Saxophonist Skerik has a sound and spirit that impacts live audiences almost instantly. Drawing inspiration from Pink Floyd, Dizzy Gillespie and Jimmy Smith, he isn't afraid to engage the crowd with a blistering instrumental passage or a humorous outburst.
During the pandemic, he's kept this energy before music fans on a series of livestreams — and now, a new album from one of his most notable partnerships, Garage A Trois.
Skerik, guitarist Charlie Hunter and drummer Stanton Moore first formed Garage A Trois (aka GAT) in New Orleans in 1998. The group's groove-driven, take-no-prisoners style has made them a fan favorite for over 20 years.
All three members of GAT's original lineup are present on Calm Down Cologne, their new album on the Royal Potato Family label. It came about after the band reconvened in 2019 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their first recording, Mysteryfunk, and their participation on drummer Moore's debut album, All Kooked Out.
Cologne was recorded on an afternoon before a gig at Seattle's Nectar Lounge. Skerik, Hunter and Moore entered Studio Litho just across the street from the club and hammered out the five tunes heard on the new album. The music presented is exactly what was played that day, with only minor edits.
As he does in performance, Skerik sometimes filters his acoustic saxophone sound through a dazzling combination of electric guitar pedals, which he refers to as "saxophonics." His sound can echo, harmonize and even rival guitar overdrive and distortion. Additionally, his arsenal of instruments on the album includes Fender Rhodes piano, modular synthesizer and Mellotron keyboard. With Hunter and Moore's vibrant pulse and independence, these musicians often sound more like a six- or seven-piece group. The landscape is never cluttered; the parts are distinct and sure, each in their own groove.
In this installment of Let Me Tell You 'Bout It, Skerik shares memories about studying with an unsung giant on the tenor saxophone, Hadley Caliman; meeting Dizzy Gillespie and witnessing Jimmy Smith in concert; the importance of unrestricted communication with live audiences; and the hopeful return to music and touring in the post-pandemic future.
