Reviews of 'Crazy Time'
Mike Greenblatt - Aquarian Weekly Feb. 4, 2020
Richard Underhill wrote nine tracks plus plays alto and bari sax on the ninth album—the aptly named Crazy Time (Stubby Records)—of his Shuffle Demons, Canada’s most touringest funk/rap/post-bop band. They just got off the road hitting Central America, New Zealand, and Australia in time for a succession of Canadian music festivals. No wonder it’s been six years since their last album. They’ve been doing this for the last 35 years and, this time, they’ve added some new blood: tenor sax man Matt Lagan and poppin’ bassist Mike Downes (who combines a Jaco dexterity to a Flea wildness). From the blues to the instantly appealing “Cat Walk,” they bring the funk and the hiphop to the fore while madly soloing on the more modern jazz tracks.
https://www.theaquarian.com/2020/02/04/mike-greenblatts-rant-n-roll-30/
David Olds - Editors Corner - The WholeNote January 27, 2020
Well, all that listening to atmospheric and mist-shrouded ambience left me needing an injection of backbeat and rhythm, so when I found the latest from the Shuffle Demons in my inbox I knew the remedy was in hand. I’ll admit I may not be the ideal candidate to take on this review as it’s somewhat beyond my usual purview, but having spent some of my formative years in funky Queen St. W., I have fond memories of watching this outstanding (and outrageous) band playing on the streets of the neighbourhood. It came as a bit of a surprise to me that the Demons were still active some 35 years later, but it was a pleasant one indeed. Their ninth album Crazy Time (Stubby Records SRCD 1703 shuffledemons.com) features the classic three saxes and driving rhythm of bass and drums the Demons are known for. It includes two new members, Matt Lagan on tenor sax and bassist Mike Downes alongside stalwarts Richard Underhill, Kelly Jefferson and Stich Wynston, but in honour of their 35th anniversary, original members Mike Murley and Jim Vivian appear on five of the ten tracks. As in the past, hot instrumentals are interspersed with topical vocal tracks reminiscent of the classic Spadina Bus – be sure to check out the YouTube videos of that defining song – including the title track with its commentary on Ontario’s current leadership among other things: “We live in a crazy town, in a crazy world, in a crazy time.” All tunes were penned and arranged by Underhill with the exception of Jefferson’s smooth instrumental Even Demons Get the Blues and the retro rap vocal Have a Good One which Underhill co-wrote some years ago with interim Demons Eric St-Laurent, Mike Milligan and Farras Smith. The signature swinging unison horn choruses and individual solo takes are as strong as ever, and the infectious beat goes on. It’s great to find this iconic Canadian jazz institution alive and well, with no signs of aging or decay; long may the Shuffle Demons reign!
https://www.thewholenote.com/index.php/booksrecords2/editorscorner/29768-editor-s-corner-february-2020
Jan Granlie - Salt Peanuts - Norway - Feb, 2020
Many years ago, I think it was the late 80's or early 90's, I heard (and many with me) the Canadian band Shuffle Demons during Molde Jazz. The reason I remember the band and the concert was that it was not every day you heard a band with three saxophones plus bass and drums with such solid energy that this band could serve.
Now it's been many years since I last saw the band name Shuffle Demons on a record cover or a festival or club show. Actually, I thought the band was history a long time ago, but suddenly their new record, "Crazy Time" appeared in the mailbox.
They have released a number of records in their home country before this one, so it is probably only I who have kept up with the band during these years. But I was enjoying myself a lot when I first put the disc in the player. I was thinking was it the same energy I remembered? Is the band the same? Will music hit me as much now as it used to?
The band today consists of Richard Underhill (as, bs, v), Stich Wynston (dr, perc, v), Kelly Jefferson (ts, v), Matt Lagan (ts, v), Mike Downes (b, v), Mike Murley (ts) and Jim Vivian (b), and to describe the band briefly, it is like a kind of street band that sounds like they come from New Orleans, with no trumpets, trombones and tuba.
We get 10 compositions, most of them written at Underhill, plus one by Jefferson and one they co-wrote. I have to admit that a few years disappeared and I was back in Molde again when the first song "Cat Walk" started. And right up to the end, "Blue Chameleon" sounds like a fresh live band that would make any club room boil. Although I do not feel the same enthusiasm for music today as I used to, there is a lot of energy left in the band. Of course, this may be because I've heard a lot of music since then, both exciting and boring stuff. But there is no doubt that the gang from Canada still holds the fan high and delivers audience music that will delight any audience they meet on their way.
Shuffle Demons are still a well-played and, not least, entertaining band that will delight most audiences they play for even in 2020. They have a loose and nice way to play that fascinates, and the entertainment value is delicious and great.
A band I would like to hear live again, with the old festival t-shirt from Molde the year they visited the city. And I wanted to dance around after this delicious combination of energetic and party-happy jazz sped up rap. There are not as many Bayers and Hall Islanders in the home when the disc is played, but discs are often the same. One does not respond as actively to them as to hear the musicians alive.
https://salt-peanuts.eu/record/shuffle-demons/
Ivan Rod - Denmark - Jan 17, 2020
The Shuffle Demons is a hard-driving, powerful jazz group; well known in their homeland of Canada for their signature stage performances and to date 8 albums. At the helm is lead singer and alto/baritone saxophonist Richard Underhill, but otherwise all 7 bandmembers form a cohesive unit, performing as a harmonious collective. The band: 4 saxophones, 2 bassists and a drummer, play an energetic, vibrant sort of crossover jazz that can take the listener’s breath away. You can hear for yourself, by checking out Crazy Time, the band’s 9th album since their breakthrough in 1984. The title song even has the potential to be a hit song; it’s a solid, driving piece with lyrics and music that is catchy and easy to follow. The tune is simultaneously serious jazz fusion while maintaining an unpretentious sense of humour – in a good way. The other tracks have a elements of funk, rap, and blues, and the particular combination of multiple genres makes the Shuffle Demons’ style unique.
http://www.ivanrod.dk/2020/01/17/shuffle-demons-crazy-time/
Midwest Record - Jan 15/2020
SHUFFLE DEMONS/Crazy Time: There's more than white boys with the blues in Canada, there's white boys that are keepers of the funk. Keeping things burning on high for almost 30 years and grabbing all due recognition along the way, the only message here is to free your mind so you ass will follow. Kicking it out in fine form right from the start, this is a fine example of it being as good as it gets.
https://midwestrecord.com/MWR1617.html
Wulf Muller - Germany Jan 20, 2020
Shuffle Demons / Crazy Time – The Shuffle Demons are Richard Underhill – alto & baritone saxophones, lead vocals; Stich Wynston – drums, percussion, bg vocals; Kelly Jefferson – tenor saxophone, bg vocals; Matt Lagan – tenor saxophone, bg vocals; Mike Downes – bass, bg vocals; Mike Murley – tenor saxophone and Jim Vivian – bass. This is the band’s 9th album, in a career lasting 35 years – with changing line-ups but the same powerful approach to jazz. The typical instrumental / vocal mix is represented here as well as some groovy ensemble play. A band to discover and one I would love to see/hear live!! Cool rap in ‘Have a good one’ … and ‘Even Demons Get The Blues’ is another stand-out track! Cool!!
https://wulfmuller.wordpress.com/2020/01/20/1604/
