Jeff Parker ETAIVtet "Happy Today"
Periodically across the two tracks that comprise the latest release from the Jeff Parker ETAIVtet, Happy Today , drummer Jay Bellerose gets some in a manner that would absolutely make James Brown proud. He lays down a funk breakbeat that would have made the breakers go insane if Herc, Bam or Flash dropped it at a park jam back in the day. It’s this kind of joy that is captured on this record that makes the album title so fitting. As a band, and as individual players, this group has been on a tear for some time now. As I started working on this piece I kept thinking I needed to dig into the back story but everytime it just led to me stalling out. The words have been shed, the story is out there . The jist is that upon relocating to the Los Angeles area Jeff Parker wanted to continue what has been a consistent practice of his forever - regular improv sessions open to other players to drop through with their instrument in low stakes spaces, perhaps not even intentional venues. He found th...