Reviews
...Hofbauer brings a wealth of historical antecedents to his playfully
inventive compositions. A refreshingly original voice, Hofbauer
reveals an affable yet mischievous sensibility in his writing and
improvising. Aided by the superlative interpretive abilities of
his sidemen, Eric Hofbauer and The Infrared Band make Myth Understanding
a sterling debut.
—Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz.com
The music here is shot through with quirks so skillfully played
that they seem integral to the success of its realization. Although
the precedents for tenor sax-guitar-bass-drums quartets are many,
they still manage to make something fresh out of it, and in a manner
so easy that it might leave listeners wondering why so few musicians
seem to manage it. It all adds up to something special, not least
because this is a group which seems to realize that the tradition
is no end in itself, but rather something that retains its validity
only through periodic but ranging renewal.
—Nic Jones, AllAboutJazz.com
The liner notes give you all the inside dope on guitarist Hofbauer’s
compositional strategies—myths, puzzles, martial arts, puns,
programmatic narratives. But what's likely to hit you first is his
flair for bluesy, riffing AABA melodies. Yes, he likes to warp expectations
with all that gamesmanship, but at his best, he sets up a satisfying
songlike tension-and-release from stop-time and odd-meter sections
into 4/4 swing.
—Jon Garelick, Boston Phoenix
Recommended New Release
—David Adler, AllAboutJazz-New York
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