feature spoken-word intros by some unwitting collaborators, such as “Buzzsaw,” where the manipulated voice of conservative Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene repeats the title. From there Bob Stewart’s tuba kicks off the rhythmic, comical bass line before Lederer and trumpeter Kirk Knuffke drop the bombs of off-kilter unison work. Lederer, on tenor, delivers a slamming solo that, at times, sounds almost like a hyena laughing. Knuffke wails on muted trumpet while long-time Lederer cohort Matt Wilson attacks the drums and Curtis Hasselbring drops in electronics. All of it sonically creates a sense of chaos reflecting what many folks in this country are feeling right now. That sense intensifies throughout the album. “Buttigieg vs Sanders” features soundbytes from the two overlaid on top of each other because ain’t nobody listening, just talking. “Cheapening The Process” is a relief, a sweet bossa nova about former Rep. George Santos, a convicted felon, of course. Mary DeRose delivers some cynically delicious wordless vocalization that’s just fantastic. “Piccolo Buster” lampoons the filibuster with Lederer playing, yep, the piccolo. At the end of the tune, Wilson delivers an award-worthy solo on … the gavel. The title track, written by Hasselbring and Wilson, features Rep. Adam Schiff repeating “guilty” 34 times (in honor of you know what) with Lederer, Knuffke and Hasselbring playing along with each repetition. The album concludes with two of the finest politically charged works in jazz history: Charles Mingus’ “Fables Of Faubus” and Albert Ayler’s “Truth Is Marching In.” Both are killer sendups. And, anyone who’s heard Lederer play can attest to his love for Ayler’s sound. As a whole, “Guilty”!!! is tremendously thoughtful, and absurdly funny, stirring and racous. If you’re a staunch fan of the MAGA movement, ya might want to skip this one. But if you’ve got a sense of humor and a love of the absurd, check out this “GUILTY”!!! pleasure. As an added bonus, listeners can livestream or attend a special event. On Nov. 4, election night, from 8 to 9:30 p.m. EST, local musicians in St. Louis, New York City, Washington, D.C, Chicago and Milwaukee with join in to perform “Truth Is Marching In” together.
