PAPATAMUS REDUX

MAHAKALA RECORDS (RELEASED DECEMBER 5, 2025)

The pianoless quartet of sax, trumpet, bass and drums might have you thinking you are listening to the Ornette Coleman Quartet, but you are not. The intensity of some of the solos might have you thinking you are listening to Albert and Donald Ayler, but you are not. The seamless flow between rhythm and blues grooves and free jazz might have you thinking you are listening to the Art Ensemble of Chicago, but you are not. What you are listening to is a group of musicians who are putting a modern spin on the jazz adventures of the late 1960s.  Known as Things of This Nature, trumpeter Caylie Davis, reed player Chris Ferrari, bassist Shogo Yamagishi and drummer J.J. Mazza, is a powerhouse of free improvisation, rhythmic energy and intuitive musical interaction. Tunes such as “Shortstop Right Wing Chicken Parm” and “Nettles” have the quality of Coleman’s pianoless quartet but are played with a more aggressive rhythm. Other tunes such as “How Does It Sound Now” and “Tough Situation” demonstrate the band’s ability to shift between rhythm and blues riffs and free jazz, reminiscent of the Great Black Music of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. The simple an evocative “Tony in the Chat Room” and the mournful mood of “Waxy Yellow Buildup” capture the feel of Albert Ayler. But these tunes and others are not mere copies of earlier styles. Things of This Nature are expanding upon these groundbreaking sounds in unique and innovative ways. For example, “How It Is,” combines Ferrari’s flute with Davis’ muted trumpet, Yamagishi’s arco bass and Mazza’s funk drumming as they transition from a modern march beat to open improvisation. Driven my Mazza’s reactive and proactive rhythm hits, the modern bop sound of “E=MOC” concludes with Davis and Ferrari trading fours. Thanks to Mahakala Records’ Chad Flower for continuing his search for the best of today’s adventuresome players, and the members of Things of This Nature as well as the group itself should be added to that list!

BOTTOM LINE:  Whether in person or on their debut recording, Things of This Nature deserves to be heard. On Things of This Nature they bring a deep respect for the pioneers of free jazz while adding their own modern sensibilities to a music that continues to evolve, expand and explore the possibilities of jazz.