Austin, Texas-based jazz guitar trio, Cento Threeo, releases their first album, Halfway to Mellowtown, on June 19th.
The group is led by Don Cento on guitar (who also composed all but two of the album’s songs), with Phil Spencer on bass and Norm Bergeron on drums. They describe themselves as a “Jazz / Americana trio … that lives somewhere between straight-ahead jazz and a midwestern sunset after a thunderstorm.”
Indeed the album brings together a rich blend of influences. The opening song, “The Judy Valve,” gives each musician wonderful opportunities for improvisation. From there, while the mellow jazz vibe maintains its presence throughout the album, there are also elements of indie rock (“G’Orangers”, and the titular “Halfway to Mellowtown”), blues (“Make the Silence Louder”), and even perhaps a touch of 60’s exotica (“Filibuster in E minor”). The album closes with its only cover song, a lovely rendition of Roseanne Cash’s “Seven Year Ache.”
It’s refreshing to hear something which feels at once familiar, comfortable, and at the same time, new. It’s like a sunset drive along the beach, with the top down.
In a world where music is always streaming, or a digital download, Cento Threeo is to be commended for making their album available also on CD and 12″ LP vinyl. While I would have liked more in the way of liner notes, physical media is a good thing and should be encouraged. There’s no substitute for holding an album in your hands and dedicating the time to just… listen. And this reviewer would like to hear more from Cento Threeo in the future.
You can pre-order Halfway to Mellowtown on Bandcamp, or find more about the band on their website at centothreeo.com.
