“Garcia” Takes Off at the Artists’ Quarter 12/28/03

I have never heard Dean Granros play guitar, but I am sure he is a fine musician. As part of Siamese Fighting Fish, Granos was scheduled to play at St. Paul’s Artists Quarter this past weekend with local jazz icons Anthony Cox (bass) and Dave King (drums). However, a family emergency left the “Fish” short their guitarist. Fortunately Cox figured his old friend Craig Taborn would be home from New York to spend the holidays with his family—and in a matter of days, spawned one of the hottest trios in local modern jazz, quickly dubbed “Garcia.”

“Garcia” (it’s a long story, as Cox recounted it, the namesake of a hero of a slave uprising in Florida) capitalizes on the energy and creativity of each musician---Anthony Cox’s basslines that are alternatingly subtle and powerful; King’s playful, often outrageous but never overpowering thumping, crashing and shimmering percussion; and Taborn’s two handed, often two-keyboarded zigs and zags, from avalanche to tinkle. Much of their playlist this weekend was drawn from original works by the threesome, adding here and there a creatively, deliciously twisted cover of the otherwise familiar that would surely bring a smile to the face of Strayhorn or Monk. At times, one had to wonder if this is where Monk would be today if he was still around, undoubtedly proud to share the keyboards with Taborn and keep animated time with Cox and King.