KINKY WIZZARDS

Most Madcap Musical Miscellany

KINKY WIZZARDS, established 2004 with two Griffiths (Mathew "Miffy", and Jonathan "Jiffy") added guitarist Ryan "Riffy" Elliott in 2014, began recording long-playing albums in 2014; "The Effervescent Travellers" is their third.

*Please grammar- and spelling-nazis, note the double letters festooning names and titles here. I didn't invent them, I just report them.*

KINKY WIZZARDS- (or is it THE KINKY WIZZARDS?) are a fine Welsh Big Band Jazz Fusion Whizbang trio. How can this be? I don't know.

Add A Horn Section

Yes, that does help. In addition to the guitar/bass/drum setup, the horns add some real jazz spice and energy to the madcap goings on, and now and then we hear some synthesizer, and one very cool honky-tonk acoustic piano work- out.

Wandering Minstrels

KINKY WIZZARDS focus here on hitting the road- thus, the titles of the tunes. Can't say I know the back story on each of these, but I'll bet there IS one.

The "Effervescent" part (see, two f's!) definitely reflects the musical nature of this album- fun, energetic, fizzy, wild, goofy, and full of zip. "High Rose" opens the album with bold, complex, precise full-band, then wicked guitar riffs, and some mean octave-tone guitar leads.

"Extreme Push Cycle Race" features more of those mean riffs- these guys can really play. There's a sort of funky feel, although in my estimation, every genre gets more than a little 'kinky' bending along the road. On this track, the horn trio: Samuel Robertson - Saxophone/ Russel Evans - Trombone/ Laurence Collier - Trumpet- make their first appearance. Oh baby! They add a lot to the Big Band coolness.

"Sur La Dordogne" (apparently some kind of canoe trip happened) opens with a clean, Strat-style blues/jazzy lick, and there's a breezy lighter feel...until it gets heavy. Tempo changes, mood changes (sort of like a river?), then more rocking. I've got to say the rhythm section is polished and tight- some wicked playing all around.

"The Almighty Faff" (who knows?) has a punchy, staccato entry, then guitar leads into a cabaret-style feel, but with heaviness (remember what I said about genre-kinking?). Yeah. The horn section again brings some real pizzazz. A change brings spare jazzy guitar and cymbal passage, that grows into some WILD drumming. Yes, the WIZZARDS have fun, but they're kinky and hot musicians too.

"Mont Blanc" (some kind of pen, right?) has midtempo band lick, then a thick-toned guitar lead. There's a clear melodic theme, that gets more complex, and we hear some synth sounds. Some complicated bass guitar work is a highlight on this track.

"Fred's Motorhome Extravaganza" (thus 'hit the road, Fred', and in all seriousness- the album is dedicated to grandfather Geoffrey AKA Fred) has a throbbing, pulsing entry with lots of guitar feedback, then shifts to a cool riff with more wild bass riffs- I mean funky and rocking! More amazing drumming, and then the sax makes it happen. There's some serious quirk here, more synth, and a fine riff to finish the track.

And to top it off, "Kinky Joe's Steamboat Trip Down the River Taff" (more double letters, darn it). Could we say, 'Change of pace?' Well, yes, we could. What would I call this? Sort of a kinky Western Swing, I think. There is a sort of tormented country/bluegrass feel too.

But anyway. Here's where the honky-tonk piano lick happens, and well, it's a fun way to end this 'trip'.

So Let's Sum Up

Whoa baby! Fun, Furious, Funky, Wizzardry! I give it four mobile musical motions.

Kinky Wizzards is one more addition to the list of quality bands exploring one of the many paths inside the spectrum of instrumental progressive rock. In their case operating out from a hard rock foundation and applying jazz and jazzrock elements to it. They do so with a natural ease, and those with an interest in instrumental bands blending elements from those two universes inside a progressive rock context can safely add this band to their list of material that merits a listen.