Eddy Hobizal

Eddy Hobizal, Kinetic. I've known Eddy for almost 20 years: we were very close when at NYU together. He taught me a lot! I never listened to Bud Powell until Eddy sat me down with "Cherokee" on Jazz Giant. Eddy is now one of the best jazz musicians in Austin, TX.

Kinetic is an odd-meter groove record with sophisticated chord progressions that have more to do with classical music than funk. "The Waiting Game" is almost Debussy-esque. Possible references include E.S.T., Jaga Jazzist, and Radiohead. The wide palette of textures includes marimba, guitar, both acoustic and electric bass, drums, percussion, and Eddy himself on piano, organ, rhodes, wurlitzer, and synthesizer.

Most of the music is by Eddy but there are three intriguing covers, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," "Snooks (Progress Report)," and "Don't Give Up." Singers Erin Ivey and Tody Castillo contribute solid help on the Tears for Fears and the Gabriel. But my favorite cover is the rather ruthless takedown of "Snooks." - Do The Math

From the moment opener "Twin Stars" begins with marimba and then drops in drum beats that could've come off Radiohead's new release, it's safe to say this isn't going to be your standard jazz album. This ever-tasteful and often elegant Austin pianist isn't doing something entirely new, but the formula of Hobizal out front with double drummers David Hobizal and Kyle Thompson propelling the band amidst a swirling mixture of rock, funk, hip-hop, and even jazz rhythms makes Kinetic genuinely compelling throughout. Originals such as the organ-driven "Engine of Ingenuity," "Prometheus," and the lovely solo turn "Dedalus" make up the bulk of the album, though beguiling covers of Elbow, Tears for Fears, and Peter Gabriel, the latter two featuring vocals by Erin Ivey and Tody Castillo, provide nice touchstones. Kinetic, fresh, adventurous, and substantive. (4 star review)
- Austin Chronicle