The Odd Dogs - Beneath The Surface (2018)

The band draws from a rich pallet of musical influences: Rush, Tool, Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck, Joe Zawinul, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Frank Zappa, Thelonious Monk. Steve Billman (bass), Jeff Miley (guitar) and Ralph Humphrey (drums) originally knew each other because of their long association with the Los Angeles College of Music, where they were both friends and colleagues. Playing the music as a trio, they soon realized that the compositions required something more to complete the vision. All three felt that Andy Suzuki (woodwinds and keyboards) and Billy Hulting (percussion) would be the perfect additions, and thus the Quintet was born. All accomplished musicians in their own right, the members of The Odd Dogs have a combined 200+ years in the music world. Some of the artists they’ve worked with include Frank Zappa, Trilok Gurtu, Don Ellis, Christopher Cross, Frank Gamble, Mike Stern, Chester Thompson, Ron Miles, Jon Anderson, Maynard Ferguson, and Zappa Plays Zappa. The versatility and experience needed to navigate such wide ranging gigs is exactly what made it possible for them to create the music heard on their new disc, “Beneath The Surface” (Manasus Music). 67 minutes of deep groove, shifting timescapes, metric modulations and multiple-layered melodies. Pushing the boundaries of time, welcome to the world of The Odd Dogs.