Johnny E

Out There Monthly Reptet: Chicken or Beef? Warning: Even though this Seattle ensemble has a cute letter-pressed CD cover, they won't be delivering any relax-with-a-mochachino-style-jazz. This record is complex, energetic and unpredictable. (Two of the tracks here, one rock and one ska, aren't even jazz) But if bold brassy contemporary jazz is your thing, it's gonna be hard not to enjoy this album. It captures all the kinetic, experimental, electricity you'll find in their live shows and some brooding moodiness that you won't. The CD proclaims "New Squawkaphonic High Fidelity". I won't dispute that, but a couple tracks (Swanni in Particular) have beautiful melodies that kept me humming for days. ~Jon Snyder~ Source

All Music Guide Chicken or Beef? - REPTET Review by Alex Henderson It has been argued that music cannot be abstract and funky at the same time—that one automatically cancels out the other. But thankfully, there are some musicians who refuse to be governed by either/or thinking, and the Seattle-based Reptet has a lot of fun with avant-garde jazz on Chicken or Beef?. It is rare that one hears the words "fun" and "avant-garde" in the same sentence, but in fact, fun is an important part of the equation on this early 2008 recording—which is not to say that Reptet shies away from the cerebral or the abstract. There is plenty of quirky, left-of-center experimentation on Chicken or Beef?; this isn't exactly music that one is going to hear alongside Amy Winehouse or Kelly Clarkson on a Top 40 station. But at the same time, these inside/outside performances have more playfulness and funkiness—not to mention humor—than one typically expects from avant-garde jazz. It should be noted that Reptet experienced some personnel changes between Chicken or Beef? and their last studio album Do This!; on Chicken or Beef?, drummer John Ewing leads a sextet that also includes trumpeter/flugelhornist Samantha Boshnack, trombonist Nelson Bell, saxophonists Izaak Mills and Chris Credit, and acoustic/electric bassist Tim Carey. But Ewing is clearly the one in the driver's seat—that was true on Do This! and is equally true on Chicken or Beef?—and this album's healthy balance of abstraction and fun is very much a reflection of Ewing's creative vision. It's a vision that continues to serve Ewing's band well on this engaging CD. Source

jazz.com Reptet: Chicken or Beef? Musicians: John Ewing (drums, percussion), Clinton Fearon (vocals), Samantha Boshnack (trumpet, flugelhorn), Nelson Bell (trombone, tuba), Izaak Mills, Christopher Credit (reeds), Paris Hurley (violin), Eyvind Kang (viola), Lori Goldston (cello), Tim Carey (bass), Lalo Bello (percussion) Recorded: Seattle, WA, January 2008 Rating: 94/100 (learn more) What are they putting in the coffee up in Seattle? Chicken or Beef? is one of the craziest jazz albums I've ever heard. In 2006, Earshot Jazz gave the Reptet its award for "Best Outside Jazz Group," and this 2008 release is certainly "outside jazz." Half of the tunes are outside any genre I am familiar with. They are part jazz, part classical, part serious, part parody, part free jazz, part virtuosity – and wholly entertaining. Think Frank Zappa at his wackiest getting together with Stan Kenton to beat up Spike Jones. The album's first half is actually the band playing as straight ahead as you will get from this aggregation. After that, the vocals and craziness begin. The album's title tune and most unusual cut doesn’t come close to jazz, so I cannot review it here. But it's impressively bizarre stuff. Chicken or Beef? opens with the horn-heavy, tightly played chaos of "Danger Notes." The rhythm is jam-band in nature. The solos tend to lean toward the free school. What little texture exists is reserved for the bassist and other string players. But no sooner have I written those words than the band is off on another exploration, and the open spaces are gone. The tune's midsection is more thoughtful. It soon gives way to a heavily syncopated…and then…next… I give up! There are too many stylistic changes to keep track of. But, whoa! It ends just like that. Cool. Like the other first-half tunes, "Danger Notes" is a well-played trick to totally unprepare you for the lovable nonsense that will be slapping you across the face in a few minutes. I doubt that even my warning will soften the blow. Need a little wakeup in life? Put this disc in your player. Reviewer: Walter Kolosky Source

Chicken or Beef? and Do This! listed on the Jim Flora blog as great examples of modern CD cover designs using the great illutrators work.

I'll be there

No, you can't have it silly wabbit! -_-

Damn bro, that is old!!!!!!!!!!!

This glazed meat cake is gonna make us rich and famous!!!

So, CD release party went swimmingly. Sizeable crowd, good vibes, beautiful weather. Thanks for all who showed up and bought a disc. We now have a commecial for Chicken or Beef? You can view it here. ENJOY!

May 14, 2009 The Score Reptet by Christopher DeLaurenti I'm a block away when I hear Reptet rehearsing "Swanni" from their upcoming disc, Chicken or Beef? (Monktail). Even from the middle of the street, the sextet—just back from playing a dozen shows on the East Coast—sounds tight. Trumpeter Samantha Boshnack pipes high above a churning Balkan-influenced riff; depending on how you count the beat, you hear an accelerated waltz or a pulsing four-on-the-floor groove. Inside, the tiny living room is packed with all six musicians. Drummer John Ewing sits to my left and I watch him place a pot lid on his floor tom during "Do This!"—the title track from the group's first album. Despite the standard jazz-band frontline of trumpet, trombone, and saxophones, every Reptet song has something unusual, from group chants and polyrhythmic hand-clap intros to unusual instruments including flute, tuba, and bass clarinet. During a break, I peer around the room, spotting some decades-out-of-print Impulse! LPs on the shelf along with Paul de Barros's classic book on Seattle jazz, Jackson Street After Hours. The back of a vintage magazine touts the "Piano Publications" of one forgotten "Marvin Kahn." I also spy a torn poster of David Bowie in his mid-1970s quasi-fascist Station to Station phase, and a set of 10-inch trio sides by Nat King Cole, who, before he found fame as a crooner, was a leading pianist. All that stuff seems to suit Reptet, who make new music by merrily hopping around the history of jazz. A stereotypical, finger-snapping walking bass lick can smartly mingle with a dissonant free-jazz freak-out, a moody, minor-key TV-cop-show melody, or an Anthony Braxton–inspired lamination of simultaneous layers. Best of all, Reptet make jazz fun. Catch Reptet Sun May 18, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Volunteer Park, 1400 E Prospect St, 654-3100, 2 pm, free. Source

Hey all, So the new disc is now available straight from our web site . We gots some twofer and threefer specials goin' on, so check it out. The new disc will also be available through Amazom, iTunes, CDbaby and other online retailers in about a week or two and it hits the brick and mortar shops on June 3rd. And for all my Seattle based friends, don't forget the CD Release party this Sunday (details above). Hope to see you there. -johnny

Jim, I'm so SO sorry. What shocking and sad news. The deepest of condolences from my family to yours.

So true.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE End date 5/18/08 Press Contact: Beth Fleenor* The Frank Agency 206.491.0516 beth@thefrankagency.org *CDs, photos, and more information available upon request Reptet Celebrate the Release of Chicken or Beef? With a CD Release Party Sunday, May 18th 2008 Seattle Asian Art Museum 1400 E Prospect Street Volunteer Park Seattle, WA 98112 2:00PM (The will be a pre-concert discussion at 1:30PM just before the show) FREE / All Ages Information: www.reptet.com Monktail Records and Reptet are pleased to announce the release of Reptet’s newest full-length CD, entitled Chicken or Beef?, available in stores on June 3rd. Reptet will be performing original music from the CD and other new compositions at their release party being held at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, May 18 at 2pm. There will also be a pre-concert discussion at 1:30PM just prior to the show. Reptet is a sextet consisting of six multi-instrumentalists: Samantha Boshnack (trumpet), Nelson Bell (trombone), Izaak Mills (tenor sax, alto sax, bass clarinet, flute), Chris Credit (baritone sax, tenor sax, alto sax, clarinet), Tim Carey (bass), John Ewing (drums); all of whom are members of the internationally acclaimed artist collective, the Monktail Creative Music Concern, based out of Seattle. Reptet’s previous CD, Do This! (Monktail Records, 2006) gained wide recognition as one of the finest jazz releases of 2006, being chosen top jazz CD by Jazziz Magazine’s Alex Gelfand, as well as making the top ten lists of many other writers and critics across the globe. They have toured coast to coast, were awarded two 2006 earshot Golden Ear Awards for Best Outside Jazz Group and Best Live Performance (as part of the Monktail Raymond Scott Project). Chicken or Beef? features 11 stunning original compositions tactfully layered with cameo appearances by such distinguished guests as Reggae legend Clinton Fearon and visionary composer/violinist Eyvind Kang. Recorded by Mell Dettmer (Wayne Horvitz, Mr. Bungle, Skerik’s Syncopated Taint) at Avast! Studios in Seattle, Chicken or Beef? is a bold and groundbreaking statement of acute originality and vivid intensity. Produced by Reptet and featuring cover art by legendary jazz illustrator Jim Flora. This event is open to all ages and free. Concert starts at 2:00PM with the pre-concert discussion begining at 1:30PM. If you'd like to purchase a copy please email or PM me, I will then let you know paypal or mailing details.

How do you know such intimate details? His wife is beautiful and all, but "appears to be blowing", "putting air in his oral cavity" and "got it in his mouth and holding it"...that's just down right scanalous! Got any pictures?

Beyond that, we had two barflys and two cracks heads in attendance. Needless to say, this was the first and last gig we will ever play in Trenton New Jersey. Ha! Been there, bro! Did you at least score some good rock? No, but one of the barfly's smoked us out on the stairway leading down to the basement. All the crack heads wondering by seemed really intrigued by our costumes.

Aw, shucks! BTW, here's the cover of the new CD:

Pretty fucking bleak. The booking guy there led me to believe that they had some kind of build in draw...not the case. No press to speak of, and the only name the booker could give me was an old, out of date contact at the Trenton Herald - and the email address he me gave was mistyped, so I had to do the research myself. The opening band was good. They were called 'Drake' from Philly (bass, drums, cello, trumpet and MC). They stuck around and bought CD's. Beyond that, we had two barflys and two cracks heads in attendance. Needless to say, this was the first and last gig we will ever play in Trenton New Jersey.

Back home. Thanks to everyone for coming out and supporting us on our tour. Chicken or Beef? CD's are now available to any board member who wishes to purchase one (not officially available until May 18th). Just send me an email or PM. They are $15. Love you guys! -johnny

Playing Boston tonight. Johnny D's in Somerville. We hit at 8:30pm (Sonic Exploreres to follow). I hope to see some Boston board people. We're in the home stretch. Just tonight, Brooklyn (fri) and Trenton (sat) then home. Man, it's been quite the trip. We're sounding tighter than ever.

Allen, Were you there last night? If you were, you didn't inroduce yourself. Good show. One Longfellow Square is a nice venue. All the people in Portland were so nice and helpful. Boston tonight. We hit at 8:30pm. I hope to see some Boston Org board peeps. -john

Allen, I haven't checked my email in a number of days. Sorry. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out which tune you could sit in on. We don't play standard fair or easily read material. If your into it, I guess you could sit in on Fish Market. Anyway, bring your horn and we'll see how it works out. -john

Me too, it's gonna be sweet.

Just confirmed that MacKay, Rumbeck and Hill go on at 8, we go on 9ish. I'll see you there.