branch, jaimie – Fly or Die II: bird dogs of paradise [IA11 DELUXE EDITION w/ booklet]- New LP

"Fuck your technique, sound first." -- jaimie branch (1983 - 2022)   Holy moly, I'm pretty darn picky when it comes to jazz (and while often I love when artists get adventurous and all crazy, that's not usually my feelings when it comes to jazz..often when people say it's great jazz because it's really adventurous, I hate it even more...lose the solos and gimme the forward groove or you will lose me so quickly... mostly it's just maximum R&B that I love, whether you call it punk, groove, power pop, funk...it's all the same thing, maximum R&B...pack it into the song and the rhythm, charge it forward and end it quickly) but jaime branch is both adventurous and just completely amazing, offers so much but keeps it packed into the groove, and even when instrumental reflection takes her off the path and into the forests of the mind, when her stories of racism and bullshit must be told, and her flights of fancy fly away like birds from the trees along the way, who am I to gripe when she's clearly got a complete grip on what she's doing. She packs so much history in her music, the knowledge, sounds and lessons of key Black artists of the previous century mixed with hints her own history, playing in ska and punk band as a youth, growing up with hip-hop and Nirvana, and dealing with the issues at hand in the world today and tapping into her Latin American heritage (Colombian on her mother's side) to add that infectious focus of latin american percussion to flavor some of her recipes, coming out of all that and bringing it into her music, which moves far away from her ska and punk beginnings to the places she has to go, to follow the pain and joy wherever it brings her.  She is a sum of her parts and so much more.  She's simply out of sight. -- winch
FLY or DIE II: bird dogs of paradise is the much-anticipated follow-up to composer, trumpeter, and (now) singer jaimie branch's debut Fly or Die, which was dubbed one of the “Best Albums of 2017” by The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, NPR Music, WIRE, Stereogum, Aquarium Drunkard, and more. Written (mostly) while on her first European tour with Fly or Die in November 2018; and recorded (mostly) in studio at Total Refreshment Centre and live at Café OTO in London UK at the end of that tour, bird dogs of paradise is the result of a never-satisfied branch pushing her distinct style of progressive composition to new heights — while also stepping forward as a vocalist for the first time. “So much beauty lies in the abstract of instrumental music,” says branch in the album’s liner notes, “but being this ain’t a particularly beautiful time, I’ve chosen a more literal path. The voice is good for that.” On the album’s epic opening opus “prayer for amerikkka pt.1 and 2” branch calls out “a bunch of wide-eyed racists” between searing trumpet ad libs atop a massive, down-tuned blues. On the album’s closing track “love song (for assholes & clowns)” she laughs in their faces - an unhinged, unflinching, mix of anger and humor paired with a classic shuffle beat. Between both ends is an instrumental chronicle that traverses a deep sea of dystopian Americana without trepidation. Her trumpet – sometimes soft and pleading and other times brash and seething – is always at the helm. Branch and company are on a quest for sonic saturation here and they conjure up moments of real reckoning - hopefulness, hopelessness, danger, and joy. A cinematic sojourn from our earth to imagined worlds above, bird dogs of paradise dares you to feel again, or as branch says, “now sound the trumpets and get ready to roll.” credits released October 11, 2019 FLY or DIE jaimie branch – trumpet, voice, synths, sneaker squeaks, bells & whistles Lester St. Louis – cello, percussion Jason Ajemian – double bass, percussion, vocals Chad Taylor – drums, mbira, xylophone -with special guests- Ben LaMar Gay – voice (on track 2) Marvin Tate – voice (on track 2) Matt Schneider – 12-string guitar (on track 2) Dan Bitney – percussion, synthesizer (on track 8) Scott McNiece – egg (on track 8) All compositions by jaimie branch; except "birds of paradise," "whales," and "bird dogs of paradise" composed by jaimie branch, Lester St. Louis, Jason Ajemian & Chad Taylor; and "lesterlude" composed by Lester St. Louis. Recorded mostly at Total Refreshment Centre (tracks 2-7 & 9) and Café OTO (tracks 1 & 8) in Dalston, London UK, November 20th – 25th 2018. Edits & overdubs at Dave’s house in Pilsen, Chicago, December 2018. Final dubs & mixing at Decade Studios in Old Town, Chicago, January 2019. Mastered at Chicago Mastering Service in Garfield Park, Chicago, March 2019. Recorded by: Dave Vettraino & David Allen Recording Assisted by: James Dunn & Kristian ‘Capitol K’ Robinson Edited by: jaimie branch & Dave Vettraino Mixed by: David Allen & Dave Vettraino Mastered by: Shelly Steffens Cover Art by: jaimie branch & John Herndon Cover Design by: Damon Locks & jaimie branch Layout & Insert Design by: Craig Hansen Photography by: Peter Gannushkin, Dawid Laskowski & Fabrice Bourgelle Executive Production by: Scott McNiece & David Allen