Baboon Strength: Cool name, huh?
Charlie Hunter & company (Erik Deutsch on keyboards and Tony Mason on drums) recorded Baboon Strength at Trout Studio in Brooklyn. They have an old school set-up where everything happens in the same room, instruments, mixing desk, tape machine, everything.
The album was recorded to 16 track two-inch tape before putting it in the digital realm. Erik brought his 1970s Yamaha combo organ, Casiotone and Echoplex. His sonic aesthetic and abilities as an improviser are impeccable. Go Erik! Tony played Trout’s big ass bass drum, snare and toms. (In Charlie’s words, “He also happens to be, in my opinion, the best pure pocket drummer I’ve ever heard. Science. In terms of groove and time it’s his world, we live in it, act accordingly”). Erik and Charlie both concur that he gets the game ball for this record. Charlie brought some decent songs and tried not to overplay. It’s a never- ending process. Dave McNair did a hell of a job mixing and mastering the disc. Grab the album and see if you concur — the vinyl will be up soon! [Check out the fat drum sound on “Difford-Tillbrook”.]