Rattlemouth

Rattlemouth is a three-piece jazz-fusion combo (perhaps progressive rock would be a more apt label), that manages to catch the listener's ear in a manner in which most jazz-fusion tends to fail. Consisting of Danny Finney on sax and sometimes vocals, Tom Brickman on Bass and Robbie Kinter on drums, Rattlemouth creates rhythmic riff-based songs (sometimes with hilarious lyrics) and instrumental pieces that generally start off introducing a simple theme that builds in complexity, culminating in sometimes sublime improvisational runs.

Brickman's riff-oriented bass lines (sometimes vaguely reminiscent of Primus) and Kintner's sensitive drum playing provide a good anchor for the sometimes blazing saxophone of Finney, who sometimes exhibits an almost middle-eastern flair to his playing, especially on "Wooden Bee".

Other songs exhibit the band's sense of humor, with titles like "Et Tu Bob?" and "Wet Nurse of the Apocalypse".

Overall, a fine album well worth hearing, put out by the independently owned and operated label, Cuneiform Records. The CD can be purchased from them directly either by mail or via their website.

Rattlemouth
Fist Full of Iffy
Cuneiform Records
PO Box 8427 Silver Springs, MD 20907-8427