Yells At Eels - Dallas Museum of Art 1/23/14

[CraigP]

Yells At Eels played the Dallas Museum of Art last Thursday evening as part of the "Jazz in the Atrium" series. Yells is of course led by trumpeter Dennis Gonzalaz, and in addition to the core group of his sons Aaron on bass and Stefan on drums, they added guitarist Greg Prickett, who was part of Ronald Shannon Jackson's last Decoding Society group when they played the Kessler Theatre back in 2012.

Here's an excerpt from my review, which I posted on my blog:

"It hit me as I was sitting there that here we have the successor to Ronald Shannon Jackson. Stefan brings the intensity and attack of rock drumming, and combines it with the shifting rhythms and shadings of free jazz drumming…”

[Scott Dolan]

Very nice.

Do Stefan and Aaron still do their Thrash Metal material? Forgot what they called themselves. Definitely prefer their work with their father.

[CraigP]

I don't know - Dennis mentioned (wryly) during the show that " metal punk" was the sons' musical roots.

[Scott Dolan]

Whatever. That's all I can say.

They are both truly gifted musicians, no matter where their hearts lie.

I wish Ellery would record with them. NY Midnight Suite was brilliant, and not that Masters Thompson and Helias are slouches, but I'd love to hear him with Stefan and Aaron driving the bus.

[CraigP]

I was thinking that same thing after the concert!

[Scott Dolan]

I talked to Dennis about that years ago, and he told me it most likely wouldn't happen. But I won't divulge the reason since I'm not sure I have permission to.

Shame, though...

[Joe]

Stefan's and Aaron's "thrash duet" goes by the name of Akkolyte. They also appear every now and then with a rotating cast of improvisers and noise-makers under the moniker Unconscious Collective.

Aaron plays less these days than his younger brother, or so it seems... perhaps a function of his now being a dad. Stefan all over the place. I've lost count of the number of bands with which he's involved. For instance, The Young Mothers: http://www.hallwalls.org/music/5451.html.

Stefan is a powerful and creative drummer indeed, and his work on vibraphone impresses more and more.