A slippery vehicle of a band which takes liberal detours around its jazz basis,
Headless Household has often ventured into rock, polka, free improv, and
surf territory in search of... something to do. They released their eponymous
debut album on the Household Ink label in 1987, a Christmas tape the same
year, and their first CD, Inside/Outside USA in 1994.
Project number 3 was, Items: over 70 minutes of music
and organized sounds. Number 4, Free Associations
and number 5, Mockhausen, are now available.
The Household has been, and is: keyboardist Dick Dunlap, drummer Tom
Lackner, bassist Chris Symer and guitarist Joe
Woodard. Various and sundry guests have been known to be roped into the
musical bullpen. Dunlap, a visual and multi-media artist as well as a keyboardist,
has played with Mal Waldron and in numerous new music situations. Lackner,
a member of the legendary SB-based blues band, the Pontiax, has played
with Vinnie Golia, Airto and Flora Purim, Eddie Harris,
and Charlie Musselwhite. Symer is a regular member of pianist Theo
Saunders' group, and has played with Robben Ford, John Rapson,
Bennie Maupin, Kei Akagi, and many others. Woodard is a journalist.
| Here are some field reports from the Fourth Estate: |
| |
"On this, their fourth recording, they include everything
from free improv to straightahead jazz with creative asides thrown in that
include comedy, Country & Western, electronic fusion, blues and progressive
rock... it's quite an enjoyable mix from this group of talented and creative
musicians." |
|
|
--Jim Santella, L.A. Jazz Scene, April 1997 |
|
"Headless Household still seems to think that a mind is a
terrible thing to waste. Clever without being obnoxious, laid-back without
snoozing, their quick-dissolve electric studiohead jazz offers an alternative--
not exactly a revolution, more a wink than a nod: We haven't given up, how
about you?... Awareness won't get you to heaven, but in this case it gets
you pretty far." |
|
|
--Greg Burk, L.A. Weekly |
|
"...a fusion band in the broad sense of the word, fusing all
sorts of musical nuts and bolts-- polka, cabaret, country, bossa nova, jazz,
progressive rock-- into an unholy chassis. Two forces fuel the conflagration:
a drive to experiment and a rollicking sense of humor." |
|
|
--Jeff Gordinier, Santa Barbara News Press |
|
"Strange, cool rumblings from Southern California" |
|
|
--Jas Obrecht, Guitar Player |
|
|
