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JazzReview.com
Featured Artist: Exegesis
Year: 2002
CD Title: The Order of Chaos
Record Label: Dems Dem's Demos
Review: As was the case with guitarist Nick Demopoulos’ brilliant “Harmonic Convergence,” reviewed here last year, Exegesis, a quintet lead by the adventurous guitarist (adding dijerido to the mix here), is poised squarely at the bulging edge of the musical comfort zone. The opening “Emergence” spotlights tenor saxophonist Matt Otto in something of a Rollins cast and Demopoulos comping brilliantly underneath. The following “Worlds in Collision,” anchored by drummer Greg Gonzales and bassist Danton Boller, benefits from tandem sax and guitar lines that float above the rhythm section.
“Andromeda Strain,” with the odd synthesized effects, is a sporadic and stuttered pastiche heavy on the bottom while, again, guitar and Shepp-style saxophone work wonders above the churning musical sea. “Peoples of the Sea,” with Demopoulos on both guitar and dijerido, builds an interesting droning pattern.
The extemporaneous explorations of “Erg” notwithstanding, the order in this chaos is firmly rooted in the terra and the roots. Over a busy drum motif, the electric guitar sounds like a tightly stretched Charlie Byrd at times. The following “Eon,” with and extended R2D2 synthesizer setting the pace, features saxophone and guest drummer Mark Ferber.
“Earth’s Shifting Crust” isn’t as earthquaking as the title suggests. Buoyed by bass and saxophone, it is the lightest piece on the set. The pace is steady and the almost militaristic drum sets a mournful tone. “Footnote,” with a synthesized intro that conjures an electronic snowstorm has a vocal recitation that begs comprehension. The closing “Morphology,” with a repetitive groove that reminds a bit of John Scofield.
It would be wonderful if there were broader platforms on which to highlight music this adventurous, this bold and this future-focused. Until those perfect radio stations come along, look for this on the occasional college or internet forum. It’s well worth the search. - JazzReview.com
New York City quartet Exegesis is, in fact, a supergroup, though you'll be forgiven for never having heard of them. The band, led by guitarist Nick Demopoulos and rounded out by bassist Danton Boller, drummer Greg Gonzalez and saxophonist Matt Otto, boasts a collective resume that could make any self-respecting jazzer weep. Among the artists the band members have clocked time with are Cecil Taylor, Mark Egan, Billy Higgins, Wallace Roney, Mulgrew Miller, Josh Redman, Alex Acuna . . . I'll stop here, but rest assured, the list doesn't.
With a pedigree as strong as this one, it's no surprise that the band is an eclectic one, a group able to reference straight bop tradition and call upon postbop experimentation at will. And in Demopoulos, Exegesis boasts one of the most strikingly virtuosic, well-versed jazz guitarists this side of Pat Metheney. Exegesis plays a 10 p.m. show Saturday in Nietzsche's, 248 Allen St. Get there early - John and Mary will perform an acoustic set on the front stage beginning at 8. Call 886-8539 for details.
- The Buffalo News Inc.
This week, the acid jazz band Exegesis makes its initial appearance in the area at Canal St. Tavern, 308 East First St. Guitarist Nick Demopoulos believes that the future of jazz is in electronics. He believes there has not been a good completely electronic recording since Switched on Bach. "I'm not saying my group is the answer," he says. "I'm just trying to use as much as I can. There's so much great technology out there, and we've barely scratched the surface."
Demopoulos, 32, was born in the Los Angeles area and has been playing guitar since he was 13. Like most youngsters, he started playing rock and folk but got interested in jazz when he was in high school. He moved to New York in 1997 and hooked up with high school buddy and drummer Greg Gonzalez. Bass player in Exegesis is Danton Boller. Gonzalez and Boller are familiar to local audiences as members of the Jazz Mandolin Project.
- Dayton Daily News
Discography
"The Order Of Chaos"
Photos
Bio
EXEGESIS has performed at the 2003 Montruex Jazz Festival, The Summer Arts and Music Festival in Benbow California, The House of Blues, M Bar, The Knitting Factory, Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn New York, and Temple Bar in Santa Monica California. EXEGESIS is always striving to bridge the gap between modern music technology and improvisation. This can be heard on the groups' debut album, "The Order of Chaos," released in August of 2002.
Nick Demopoulos ::
The ensemble's guitar player, has performed in a wide variety of jazz styles. His trio has performed in many clubs in New York as well as in concerts sponsored by the American Jazz Symposium. Nick composed and performed in the musical Rhymes with Adventure, which was selected as one of the best theater pieces of the '99-00 season by The Village Voice, and I, Medusa, produced in 2000 at the Ontological Theatre in New York. He has performed in Mexico, Europe, Canada and the United States with the jazz/funk ensemble Solsonics. Demopoulos also plays bouzouki, banjo and dijerido with EXEGESIS.
Danton Boller ::
is the group's bassist and a major component to the unique sound of this ensemble. He has performed live with Billy Higgins, Wallace Roney, Mulgrew Miller, the Jazz Mandolin Project, Duffy Jackson, Anthony Wilson, Kurt Elling, Joshua Redman, Mark Shim, Mark Turner, Greg Tardy, Joe Labarbara, Alex Acuna, Kei Akagi, Sunship Theus, Roy McCurdy, Lawrence Marabele and many others. He has received many awards including The Shelly Manne New talent Award in 1997 and won first place in the Charles Dolo Coker Jazz Scholarship in 1994. He has recorded two albums with Anthony Wilson, the first one receiving a Grammy nomination, and appeared on 53 W. 19th by the Matt Otto Quartet.
Tomas Fujiwara ::
is the drummer of this ensemble. His playing is a much valued asset to EXEGESIS because he bridges the gap from jazz into rock and electronic music. He has toured the USA, Canada, Mexico, Korea and Japan for 3 years as a cast member of the Off-Broadway hit STOMP, and peformed the show with the New York company at the Orpheum Theatre. A partial list of his performance and recording credits include: Anthony Braxton, Roy Campbell, Daniel Carter, Joe Chambers, Ravi Coltrane, Smith Dobson, Marshell Jones (Evidence of Things Not Seen, Flying Star Arts, 1999), Norah Jones, Steve Lehman, Mike Longo, Junior Mance, Tarus Mateen, Makanda Ken McIntyre, and William Parker.
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