The debut of JEDI w/ Let's Danza at Ardmore Music Hall 11/30
Words: Brian Overton | Photos: Alex Buschiazzo
The Ardmore Music Hall has been at the top of their game lately, consistently booking quality artists and projects, selling out shows, and providing music fans with a with a plethora of musical genres to choose from during any given week. Last night was no different, with the venue hosting the always fun and energetic Lets’ Danza project and the debut of a brand new project called J.E.D.I. or Jazz Electronic Dance Improvisation. Lovers of music, new and old, filed into the venue in excited anticipation to experience the very first live performance from this greatly crafted lineup of musicians. J.E.D.I. is the brain child of Aaron Johnston (Brazilian Girls) on drums and Joined by Borahm Lee (Break Science) on keys, Ryan Zoidis (Lettuce, Shady Horns) on saxophone, and Nate Edgar (The Nth Power) on bass. With a stacked lineup of such tenure and talent, the band set high expectations for their jazz dance improvisation that were met with harmony, creativity, and rhythm.
The night commenced with the electronic space explorers, Let’s Danza. No strangers to the Philly music scene, Let’s Danza provides a unique EDM-inspired sound featuring members of Brother’s Past, Particle, CIA, and rotating drummers. For Philly music fans who have been in the jamtronica scene for a long time, Let’s Danza Provides and overwhelming nostalgia of the days when Brothers Past were at their peak and pumping Philly full of sound. Staying true to that sound of Brother Past, Let’s Danza moves in and out of Brothers Past songs while adding their own style of improvisation used as a springboard for the thematic exploration of the electronic music realm. Last night the band provided a full set of nothing but BP and it was an old-school set that was a real treat for those who were truly into BP. The set progressed as follows: One Rabbit Race, Big Blue Applesà Getaway Somehowà Big Blue Apples, Year of the Horse. From beginning to end, Let’s Danza brought the heat with tight beats, thick funky bass tones, and blasted into a world of synth soundscape exploration.
The night commenced with the electronic space explorers, Let’s Danza. No strangers to the Philly music scene, Let’s Danza provides a unique EDM-inspired sound featuring members of Brother’s Past, Particle, CIA, and rotating drummers. For Philly music fans who have been in the jamtronica scene for a long time, Let’s Danza Provides and overwhelming nostalgia of the days when Brothers Past were at their peak and pumping Philly full of sound. Staying true to that sound of Brother Past, Let’s Danza moves in and out of Brothers Past songs while adding their own style of improvisation used as a springboard for the thematic exploration of the electronic music realm. Last night the band provided a full set of nothing but BP and it was an old-school set that was a real treat for those who were truly into BP. The set progressed as follows: One Rabbit Race, Big Blue Applesà Getaway Somehowà Big Blue Apples, Year of the Horse. From beginning to end, Let’s Danza brought the heat with tight beats, thick funky bass tones, and blasted into a world of synth soundscape exploration.
JEDI
After an excellent set from Let’s Danza, we waited anxiously for the for the debut of J.E.D.I. Through the collaborative vision of Aaron Johnston, J.E.D.I. was created as a jam vehicle for the exploration into a new realm of jazz fusion. Combining two very different genres, this show was bound to be a display of improvisational experimentation that would push the envelope of typical fusion, and it did. Unknown to many fans who were present, the set played had a core centered around classic jazz/dub covers which the band would use as base to improvise on. The opening tune revolved around improvisation on the keys provided by Broham Lee which brought the band to move into a cover from American jazz trumpeter, Eddie Henderson. After exploring the realms of Eddie Henderson, they moved into the more improvisational Miles Davis number, Freedom Jazz Dance. The band used that as a catalyst, diving into a series of tempo and progression changes that stretched into an exciting space of jazz/dance fusion, as saxman Ryan Zoidis used his powerful notes to send the music into jazz fusion bliss, then followed by an extensive jam that was common to Nate Edgar's always funky bass lines. Next, the band went into the dub-reggae jam, “Murder Dem”, by Ninja Man and then into Nautalist, by Bob James. The band then went into another realm of saxophone jazz space music as Ryan Zoidis put down a sax solo-centered jam that moved into the Acid Jazz genre. The show would end with an incredibly energetic piece called “Fela”.
This lineup set high expectations for the fans who attended but the band delivered an excellent performance for their debut show that left no one in the crowd disappointed and left us only wanting more. The first of hopefully many shows will go down as an amazing night of jazz and dance fusion improvisation that left us hooping and hollering in appreciation for this amazing new project. With a series of shows booked in the upcoming weeks, J.E.D.I will take on the energy of the crowd in New York City at American Beauty tonight and continue on to Albany's Hollow Bar & Kitchen tomorrow night.
Let's Danza
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