On June 17th, Boston-based guitarist/composer Eric Hofbauer will make his recorded debut as a bandleader with Myth Understanding (Creative Nation Music CNM 011), featuring his year-old working quartet, Eric Hofbauer and The Infrared Band. With the same signature blend of intelligence and whimsy heard on his 2004 solo recording, American Vanity (CNM 003), and The Blueprint Project with Han Bennink’s 2007 release, People I Like (CNM 008), Hofbauer’s newest ensemble explores his intermingling interests in wordplay, mythology and puzzles.
"If there’s a single overarching ethos to the band it would be ’tell your story," Hofbauer explains. "All my compositions have a back story or theme and I encourage each player to add their own take on those stories and to play from personal experience. When I decided to put together a permanent lineup for the band, I handpicked tenor saxophonist Kelly Roberge (who, like me, studied at Oberlin with Don Walden), bassist Michael Montgomery (a former roommate and student of mine) and drummer Miki Matsuki (who I worked with in Charlie Kohlhase’s band). There’s no role playing, I compose to each of their strengths, featuring everyone and challenging their limits."
"When musicians of this caliber explore their innermost selves," writes music journalist Ed Hazell in the liner notes, "using Eric’s composition as the starting point and improvisation as the methodology, you can bet profound things are discovered—always in a playful spirit, of course. But Eric has more to offer than his sense of humor. There’s always a strong concept behind any of Eric’s musical endeavors, whether it’s a composition or a recording. On this album, the compositions fall into three general categories: compositions based on myths, compositions derived from sung phrases, and what Eric calls (with the inevitable pun) ’Puzzle Pieces.’"
..
Eric Hofbauer and the Infrared Band's Friend Space (Top 8)
Eric Hofbauer and the Infrared Band has 52 friends.
