Some recordings just sound like they were fun to make. From the Roots to the Sky by the J. & F. Band is one of them. The J. of J. & F. is Jaimoe, the drummer for the Allman Brothers Band; F. is bassist Joe Fonda. In February 2018 they went into the studio in Milan with a large, rotating group of Italian and other musicians recorded this eclectic set of compositions and jams. The atmosphere throughout is loose and open, not only on the jams, but on the compositions as well. Fonda, a solid, foundational bassist, supplies propulsive figures and grooves as well as three of the composed pieces. Drummer Tiziano Tononi, who I suspect is the secret hero of the rhythm section, contributed the other two. From the off-kilter rhythms of the opening piece, Fonda’s GS#2, to the Bitches Brew-like improvisation of the closing Super Jam, this is an enjoyable listen.
https://Longsongrecords.bandcamp.com
Daniel Barbiero
Avant Music News 