Free Friday: Adagio Blue – "Ordovician Fission"

Ordovician Fission, the stunning debut studio album from the Cincinnati-based quartet, Adagio Blue was originally released by Alpha Dawg Records in 2008 to great praise.  The band is now offering the album as a free download via Noisetrade and it sounds just as innovative and fresh as it did over six years ago! 

Adagio Blue is a post- modern instrumental, melodic jazz-funk fusion band from Ohio; the brainchild and side project of guitarist/songwriter Jay Brunner (of Johnny B and the Gravediggers) and bassist/songwriter Chris Rhoton along with keyboardist Matt Hall and drummer Mark Becknell.

All of the songs were recorded in a live band setting with no overdubs. Most songs were recorded in just one or two takes, which is a testament to the experience and talent these four members exude. They have more chops than a butcher shop! Comparable to the avant-garde jazz of Medeski, Martin & Wood, the retro-funk of Lettuce and Soulive, with touches of prog-rock and blues, Adagio Blue blur the lines of classification.

Standout track "Second Of Six" starts out with a dueling guitar and bass race before giving way to a walking bass line and noodling guitar riff that should make every jam band envious.  Other standouts include, "Laurentian Kid", an organ drenched blues rock rave-up with funky slap bass and a stop/start rhythm and the title track, "Ordovician Fission" which incorporates twinkling keys alongside a Primus-like guitar line that dissolves into a dissonantly distorted jazz freak-out. 

Download Ordovician Fission on Noisetrade here:

For more info: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adagio-Blue/261971423279 and http://alphadawgrecords.com/ADR6/slide/the-adagio-blue-collection/