Album Review: Survival Instinct: the Evilution of the Pack from Justin Varnes
Album: Survival Instinct: the Evilution of the Pack Artist: Justin Varnes Label: Self-Released Website: www.jazzdrummersresource.com The music of drummer/bandleader/composer Justin Varnes on his latest release Survival Instinct: the Evilution of the Pack has political overtones according to the press release. However, listening to the music and being completely unaware of Varnes's political messages in the music, one would think his sonic statements have nothing to do with politics and everything to do with the evolution of swing music, embracing the socializing among musicians synonymous with swing. The instruments display a playful socializing from top to bottom of the recording, all making the music fun and delightful. The comfortable stride of Nick Rosen's keys cruising along "Many Sons" is tweaked by the furling tweets of the saxophone, producing a serene ambience. The sextet perform a few bars from "The Star Spangled Banne...