CRITTERS BUGGIN

'Critters Buggin' is a Seattle-based instrumental group which performs in a jazz and funk-influenced, eclectic style.

Contents

Brief History

Description

Members

Discography

Additional Musicians

Notes

External Links

Brief History

The group began with Matt Chamberlain and Skerik who were later joined by Brad Houser, thus forming a trio in early 1993. John Bush joined soon afterward, and the group gave their first live performance using the "Critters Buggin" name in May 1993 at the Seattle club The Colourbox. Chamberlain, Houser and Bush were all from the then-disbanded Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians. Chamberlain and Dillon had both played in the locally popular Dallas, Texas band Ten Hands in the 1980s. Skerik came from another Seattle group, Sadhappy. Their live success was followed by the release of their first album which was produced by Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam on his new label Loosegroove. The original Critters Buggin trio continued with several guest musicians, including Mike Dillon, who by 1998 had joined as a fourth member, thus forming the current line-up as of the 2004-2005 release and tour of ''Stampede''.

Description

Critters Buggin often defies categorical description because of the diverse range of musical influences and interests expressed in their collaborations. Reviews tend to describe their music as a combination of electronic, ambient, jazz and "groove." When asked to describe their music in 1994, Chamberlain stated that it is "jazzy, funky, rocky.... it has African rhythms, too. (It is) African, industrial, tribal music."^[1]

They have been commonly recognized for their innovative and creative musical approach. It has also been noted that because they are such active and accomplished musicians recording and performing with a wide range of other artists that when together their music remains fresh and high-spirited.^[2][3]

Members

★ Matt Chamberlain - drums, percussion, piano, programming, synths, loops, samples, digital editing

★ Skerik - saxophone, keyboards, loops, samples, effects, guitar

★ Brad Houser - bass, bass clarinet, electronics

★ Mike Dillon - vibraphone, percussion (1998-present)

★ John Bush - percussion, loops (1993-1994)

Discography

★ 1994 - ''Guest'' (Loosegroove)

★ 1997 - ''Host'' (Loosegroove)

★ 1997 - ''Monkeypot Merganzer'' (Crittersbuggin.com)

★ 1998 - ''Bumpa'' (Loosegroove)

★ 1998 - ''Amoeba'' (Loosegroove)

★ 2000 - ''Taxi'' (Crittersbuggin.com - limited vinyl edition)

★ 2004 - ''Stampede'' (Ropeadope)

Additional Musicians

''Guest'' (1994)


★ Dave Palmer - Keyboards


★ Shawn Smith - Vocals


★ Sophia - Talk

★ Bruce Calder - Static Engineer
''Host'' (1996)


★ Doug Stringer - Djembe


★ Tim Young - Bubble Boy


★ Doc Vinton - Voice
''Monkeypot Merganzer'' (1997)


★ Maurice Caldwell Jr. - Vocal


★ David Palmer - Rhodes Wah-Wah Piano


★ Eyvind Kang - Violin and Air-hu


★ Keith Lowe - Upright Bass


★ Craig Flory - Bass Clarinet


★ Mike Dillon - Vibes and Percussion
''Ameoba'' (1998)


★ Earl Harvin - Bass Loop and Percussion
''Stampede'' (2004)


★ Stone Gossard - Synth & Gus, Guitar


★ Jon Brion - Piano and Guitar


★ Master Musicians of Jajouka: Bachir and Mustafa Attar

Notes

1. http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=1891931&date=19940128 Interview by Vanessa Ho, January 28, 1994, The Seattle Times
2. http://bad.eserver.org/reviews/2006/critters.html Review by Zack Furness, Bad Subjects, December 2006
3. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=14744 AllAboutJazz Review of Stampede

External Links

★ Official Website

★ Critters Buggin's Myspace page

★ All Music Guide: Critters Buggin