Smart Phones Stupid People by Ron Minis Trio

 

Smart Phones Stupid People by Ron Minis Trio

It's the second or third time that I purchase an EP on the basis of Yogev Gabai being the drummer. This time it wasn't one of his videos, just a video of him playing Zalow - possibly the most in your face tune on this album - fed to me by the almighty algorithm. Smart Phones Stupid People is a 6-track EP running 34 minutes, so quite generous. Ron Minis' trio is classic jazz lineup (piano, drums and double bass) but with some added friction from both occasional guitars (played by Minis) and electronic sound effects. The obvious musical reference here is Tigran Hamasyan's later work without the ethnic feel. Also, where Tigran alternates between weird-in-your-face and melancholy, here you only get the weird and in your face. But it's super powerful and well executed. This clearly will not be for all, in fact you're probably more likely to enjoy it if you like your prog metal than if you like your jazz. But it's cool and I'll be revisiting it for sure.