Review of Best Reason To Buy The Sun Album by Benevento/Russo Duo

Benevento/Russo Duo

Benevento/Russo Duo - Best Reason To Buy The Sun - Album Review

Benevento/Russo Duo - Best Reason To Buy The Sun - Album Review
Benevento/Russo Duo:

Best Reason To Buy The Sun

Brooklyn organist Marco Benevento and Jazz drummer Joe Russo are the two colliding forces that make Benevento/Russo Duo. Bit of a no brainer really. They are an organ and drum duo sitting in a very odd spot somewhere between 90’s Acid Jazz bands like The James Taylor Quartet or Corduroy and modern rock intellectuals such as Radiohead, Steven Fretwell and Elliot Smith. So the music is a jazz based drum and organ sound with modern sensibilities and some rather ethereal melodies.

Their debut album “Best reason to buy the sun” was recorded in Hollywood at LA’s Soundfactory studios through August of 2004 with producer Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M.) and is definitely worth a purchase. These guys merge the subtle intellect of jazz with the epic and glorious sweeping sound-scapes of modern rock to great effect. It is the kind of sound I just cannot do any justice by trying to explain it in words. This said to give you some idea you will hear howling B3 Hammond organs, Jimmy Smith style smooth jazz, digital drums – jazzy drum breaks – avant-garde piano – tranquil Fender Rhodes - bleeps and much, much more.

The nine track album takes you on a journey through a mix of grooves and moods then arias with the 15 minute almost Orbital-esque "My Pet Goat," a tribute to the infamous children's book clutched between George Bush's nervous hands when told of the attacks on 9/11.

If you fancy a new musical experiment, then give Benevento/Russo Duo a go. Their music is fresh – intelligent and not derivative of much at all.

www.beneventorussoduo.com

Contactmusic