Recording: Johnston-Davidson-Hay-Oelrichs-Smith

Artist: Pete Johnston with Michael Davidson with Jay Hay with Jake Oelrichs with Mike Smith

Song: Dark Sequin [composer: Mike Smith]

Recorded at The Tranzac (Southern Cross Lounge), December 4, 2014.

Pete Johnston with Michael Davidson with Jay Hay with Jake Oelrichs with Mike Smith - Dark Sequin

Nominally billed as a session under the leadership of bassist Pete Johnston (with the modest goal to "reveal the truth behind the ancient secrets of music") who did present some work, the engine here was once again Mike Smith exploring his burgeoning songbook. Hewing to the funky sound some of these same players were exploring in some famous wildlife movies, recent faves "Second" and "Sixth" were essayed here, alongside a restatement of an old Muskox tune as well as a run through the Joe Zawinul-penned Miles Davis standard "Directions". Playing guitar, Smith was also joined by Michael Davidson (vibes), Jay Hay (reeds), and Jake Oelrichs (percussion) — players who have all worked together on various other projects, so the give-and-take was natural, even as the arrangements for these tunes were being worked out on the fly. This might be a one-time-only band, but similar explorations can be found at the Tranzac and elsewhere.

[Speaking of elsewhere, Mike Smith is promising a night of "Boogie-Blobs for your Booty-Brain", where he'll be joined by Jonathan Adjemian, Shaw-Han Liem and Sandro Perri, "performing in parallel and in series on the electronic music synthesizers". Catch it at Holy Oak Café on Sunday, January 11, 2015.]