Contraband
Reloaded
Hey Phil! Records
In 2011, when the Seattle Symphony performed music from “Legend of Zelda,” “Halo,” and “Super Mario Bros.,” classical aficionados learned what anyone who knew how to whistle the “Overworld” theme already knew: the art of video games partly turns on its indelible music. Yet as early as 2008, Seattle saxophonists Cliff Colón and J. Charles had recognized enduring 8-bit music through jazz in their Contraband project. Taking its name from Konami corporation’s run and gun style ‘80s era console game Contra, Contraband transcribed the game’s high-energy electronic score into a suite of action-packed jazz which echoed the original’s bracing cooperative gameplay and colorful 3D graphics.
For Contraband’s sophomore release, Reloaded, the band is indeed reloaded, tackling other classic Konami themes from Metroid and Castlevania, in a larger ensemble adding Jacques Willis (vibes), Andy Coe (guitar), Farko Dosumov (bass), Thomas Marriott (trumpet), and David Marriott Jr.(trombone), to original members Colón, Charles, Eric Verlinde (keys), and D’Vonne Lewis (drums). Like the near-superhuman warriors in the original Contra game, Contraband rely on their herculean instrumental powers to play their way through gnarly levels of fast-paced contemporary fusion.
As on the first record, Colón and Charles stand out for their solos, Colón’s hearty tone on tenor pairing off with Charles’ brisk, but equally as fiery sound, turning the heroic shuffle of the original “Legend of Zelda” theme into a soul shakedown. Since many of the original songs were synthesized, some instrumental weight falls on the capable keyboardist Eric Verlinde, who nails fine details like backgrounds and more overt elements, such as the loquaciously baroque organ solo intro to “Castlevania III –Riddle.” Overall, the album does present an abundance of standout solos, as in the “boss level” of “Metroid – Kraid’s Lair,” in Coe’s unexpected metric variations, and with Willis’ rapid-fire vibe work, in which he re-sequences the main theme as if pounding cheat codes on an N64 controller. And that’s not to mention the rhythm section, especially the fine-tuned interaction between bass and drums, audible when Lewis and Dosumov revamp the theme to the online slot machine game “Secrets of the Forest” into a churning slow jam.
Reloaded has a lot of surprises in store for those who’ve put their time in at the console, such as the addition of guitarist RL Heyer who shreds on the album’s closer “Silver Surfer,” to name one example. But even for those who don’t, the inventiveness, humor, and excitement of Contraband’s arrangements should intrigue any jazz fan ready to level up.
–Ian Gwin
