Holy. Hell. What. Was. That?!

Jaga Jazzist
Album: One-Armed Bandit
One-Armed Bandit

So I was sitting at home, hanging out with my kids, watching The Wizards of Waverly Place (don't judge me), when I had an impulse to jazz it up.  It happens.  But I didn't feel like listening to my usual legend-inspired repertoire, so I googled "New Jazz," which forwarded me to "Nu Jazz," which led me to Jaga Jazzist.

There is nothing I enjoy more than finding a new band that really speaks to me, and I've been rocking out to Jaga Jazzist all afternoon.  The first tune I listened to was the funky "Animal Chin" (accompanied by its delightfully weird and wonderful video) and I was smitten.  A radical fusion of cool jazz with fat beats and spiky electronica.  Crazy good.  Since then it's been a track-by-track analysis of their new album, One-Armed Bandit.

I won't bore you with the details.  Suffice it to say that the band has a lot going for it.  First advantage: They're as good live as on CD.  The litmus test of any musically astute group.  Second advantage: They make prog rock sound good.  Not easy to do.  Third advantage: The petite flautist also plays tuba.  Now that's sexy.  Fourth advantage: At one point in "One-Armed Bandit" distorted electric guitar and low tessitura flute double each other.  I mean, like, what the hell?!  Sheer orchestrational awesomeness.  Fifth advantage: Their drummer looks like ZZ Top's  bastard son.  Sixth advantage: If I'm not mistaken, the acoustic double bassist can electrically fuzzify his instrument.  Or something.  Seventh advantage: They're Norwegian.  And, as we all know, Norway is the best fucking country on the planet.

Oh and Mars Volta cite them as a big influence.

Seriously, what's not to like?