Pete Robbins - Do the Hate Laugh Shimmy (2007)

Listening to this music transports you into the distinct musical universe of alto sax/composer Pete Robbins. It is filled with soaring sonic sculptures; ten singular tunes, peppered with his sprightly and beautifully-toned flights of improvisation on alto sax. With this CD -Robbins third release as a leader- this grant winning (Chamber Music Americas prestigious New Works: Creation and Presentation grant), and critically applauded artist, offers a new chapter to the jazz cannon that reminds us of the vibrancy, originality and prolificacy that is so common in jazz today, particularly in his adopted home of Brooklyn. However, there is nothing common about this brilliant offering from Robbins.

Do The Hate Laugh Shimmy, which borrows its title from a poem by E.E. Cummings, is a highly unique vision/musical statement that has come together with superlative contributions from some of Robbins frequent collaborators and friends: Sam Sadigursky (tenor saxophone), Jesse Neuman (trumpet, pedals), Craig Taborn (Fender Rhodes, Nord Electro), Eliot Cardinaux (Fender Rhodes, Nord Electro, loops), Ben Monder, Ryan Blotnick (guitars), Mike Gamble (guitar, pedals, loops), Thomas Morgan (bass), Dan Weiss, Tyshawn Sorey (drums).