John Moulder Quartet

So the last time ECR and I went on a cultural adventure it turned out to involve computer jazz, which was. . .um. . .interesting.

We ended up leaving after the first song, which also happened to be the first set, which was an hour long (computers don't need to take breaths or breaks the same way real live humans do). We laughed most of the way to the car and, as the adventure had been her idea, she declared she "owed me one."

I can officially say that debt has been forgiven. Last night's cultural adventure completely redeemed the computer jazz experience.

ECR was not in town for this one, but on her recommendation I went to hear the John Moulder Quartet at the Artist's Quarter. It was excellent. This "quartet" is not a standing group, both the pianist and the drummer had done gigs with John before, but this was the first time all 4 of the musicians had ever played together. I would never have known that if they hadn't said it outright - they were tight.

And theological. Moulder is a "jazz priest" (dude, why was that track never made explicit when I was going through MDivland?!) - he is an ordained Catholic priest who also happens to be a professional jazz musician. Inspired by the religious music of the likes of Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck, he's written his own religious jazz setting, called "Trinity." The quartet played parts of it last night, including some delta blues, which Moulder introduced with the comment, "I'm pretty sure the Israelites got the blues."

They also played a piece he wrote called "Being and Time" - he didn't make it explicit in what he said around it, but I couldn't help feeling it was a nod to Heidegger.

So, if you like good jazz and blues, or you like artists with deep theological and philosophical grounding to their work, check John Moulder out. He's a hep cat. :)

Actually, they were all hep cats, so check out Dan Musselman, Alexander Young, and Billy Peterson too.

Also - the Artist's Quarter is a sweet venue - how have I been ignorant of its existence until this weekend?!