 By Chris Kornelis
Argonaut Staff
Living Daylights played a lunchtime
show in the Idaho Commons last Monday and the audience was treated
to a great CoffeeHouse show. Living Daylights have created their
own unique breed of eclectic jazz that sounds like tasteful fusion,
which is easy to dance to. There is no style that could adequately
describe the music that Living Daylights make. There is no definitive
bin in a record store to put Living Daylights.
The band consists of Jessica Lurie on saxophone, Arne Livingston
on bass and Dale Fanning on drums. Note the absence of a guitar,
or even a vocalist. The saxophone takes over the duty of playing
melody and acting as the lead voice.
Occasionally, the band will loop
a bass part allowing the bassist to solo over the top or simply
play melody. The band admits that the loops are hit and miss.
Some nights they will sound much better than others.
The most interesting aspect of the band is the experimental and
adventurous nature of their sound. Living Daylights' music is
a breath of fresh air from jazz that is so predictable and unoriginal.
They are making their own path in music, not following the path
that has been laid before.
Based in Seattle, Living Daylights have been playing and recording
together since 1995. In addition to touring together, the members
of the band do plenty of freelance side work. Members of the
band have played with artists such as The Indigo Girls, Wayne
Horvitz, Joshua Redman, Roy Hargrove, Pete Droge and Critters
Buggin.
Living Daylights have three CD's that are available at www.livingdaylights.com,
including their 2000 release "Electric Rosary," which
is put out on Liquid City records.
"Electric Rosary" does an excellent job capturing their
unique and groundbreaking sound. However, don't trust the CD.
Go see the band live.
The band is on tour in support of their newest CD release and
will be playing up and down the West coast through the summer.
The band has also landed gigs as far East as New Orleans and
Vermont.
What makes Living Daylights so much fun to watch and listen to
is that they are having so much fun.
Making their muck is what they
want to be doing, and their passion for their music comes out
in their playing.
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