Jim Duffy, a Brooklyn-based composer and keyboardist, announces the release of "Pale Afternoon," his third full-length collection of moody and bouncy instrumental music.
The eleven tracks on "Pale Afternoon" each aim for a specific feeling. Duffy leads a small group from his 1960s Wurlitzer electric piano. Dennis Diken of the world-famous Smithereens is on drums, Paul Page, who tours the world with Ian Hunter, plays bass, and Lance Doss, who has toured and recorded with John Cale, plays guitar and lap steel.
"We made this record very quickly, over a long period of time," Duffy says. “We had minimal fuss and lot of fervor.
The opening track, "Boulevard Six," careens forward in a minor groove in a 6/4 beat. From there, the tracks take sharp turns in mood and tempo. "Tenerife" has an aerodynamic, West Coast feel. On "Reverse Image," Kevin Kendrick's vibraphone provides icicle-like counter-melodies "Sputare Il Rospoo" hits hard at a quick pace, then Claire Daly's baritone sax sends it over the top. After a few of these three-minute trips, you'll be ready to expect anything.
"Pale Afternoon" was recorded and mixed by Greg Duffin and Mario Viele at Cowboy Technical Services, in an analog format, recorded and mixed to tape. The tracks were mastered is by Grammy-winning engineer Scott Hull. Warm and punchy is what it is.
Jim Duffy has long lurked behind various music scenes in New York, playing with some of the top performers in the rock, pop, jazz, ethnic and avant-garde worlds, including Freddie "Boom Boom" Cannon, Wanda Jackson, the Fleshtones, the Bottle Rockets, Sour Jazz, the Damnwells, Reid Paley, Will Rigby, Speedball Baby and the eight-piece Persian-style psychedelic funk band Mitra Sumara, among many others. He co-founded the legendary '80s Boston band Rods and Cones, and in the '90s, he played in the New York band Martin's Folly.
For "Pale Afternoon," he draws upon his myriad influences and inspirations and his address book of fellow musicians. When we twisted his arm, he agreed, "OK, this is the best batch yet."
Official release date for "Pale Afternoon" (Three Dots Records, TDR15) will be Jan. 22, 2016. Special thanks to the Planetary Group.