If you frequented Colorado jazz clubs in the late 1990s to mid- 2000s, you’ll remember the name Erik Deutsch. The keyboardist and former CU student played with local heroes like trumpeter Ron Miles and pianist Art Lande and as a member of the not-quite-rock-or- jazz group County Road X.
Half a decade ago, Deutsch set out for New York to forge his own identity, but he comes back to his roots for a CD-release party Jan. 21 at the Boulder Theater to celebrate the arrival of the charismatic “Hush Money” (Hammer and String).
I spoke to him at his Brooklyn home and asked him to describe his music, which usually is a really lazy interview question. But after listening several times, I can’t quite pin it down.
He couldn’t conjure the words during our conversation, but later in the day he nailed it in an e-mail: “cinematic chamber pop.”
I can’t argue with that. “Hush Money” sneaks up on you with straightforward piano augmented by bubbling ’70s synthesizers and Marc Dalio’s driving percussion. It comes off as a little subdued at first, but the melodies and textures reveal their eclectic charms over time.
Deutsch is busy enough with his own projects as well as providing support in the bands of guitarist Charlie Hunter and saxophonist Ellery Eskelin (open-minded readers could do worse than to look him up), but if he wanted to go that route, he could be providing soundtracks to moody dramas and snarky comedies in no time.
“I just want to make records that are exciting from a compositional and sonic standpoint,” he said. “I want to make things that are a little different — I didn’t want to make a crispy, jazzy sounding record.”
He’s certainly found work in New York, and that’s no small feat. But has he found the creative scene he was hoping for?
“I always wanted to test the waters in New York. The number one most exciting thing is the people who make it up. The sound here is brimming over the top with confidence, and sometimes that can lead to aggressive exuberance.
“You’ve got to be confident in what you’re doing,” he added. “You’ve got to do it like you mean it, and you’ve got to stick to your guns.”
“Hush Money” is proof that Deutsch is confident himself about where he’s going, even if it’s to that netherworld of cinematic chamber pop. Whatever that is, this is that.
Erik Deutsch Band CD Release Party, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. $12. 303-786 7030. Deutsch also will sit in with Ron Miles, Charlie Hunter and Rudy Royston at Dazzle on Thursday and Friday.
Set list.
The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra has two Colorado performances this week: Thursday at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek, and Friday at DU’s Newman Center … Saxophonist Nelson Rangell plays his reliable Sunday night gig at Jazz@Jack’s tonight … The FLY Trio, with saxophonist Mark Turner, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard appears at Dazzle on Jan. 16-17 … Trumpeter Brad Goode and the Polytonal Dance Party Band play at the Jazzamatazz Lounge on Friday … Sophie Milman sings Jan. 23 at the Lakewood Cultural Center.
Bret Saunders’ jazz column appears every other Sunday. Saunders is host of the “KBCO Morning Show,” 5:30-10 a.m. weekdays at 97.3-FM. E-mail: bret_saunders@hotmail.com
